US Army Issues RFI for the Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform

us army improved hot weather combat uniform — Capt. Daniel Ferenczy, assistant product manager for Extreme Weather Clothing and Footwear, wears the Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform.

us army improved hot weather combat uniform infantryman — Sgt. Ian Rivera-Aponte, a U.S. Army Reserve sniper and infantryman with the 100th Infantry Battalion, Honolulu, Hawaii, participates in a promotional photo shoot for Army Reserve recruiting at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, July 25-27, 2017.

us army improved hot weather combat uniform loading rifle — Sgt. 1st Class Martin Braden, of Meridian, Idaho, team leader and a combat engineer with the 688th Engineer Company, Harrison, Arkansas, loads and prepares to fire an M-16A2 rifle at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, during the Army Reserve Small Arms Championship with his team placing first overall besting 23 teams competing.

us army improved hot weather combat uniform walking in ghana — U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division maneuver into the jungle during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School on Achiase military base, Akim Oda, Ghana, May 26, 2017. The Jungle Warfare School is a series of situational training exercises designed to train participants in counter-insurgency and internal security operations.

us army improved hot weather combat uniform river walk — U.S. Army Spc. Jake Burley assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st, Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division maneuvers through a river during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School on Achiase military base, Akim Oda, Ghana, May 26, 2017. The Jungle Warfare School is a series of situational training exercises designed to train participants in counter-insurgency and internal security operations. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Brian Chaney)

us army improved hot weather combat uniform security — U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division provide security during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School on Achiase military base, Akim Oda, Ghana, May 26, 2017. The Jungle Warfare School is a series of situational training exercises designed to train participants in counter-insurgency and internal security operations. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Brian Chaney)

The United States Army recently put out a RFI for its Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform (IHWCU). Basically, the service is looking to identify companies capable of manufacturing up to 150,000 uniforms. But this could also result in a way bigger procurement depending on if the uniform is made an optional clothing item or part of the standard issue Organizational Clothing & Individual Equipment (OCIE) allowance.

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Consisting of a coat and trousers, the Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform will be printed in the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP). Soldier Systems says prototypes have been made from Invista’s 57/43 blended Cordura NYCO fabric, but other fabrics are still being considered.

In an interview with Military.com, Capt. Daniel Ferenczy, the assistant product manager for Extreme Weather Clothing and Footwear, said the Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform’s 57 percent Nylon/43 percent Cotton blend would make it “faster-drying” and give it “greater airflow” than the ACU’s 50/50 NYCO blend.

“It adds a little bit more strength which allows us to make it a lighter blend or a thinner weave … so it should dry a little quicker,” Ferenzcy said. “There are also architectural differences between the ACU uniform and this one.”

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Below, via the RFI, is exactly what the Army is looking for. Interested parties have until Nov. 7, 2017, 11:59 pm EST to respond.

GL-PD-15-04B Coat, Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform

Single-breasted, raglan sleeve front with a five (5) button closure
Fold down collar with a fusible interlining
Long sleeves with cuffs and one (1) button, three (3) buttonholes adjustable cuff tab
The top of the button down closure is open to accommodate a pen
The front has loop tape to accommodate the Name and US Army Tapes
The front placket has a loop tape for the Rank Patch
The coat has two (2) bellow style top opening upper sleeve pockets and includes an eyelet drain-hole
The coat sleeves have an elbow reinforcement patch
Both sleeves have an Identification Friend or Foe tab cover that can be opened and closed using hook and loop fastener
The IFF tab cover is centered and sewn onto the sleeve above the upper sleeve pocket
The coat has a double turned and cleaned finished hem

GL-PD-15-05B Trousers, Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform

Covered fly with a four (4) button/ buttonhole closure, or three (3) button/buttonhole closure, depending on size
Seven (7) belt loops
Two (2) side hanging pockets
Two (2) front side pleated cargo pockets with three (3) button/ two (2) buttonhole closure flaps
Two (2) lower leg side pockets with one (1) button/ one (1) buttonhole closure flaps
The side cargo pockets shall have three (3) sewn-in eyelets hidden by the bellows
The trousers shall have a double needle seat patch and a pleated knee reinforcement incorporated into the pant leg at the knee
The trousers have a one (1) piece single gusset
Two (2) front side hanging pockets
Mesh fabric attached on the inside of the trousers at the bottom of the legs as inner cuffs
The bottom of the trousers leg hems, the inner cuffs, and the waistband shall have drawstrings.