Textiles and Trade: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Department of Defense Conducting Market Research on Availability of Wool Knits, Battings and Wovens

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ("RFI") ONLY for domestic wool knits, battings and wovens for use in base layers and insulation layers of cold weather clothing systems. This is not a Request for Quotation ("RFQ"), Request for Proposal ("RFP") or an Invitation for Bid ("IFB"). It is a market research tool being used to determine the availability and adequacy of potential sources for planning purposes only.

The Department of Defense is seeking wool and wool blended materials for test and evaluation purposes. The following information is requested:

Characteristic Specification Test Method:

Weight, oz/sq. yd ASTM D-3776 (Method C)

Fiber content:

Fabric care instructions:

Dimensional Stability, percent (max):

Warp 4.0 AATCC - 96, Option 1C

Filling 2.0 AATCC - 96, Option 1

Manufacturers must be capable of supplying 3 yards of the material suitable for testing and prototype evaluation or garments. There is no color requirement for the testing material; any readily available material may be utilized.

MATERIALS MUST ALSO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BERRY AMENDMENT, 10 USC 2533a, meaning they must be made of wool raised in the U.S. with all processing done in the U.S.

Manufacturers who believe they have product(s) capable of meeting the above requirements are requested to submit 1 yard of material and a short summary including test report(s) showing performance characteristics of the material (no more than 5 pages total) describing their products' capabilities in each of these areas, by the date noted below. The summary must include Company name and address, point of contact with phone number, DUNS number, Cage Code and a statement regarding any small business designation (if applicable). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 313210 - Broadwoven Fabric Mills, with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

The deadline to respond is April 17th.

For more information contact David Trumbull at david@agathonassociates.com and I'll pass on to you the contact information at the Department of Defense.

Federal Business Opportunities, Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Recently posted federal business opportunities.

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Title:             Rivers Project Office Uniform Order
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             Body Armor
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             Commercial Item, T-Shirt Fabric, Berry Amendment Compliant
Agency:            Department of Justice
Office:            Federal Prison Industries/UNICOR
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Title:             WET WEATHER PARKA
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Title:             Synopsis of USMA Cadet Grey Shirts and Overblouses Requirement
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             Synopsis of USMA Cadet Grey Shirts and Overblouses Requirement
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             Engineer Uniforms    
Agency:            Department of Veterans Affairs
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Title:             2 Piece Flight Suits 
Agency:            Department of the Navy
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Title:             FLAG,NATIONAL
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Title:             BOOTS,SAFETY,MEN'S
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Title:             ACU/OEF-CP Sun Hat; ACU/OCP Sun Hat; NWU Boonie Cover
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Title:             CCMCK Face Mask
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             Khaki Slacks & Trousers
Agency:            Department of Transportation
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Title:             Entrance Wall, Green, Modular Command Post
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Title:             Fabric and Vinyl Materials
Agency:            Department of the Air Force
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Title:             Thread
Agency:            Government Printing Office
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Title:             Request for Information - Domestic Wool Knits, Battings/Wovens
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             Request for Information - Anti-Contact / Combat Glove
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             T-Shirts
Agency:            Department of Homeland Security
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Title:             Black Short Sleeve Shirt with West Point Logo
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------

Clients of Agathon Associates and subscribers to Agathon Associates' Trade Advisor Service can find links to the full solicitations at www.agathonassociates.com/textile-pri/berry/fbo.htm. You will need to enter your username and password. If you do not know your username and password email David Trumbull at david@agathonassociates.com.

NIST Awards $26 Million to Support Manufacturing in 10 States

The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology ("NIST") today announced the award of new cooperative agreements to 10 nonprofit organizations and universities to manage Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership ("MEP") centers. NIST’s MEP program helps small- and mid-size manufacturers create and retain jobs, increase profits and save time and money. In an open competition, the existing MEP centers in Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, were selected to receive a total of $26 million in federal funding, an increase of about $10 million or nearly 60 percent. The funding will allow the centers to reach new customers and offer new services.

The new cooperative agreements are for five years, subject to the availability of annual appropriations and successful annual reviews.

The recipients are:

Colorado: Manufacturer’s Edge (Boulder) - $1,668,359
Connecticut: CONNSTEP, Inc., (Rocky Hill) - $1,476,247
Indiana: Purdue University/Indiana MEP (Indianapolis) - $2,758,688
Michigan: Industrial Technology Institute/Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (Plymouth) - $4,299,175
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Concord) - $628,176
North Carolina: North Carolina State University/North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Raleigh) - $3,036,183
Oregon: Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Tigard) - $1,792,029
Tennessee: University of Tennessee, Center for Industrial Services/Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Nashville) - $1,976,348
Texas: The University of Texas at Arlington/Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (Arlington) - $6,700,881
Virginia: A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership/GENEDGE Alliance (Martinsville) - $1,722,571

MEP centers are public-private partnerships and must receive a portion of their funding from non-federal agencies or organizations and industry through service fees. According to the program’s cost-sharing requirement, in the first three years of the award, the federal funding must be matched dollar for dollar by the operating entity. In a center’s fourth year, the federal funding reduces to two-fifths of its budget. Centers that operate for five or more years receive one-third of their annual funding from NIST.

As a public-private partnership, MEP delivers a high return on investment to taxpayers. For every dollar of federal investment, MEP clients generate nearly $19 in new sales, which translates into $2.5 billion annually. And for every $2,001 of federal investment, MEP creates or retains one U.S. manufacturing job. Since 1988, MEP has worked with nearly 80,000 U.S. manufacturers, leading to $88 billion in sales and $14 billion in cost savings, and it has helped create more than 729,000 jobs.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Sterlingwear of Boston Awarded $6.8 Million Contract for Afghanistan National Police Uniforms

Sterlingwear of Boston Inc., East Boston, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $6,787,668 modification (P00006) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-15-D-1008) with four one-year option periods for uniformed police field jackets. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. Location of performance is Massachusetts with a March 31, 2016, performance completion date. Using service is Afghanistan National Police. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2015 foreign military sales. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Different Values

Over the last year or so I have written about several studies of patent valuation. While each of these studies had strengths and weaknesses, one common weakness they shared was that these studies were so general that they provided little practical guidance about the nuts and bolts of evaluating a specific patent.

Fortunately, in 2013 Larry Goldstein published a more practical view of patent valuation titled True Patent Value: Defining Quality in Patents and Patent Portfolios.

In True Patent Value, Goldstein starts with a basic premise: a patent will have no value until the patent is infringed. While this is obvious for patent awards derived from infringement lawsuits, the statement is equally true for licensing fees and the sales of patents. The reason is that people will not license or purchase the patent rights for technology unless they intend to use the technology and wish to avoid infringement. Alternately, they may purchase the patent rights to pursue somebody else who may be infringing. In either case, the patent doesn’t generate revenue until the technology is infringed.

Most of the rest of the book is dedicated to the observation that a patent can only have value if it is enforceable. And, unfortunately, in Goldstein’s model the only way to determine enforceability is to actually read, understand, and evaluate the patent in question. Goldstein defines three evaluation criteria for enforceability: the validity of the claims, the scope of the claims, and the discoverability of the infringement of the claims.

Validity: While the presumption should be that the claims are valid, in truth courts often find that claims that the USPTO should not have allowed. There are many reasons that claims may be held invalid. There may be prior art that wasn’t discovered in the patent search. There may be a change in the patent law that impacts the claim. Or a flawed claim may have been approved in error.

When evaluating a claim for flaws one should look for clear terminology, support in the specification, and unusual usage of a key term in the claim. By clear terminology is meant that terminology should be used consistently throughout the claim or claims. Two terms should not be applied to describe the same item or concept nor should a single term be used to describe two different items or concepts. By support in the specification is meant that the terms used to describe the boundaries of the invention within the claim should be the same terms that were used to describe the invention. In addition, all the key terms used in a claim should be described or defined in the specification. By unusual usage is meant the use of a well known term in a non-standard way. While the rule is that “an applicant may be their own lexicographer,” it then is incumbent on the applicant to clearly define how they are using their terms within a specification. Unless the specification clearly states otherwise, the plain meaning of a term will be used when interpreting a specification.

Scope: The specific question that scope answers is: how easy is it to design around a patent claim? In general, the more detailed the claim, the easier it will be to design around. However, broader (less detailed) claims will often run into conflict with prior art.

Discoverability: If a patent’s value derives from infringement, then it follows that the infringement has to be detectable. Generally, features of a claim that are related to the final product, and even better are visible, will be more readily discovered than claims involving manufacturing procedures and methods.

Once the scope, validity and discoverability of a patent have been determined, Goldstein’s experience (which is considerable) is that a good financial analyst familiar with the market the patent is in should be able to build a reliable financial model that estimates the market segments the patent is being infringed in as well as an estimated cash flow from those segments.

Below is a summary of selected patents that have been recently issued in textile related classification codes:

Cushion having damping properties: A cushion having damping properties for use in bicycle pants that includes an outer shell and a core surrounded by at least one layer with filler material between the layer and the core. A valve is provided in the outer shell to control the passage of air to and from the core and interior cavity. The damping properties of the cushion can be changed by inflating or deflating the core with air. Patent 8776276. Inventor: Lambertz. Assignee: X-Technology Swiss Gmbh.

Beach sandal: Footwear including an upper, a porous insole, a midsole, and a solid outsole. The insole has pores that permit sand to fall through the insole. The midsole includes a top surface with a plurality of grooves extending lengthwise between openings on the rear surface of the midsole and openings on the front surface of the midsole. Patent: 8776396. Inventor: Huynh. Not Assigned:

Ankle inversion and eversion prevention shoe:

An ankle inversion and eversion prevention athletic shoe has an upper foot support portion and a shoe bottom. The ankle inversion and eversion athletic shoe device is designed for preventing an athlete from spraining or turning or rolling an ankle during normal athletic competition or play or activities. The shoe includes a brace. The brace is located either behind the ankle on a heel of the shoe or on a side of said shoe in the general vicinity of the ankle. The brace includes an elongated arm and a floor contact surface designed to limit or control sliding of the foot to enable wearer time to regain composure, footing and balance. The brace provides the wearer time to regain his or her balance onto the shoe bottom, thus significantly limiting or precluding the typical and usually unavoidable ankle injury. Patent: 8776402. Inventor: Cromer. Assignee: RTC3 Llc.

Natural polymeric yarn and its fabrication method as well as application: A method for fabricating natural polymer yarn comprising the following steps: (a) forming a natural polymeric long fiber by wet spinning or electro spinning from a natural polymer solution; (b) combining the natural polymeric long fiber and at least one polymeric fiber by a false twist texturing process to form a natural polymeric yarn. By means of a false twist texturing process, the natural polymer yarn with enhanced tensile strength and elongation could reduce the drawback of conventional wound dressing products which lack strength and stretchiness in a wet condition. Patent: 8776490. Inventor: Tsao. Assignee: Coreleader Biotech Co., Ltd.

Finally, I would like to end this week with a shameless plug: RB Consulting Inc has just launched a website that I would like to invite you to visit. My prior blog posts are available on the site.

Jim Carson is a principal of RB Consulting, Inc and a registered patent agent. He has over 30 years of experience across multiple industries including the biotechnology, textile, computer, telecommunications, and energy sectors. RB Consulting, Inc specializes in providing management, prototyping, and regulatory services to small and start-up businesses. He can be reached via email at jim@rbconsulting,us or by phone at (803) 792-2183.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Federal Business Opportunities, Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Recently posted federal business opportunities.

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Title:             Commercial Item, T-Shirt Fabric, Berry Amendment Compliant
Agency:            Department of Justice
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Title:             Coveralls, Flyers 27P, Sage Green, Coveralls, Women's Green, Type I, AF, Coveralls, Women's Green, Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Title:             Popup Tent
Agency:            Department of the Navy
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Title:             Tee Shirts, Polos, Jackets
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Title:             Fabric - Gold Nylon, Berry Compliant
Agency:            Department of Justice
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Title:             Chair Covers
Agency:            Department of the Navy
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Title:             Boot, Extreme Cold Weather
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
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Title:             Flame Resistant Deluxe Coveralls
Agency:            Department of Justice
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Title:             Fire Fighter Boots
Agency:            Department of the Navy
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Title:             Ballistics Vests and Accessories
Agency:            Other Defense Agencies
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Title:             Rivers Project Office Uniform Order
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             2 Piece Flight Suits 
Agency:            Department of the Navy
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Title:             Lifeguard Uniforms IDIQ NPS Northeast Region
Agency:            Department of the Interior
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Cold Weather Jackets 
Agency:            Department of the Air Force
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Title:             VEST
Agency:            Department of State
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Title:             BOOTS,SAFETY,MEN'S
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Ballistics Vests and Accessories
Agency:            Other Defense Agencies
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EPA Proposes Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements on Nanoscale Materials in the Marketplace

For the first time the agency will use TSCA authority to collect health and safety information on nanoscale chemicals already in use

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") is proposing one-time reporting and recordkeeping requirements on nanoscale chemical substances in the marketplace.

EPA currently reviews new chemical substances manufactured or processed as nanomaterials prior to introduction into the marketplace to ensure that they are safe. For the first time, the agency is proposing to use the Toxic Substances Control Act ("TSCA") to collect existing exposure and health and safety information on chemicals currently in the marketplace when manufactured or processed as nanoscale materials. The proposal will require one-time reporting from companies that manufacture or process chemical substances as nanoscale materials.

The companies will notify EPA of:

certain information, including specific chemical identity;
production volume;
methods of manufacture; processing, use, exposure, and release information; and,
available health and safety data.

Additional information and a fact sheet on the specifics of the proposed rule and what constitutes a nanocale chemical material can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/nano/

Update to Upholstery Sampling FTZ Application

On March 25, 2015, the Foreign Trade Zone Board published in the Federal Register (80 FR 15755) Subzone 38G—Anderson, South Carolina; Application for Production Authority Kravet Inc.; Comment Period on Submission of New Evidence.

Kravet originally filed for Foreign Trade Zone ("FTZ") procedures for production of upholstery fabric samples in 2007. FTZ procedures would exempt Kravet from customs duty payments on the foreign components used in export production. On its domestic shipments, Kravet would be able to choose the duty rates during customs entry procedures that apply to samples (duty-free) for the textile samples produced at the facility. In 2008 the FTZ Board approved Kravet's FTZ request as relating to exports; as relating to domestic shipments the benefit was restricted to a duty deferral but not duty-free entry. Again in 2014 Kravet filed for full FTZ authorization and was opposed by the domestic textile industry. On March 13, 2015, Kravet made a submission to the FTZ Board that included new evidence in response to the examiner's preliminary recommendation not to approve the application. Public comment is invited on Kravet's new evidence through April 24, 2015. Rebuttal comments may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period, until May 11, 2015.

Important Information for Anyone Doing Business in Mexico

The U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Textiles and Apparel ("OTEXA") is offering a FREE WEBINAR “New Textile and Apparel Measures in Mexico.” This webinar will provide valuable information about the textile and apparel decree announced by the Mexican government in December 2014. Officials from the Mexican Ministry of Economy and the Tax Administration Service ("SAT") will explain the key aspects of the textile/apparel decree. There will be a question and answer period at the end of the webinar.

Book the Webinar Date!
Date: Wednesday, April 8th, 2015
Cost: Free of Charge
Time: 12:00 Central, 1:00 p.m. Eastern
There is no charge to participate in this webinar but advance registration is required. Participants may register via the following link: https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/event/editWebReg.do?SmartCode=5Q65.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Spinrite Recalls Bernat Tizzy Yarn Due to Entanglement Hazard

Recall Details

Units: About 620,000 in the U.S and about 220,000 in Canada

Description: The recall includes all 11 colors of Bernat brand Tizzy Yarn. The yarn was sold as a ball or skein in a 3.5 ounce package with a paper sleeve. The green sleeve has a striped border with a photo of a baby in a knitted sweater and “Bernat” printed in all white capital letters and “Tizzy” printed in yellow and orange letters. UPC codes included in the recall are printed under the barcode on the paper sleeve. To view a full listing of the color numbers, color names and UPC codes included in the recall, click here: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2015/Spinrite-Recalls-Bernat-Tizzy-Yarn/

Incidents/Injuries: Bernat has received two reports of children becoming entangled from unraveling or snagging yarn blankets. No injuries have been reported.

Sold at: Jo-Ann Stores, Michaels and other craft retail stores nationwide and online at www.yarnspirations.com from April 2012 through February 2015 for between $4.50 and $5.

Importer: Spinrite Yarns LP, of Washington, N.C.

Manufactured in: China.

TPP Revisited

Recently, new reports have come out listing some of the unresolved IP issues remaining in the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations. The issues leaked all have to do with the regulation of pharmaceuticals. My belief is that this reflects the desires of the leaker and does not comprehensively represent the outstanding issues.

Below is a brief summary of the issues that have been reported:

Patent Linkage and Patent Extensions: The problem here is relatively simple: regulatory approval for medical devices takes time that cuts into the effective marketing life of a newly patented invention. In the US, it can take a company 10 years to get a phase III approval and up to an additional 12 months after that for final FDA approve a drug for prescription use. Other countries can take longer. From the perspective of the patent owner, this means that half of the 20 year life of a patent is lost due to the regulatory processes. Under US law, the USPTO can extend the term of a patent to compensate the patent holder for this lost time. While the US and Japan have been pushing for this in the TPP, there has been resistance.

Patents for New Uses: I am assuming this is a medical issue also. In many patent regimes, including the US, you can only patent a chemical compound once. Specifically, a previously known, or previously patented, chemical compound does not become patentable because of a newly discovered property. My understanding is that this is fairly common across patent regimes, however, even in the US law there is a fair amount of grey area. For example, assume that a medication has always been taken orally. If an application was filed that made this medication injectable, the patent office would reject the application as unpatentable. However, if the applicant could demonstrate an unknown and unexpected benefit from injecting the medicine into a patient, then a patent that was strictly for the method of injecting the medication might be approved. This type of issue is very situation specific and how the USPTO would proceed would depend heavily on the specific facts of the application.

Data Exclusivity: These are issues regarding how regulatory agencies protect and use the proprietary information of companies seeking regulatory approvals.

Standard for IP Protection: It has been reported that TPP negotiators have been working on allowing certain countries to maintain a lower standard for IP protections with a transition period that will allow those countries to migrate to a higher standard of IP protections. It has been known for some time that negotiating the details of this transition has been challenging.

Below is a summary of selected patents that have been recently issued in textile related classification codes:

Method for the production of leather, copolymers that are suitable therefor, and further uses thereof: A combination of functionally modified carboxylic acids and alcohols for use in the leather tanning process. The advantage of this method is that the tanning chemicals do not prematurely react with alkoxylated alcohols in the leather or affect the fat distribution within the leather. This creates more even dyeing through the leather. Patent: 8771374. Inventors: Brym, et.al. Assignee: BASF Se.

Azo compound and salt thereof, and dye-containing polarizing film comprising the compound or salt: An azo dye compound specifically designed for use as dyes on polarizing plates. The advantage of this composition is improved polarizing performance under high temperature and humidity conditions. Patent 8771378. Inventors: Sadamitsu, et.al. Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha and Polatechno Co., Ltd.

Ballistic vest carrier cover system: A ballistic vest carrier cover has a mantle that goes over the wearer's shoulders from the front waist to the rear waist. The cover fits over a shirt so the combination appears as a standard uniform shirt. The liner attaches to the outer layer at the front and rear waist, neck, and along the sides from front armor openings to rear armor openings, producing front and rear pockets for receiving the body armor panel carriers. The panel carriers are attached using supplied straps at the waist through the armor openings and at the shoulders through tunnels between the front and rear pockets. A stretch panel extends from the cover at the rear armor opening, over the waist strap, and fastens to the cover at the front armor. Patent: 8776262. Inventors: Blauer and Lee. Assignee: Blauer Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Hunting garment and safety harness system: A hunting garment system including a safety harness which restrains a hunter while perched on a tree stand, an outer member, and an inner member. Both the inner member and the outer member include detachable sleeves and a detachable hood allowing the hunter to select a particular weather-conforming configuration. The safety harness is designed to be safely anchored onto a tree and is worn alone, beneath the outer member, beneath the inner member, beneath an outer vest, beneath an inner vest, or in combination with an assembly of the outer member over the inner member. Patent: 8776266. Inventor: Metz. Not Assigned.

Sewn glove and manufacturing method thereof: A glove sewing method that makes moving the fingers of the gloves easier. Patent: 8776269. Inventors: Matsukoa. Matsukoa Glove Co, Ltd.

Windproof waterproof breathable seamed articles: The present invention provides waterproof, breathable non-textile seamed articles which exhibit high levels of durability and allow wearers a high level of flexibility and article strength. This invention is of particular interest for use in dexterous hand coverings and conformable foot coverings. Patent 8776270. Inventors: Williams and Klein. Assignee: WL Gore and Associates, Inc.

Finally, I would like to end this week with a shameless plug: RB Consulting Inc has just launched a website that I would like to invite you to visit. My prior blog posts are available on the site.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Agathon Associates Signs up as One of the Sponsor of Univ. of Rhode Island Textile "Spring Splash"

The Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design Department ("TMD") and the Textile Advisory Board at the University of Rhode Island invite you to become a sponsor of Spring Splash 2015: Designers in Bloom, to be held on Friday, April 10, 2015.

For more than ten years, Spring Splash has raised funds to support student scholarships and activities directly related to the education of TMD students. Outstanding alums and industry partners are recognized, scholarships awarded, and fashion show winners selected. As attendees from years past will attest, it is a truly fun night for everyone involved and is a great benefit to the graduate students, graduating seniors, and continuing undergraduates. This year, the evening begins with a cocktail reception and dinner and culminates with a fashion show and awards ceremony. Textile, Fashion Merchandising and Design students work with faculty to organize the entire event. The design students present their spring lines of fashion, which they work on all year, independent of formal classes!

Fellow students volunteer as models. In addition, other academic achievements within the TMD program are highlighted. The audience will have the opportunity to assist in the selection of awardees!

The TMD Department offers two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in Textile Marketing and the other in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design, as well as a Master of Science degree. TMD provides a university experience along with specialized education in the design, production and merchandising of textile and fashion products.

Approximately 300 students are enrolled in the programs and come from all over the country and abroad. Students do international internships in China, France, Italy, Great Britain, as well as New York and Los Angeles. Many successful textile and fashion companies hire our graduates because they value the exceptional caliber of TMD students and the quality of the education we provide.

To ensure the success of Spring Splash 2015 and future TMD student-centered programming and scholarships, the Textile Advisory Board, of which David Trumbull, principal, Agathon Associates, is a member, seeks sponsors at four levels. The benefits afforded to sponsors at each level are detailed below attachment. Beyond the tangible benefits, however, is the satisfaction of helping to develop future professionals in the textile, apparel and merchandising industries.

Please contact Dr. Susan Hannel, Department Chair, at shannel@uri.edu or 401.874.2882, or Karin Conopask, Director of Development for the College of Human Science and Services, at kconopask@uri.edu or 401-874-5745 for additional information about becoming a sponsor.

2015 Spring Splash – Sponsorship Levels

Runway Star- $5,000 +

Your name and/or logo prominently displayed on event program.
Recognition in press releases and event flyers as a major event sponsor
Six guests to reception, dinner and show
One award (prize) named for the sponsor

Fashionista- $2,500 +

Your name and/or logo displayed on the event program
Recognition in press releases and event flyers as an event sponsor
Four guests to reception, dinner and event
One award (prize) named for the sponsor

Designer- $1,000 +

Your name and/or logo displayed in the event program
Recognition in press releases and event flyers as an event sponsor
Two guests to reception, dinner and show

Stylist- $250 +

Name on event program
Recognition in press releases and event flyers as an event sponsor
One guest to reception, dinner and show

Federal Business Opportunities, Thursday, March 19, 2015

Recently posted federal business opportunities.

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Title:             Sources Sought ONLY USMA West Point NY Women's Swimsuit
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             Sources Sought ONLY for White Cotton Webbding
Agency:            Department of the Army
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Title:             Sources Sought ONLY for White Collars & Cuffs for USMA West Point NY Cadet Uniforms
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Sources Sought ONLY for Black Mohair Braids for Use in USMA West Point NY Cadet Dress Coats
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Safety Shoes
Agency:            Department of the Navy
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             COVERALL, TYVEK
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Flag National
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Butyl Gloves/ TAP Gloves
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Pentagon Arc Flash Uniforms
Agency:            Other Defense Agencies
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             T-Shirts
Agency:            Department of Homeland Security
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Title:             Ballistics Vests and Accessories
Agency:            Other Defense Agencies
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             COVERALL, PUNTIFORM
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             COVERALL, ENVIROGUARD BODY FILTER 95+
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             CLOTH,PLAIN WEAVE
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             FIRE TURNOUT GEAR RENTAL PROGRAM
Agency:            Department of Justice
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Flame Resistant Deluxe Coveralls
Agency:            Department of Justice
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Shop Towel Rental and Service
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Men & Women Footwear 
Agency:            Department of Transportation
-------------------------------------------------------

Army Coat Contract Awarded

API LLC, Camuy, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $11,736,600 modification (P00114) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPM1C1-13-D-1037) with four one-year option periods for various Army combat uniform coats. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. Locations of performance are Puerto Rico and Mississippi with a March 18, 2016 performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation are fiscal years 2015 and 2016 defense working capital

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Trade Advisor Service Celebrates First Year of Helping Industry

The end of March will mark one year of Agathon Associates Trade Advisor, an annual subscription service designed to assist textile and related companies stay abreast of the latest developments in U.S. regulations affecting:

textile and wool product labeling,
consumer product safety regulations relating to textiles and related products,
foreign trade zone applications relating to textiles and related products,
U.S. Customs and Border Protection tariff classification, country of origin, and marking regulations and decisions relating to textiles and textile products,
compliance with the regulations for free trade agreements and trade preference programs as they affect trade in textiles and textile products, and
proposed legislation that touches on rules and regulations for textiles and textile products.

Subscribers to this annual service access to valuable information on the subscribers-only pages of Agathon Associates website. Some of the recent postings on subscribers-only pages have included:

point-by-point analysis of the recent changes to the Federal Trade Commission Wool Rules,
background, including links to original submissions and rebuttals, relating to a recent foreign trade zone application for woven fabric of cotton or polyester,
update on recent development in the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement and details on the paperwork requirement for that program, and
detailed background and analysis of a recent foreign trade zone application relating to upholstery fabric.

Subscribers also benefit from the 20-years experience of Agathon Associates' Principal David Trumbull, who is available to answer questions about U.S. regulations affecting textiles and textile products. As a subscriber, quick answers to your questions will be just a phone call or email away. David has represented U.S. textile interests in trade and development policies at negotiations and conferences throughout North America, Western Europe, East Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. He was appointed, in 2007, to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Textile and Clothing ("ITAC 13") by Ambassador Susan C. Schwab and Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez. Re-appointed, in 2010, to ITAC 13 by Ambassador Ronald Kirk and Secretary Gary Locke.

The cost of this service is just $2,500 per year.

Already Agathon Associates has signed by subscribers in the wool textile, knitted textile, woven textile, and man-made fiber yarn sectors of the industry.

For more information, or to sign up, call David at 617-237-6008.

84th IWTO Congress, Zhengjiagang, China, May 18-20, 2015

David Trumbull, principal, Agathon Associates, will be attending as a member of the American Sheep Industry Association delegation, the 84th International Wool Textile Organisation ("IWTO") Congress. The Congress is one of the highlights of the wool industry's calendar,

Co-organised by IWTO member China Wool Textile Association ("CWTA"), this will be the fourth Congress to take place in China, the world's largest wool processing and wool consuming country.

The IWTO Congress is a unique opportunity for all in the wool textile pipeline to meet, exchange ideas and help formulate IWTO policy for the coming year.

Dept. of Defense Announces Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles-Institute for Manufacturing Innovation

Thanks to Lloyd Wood, Principal, Lloyd Wood Group, a Washington-based consultant to the U.S. textile industry for alerting Agathon Associates to the exciting new initiative at the Department of Defense. Today the U.S. Government announced its intent to seek competition for the ninth Institute for Manufacturing Innovation ("IMI") as part of the Administration's National Network for Manufacturing Innovation ("NNMI") initiative. It is the sixth IMI to be led by the Department of Defense ("DOD"). Of the eight Institutes previously announced by the President of the United States, five are led by DOD and three are led by the Department of Energy ("DOE"). The DOD is leading IMIs focused on the following technology areas:

(1) additive manufacturing ("America Makes");

(2) lightweight and modern metals (Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow ("LIFT"));

(3) digital manufacturing and design;

(4) integrated photonics; and

(5) flexible hybrid electronics.

The DOE is similarly leading IMIs focused on the following technology areas:

(6) power electronics (Power America);

(7) advanced composites; and

(8) smart manufacturing for energy efficiency.

These Institutes are bringing together industry, universities and community colleges, federal agencies, and state organizations to accelerate innovation by investing in industrially-relevant manufacturing technologies with broad applications. They are intended to bridge the gap between basic research and product development, provide shared assets allowing access to cutting-edge capabilities and equipment, and create an unparalleled environment to educate and train students and workers in advanced manufacturing skills. Each Institute will serve as a regional hub of manufacturing excellence, providing the innovation infrastructure to support regional manufacturing hubs, thus ensuring that the U.S. manufacturing sector is a key pillar in an economy that is built to last.

The technical focus area for this Institute will be revolutionary fibers and textiles. The Institute will be referred to in the solicitation phase as the Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Institute for Manufacturing Innovation ("RFT-IMI").

Advances in fiber science have created fibers with extraordinary properties. Exceptional strength, flame resistance, electrical and other novel properties have revolutionized the fibers and textiles application space - hence the use of the term 'revolutionary.' Revolutionary fibers and textiles are a fast growing segment in the overall fiber and textile marketplace with a wide range of commercial and defense applications. They cover a range of fiber systems that are often known as technical textiles, composed of specialty fabrics, industrial fabrics, e-textiles, and advanced textiles. The core characteristic of technical textiles is that they are built upon a foundation of predominantly synthetic fibers and/or multi-material fibers.

These revolutionary textiles keep the warfighter protected, unburdened and empowered across the spectrum of operations through the development of, but not limited to, the following:

(1) uniforms and load-bearing equipment with protective ballistic/stab puncture capabilities and environmental/physical trauma mitigation;

(2) air, land and sea transportation for personnel and cargo;

(3) air, land and sea precision delivery systems;

(4) novel structures for turbine and rotor hubs;

(5) protective shelters;

(6) energy harvesting equipment; and

(7) a variety of other smart textile (integrated electronics) products.

Additionally commercial applications include, but may not be limited to:

(1) protections against biological, environmental and chemical agents (e.g. Ebola barrier suits);

(2) sensor-enabled textiles that can monitor health of athletes and fitness enthusiasts by monitoring heart rate, oxygen content, etc.;

(3) construction, geosynthetic applications and durable textiles that can reinforce roads, bridges, dams and prevent soil erosion;

(4) glass and carbon fiber applications in wind power, aviation and space travel;

(5) enabling wearable technology and

(6) sports equipment including flying, sailing, climbing, angling, cycling, winter and summer sports.

Advances in processes like weaving, knitting, and braiding for novel synthetic fibers can enable numerous applications in the composites, wearable electronics and Internet of things ("IOT") markets. Innovations in modelling, simulation, verification and validation through the RFT-IMI can create additional synergies in multiple markets.

The RFT-IMI will serve as a public-private partnership between government, academia and industry to address the spectrum of manufacturing challenges associated with this technology, from design to end products. It is envisioned to support an end-to-end innovation 'ecosystem' in the U.S. for revolutionary fibers and textiles manufacturing and leverage domestic manufacturing facilities to develop and scale-up manufacturing processes. The RFT-IMI will provide innovative system demonstrations based on robust design and simulation tools, pilot production facilities, a roster of subject matter experts, suppliers, and workforce development opportunities through targeted training and curriculum programs. The RFT-IMI will be structured to allow government, industry and academia to collaborate together on pre-competitive research, development, and demonstration with the goal of enhancing the currently fragmented U.S. textile manufacturing capabilities and better position the U.S. relative to global competition. The RFT-IMI will also enable universities, industry and government to participate in and benefit from the resulting manufacturing advances. The RFT-IMI will be structured to address both commercial and DOD applications with a focus on maturing technology from Manufacturing Readiness Level ("MRL") 4 to 7. The RFT-IMI will be expected to become self-sustaining after completion of the five year cooperative agreement.

AWARD INFORMATION: The U.S. Government intends to enter into a five year cooperative agreement and provide federal funding of $75 million that is to be matched or exceeded by funding from private industry and other non-federal sources (minimum 1:1 cost share). A solicitation is expected to be released in mid-April 2015 with a Proposer's Day to follow shortly thereafter (exact date and location will be announced later). The Proposer's Day will be for informational purposes only, and attendance is not a prerequisite for submitting a proposal.

INQUIRIES: All questions may be directed via email using the title quote mark NOI RFT-IMI Questions quote mark in the subject line to:

Lauren McDermott
Contract Specialist
ACC-NJ, ET
Email: lauren.a.mcdermott.civ@mail.mil

All questions received and answers will be posted on manufacturing.gov.

Manufacturing Council to Meet April 1, 2015

The United States Manufacturing Council will hold the first meeting of the current members’ term on Wednesday, April 1, 2015. The Council was established in April 2004 to advise the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the manufacturing industry. Jenny Houston, Executive Vice President, Warwick Mills; New Ipswich, N.H., is the textile representative on the Council. David Hastings of Mount Vernon Mills was the textile representative on the Council from 2010 to 2014. Daniel Harding Stowe, President and Chief Executive Officer, R.L. Stowe Mills, Inc. was a member of the Council from 2004 to 2010.

Burlington Introduces the Attaché Collection of Easy-Care Merino Wool Fabrics

Burlington has introduced the Attaché Collection of easy to wear 100% Merino Wool performance fabrics. The new Collection features fabrics with enhanced wrinkle-recovery, natural stretch and soil repellency. According to a company press release, the fabrics are ideal for travel and every day wear, Attaché fabrics are styled for today’s working gentleman.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Coville, Inc. Awarded Poly/Spandex Fabric Contract

UNUSUAL AND COMPELLING URGENCY Award to Coville, Inc. of Winston-Salem, N.C. in the amount of $474,000 for Fabric, Polyester/Spandex, Black (Roll Goods) to support the Army APFU Trunk program at FPI/UNICOR factory at Pollock, LA. Effective date 02/12/2015 thru 08/11/2015, if needed. 6 month contract term. 279,600 trunk liners needed for Army trunk delivery thru February, 2015. DLA approved 2 additional sources, Coville being one of the two. Urgent fabric will bring the Trunk program up to date with DLA delivery order due dates.

Federal Business Opportunities, Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Recently posted federal business opportunities.

-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Dickies Uniforms
Agency:            Department of the Air Force
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             TENT,MX SHELTER, TAN,
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             T-Shirts
Agency:            Department of Homeland Security
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Request for Information - Infant Wearable Blankets/Sleep Sacks
Agency:            Department of the Navy
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Commercial Item, T-Shirt Fabric, Berry Amendment Compliant
Agency:            Department of Justice
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Sources Sought Only - Grey Uniform Shirts for USMA West Point Cadets
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Industry Day Announcement for Energy Dissipating Airbags
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             JACKET
Agency:            Department of the Navy
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Ultra Low Visibility Concealable Body Armor (ULV CBA) Re-Solicitation
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             STRIP,CLOTH,LAMINAT
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Energy Dissipating Airbag for use with Cargo Aerial Delivery Platform
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Lifeguard Uniforms IDIQ NPS Northeast Region
Agency:            Department of the Interior
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             GLOVES, DISPOSABLE
Agency:            Department of the Navy
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Flame Resistant Deluxe Coveralls
Agency:            Department of Justice
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Protective Footwear
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             BOOTS, FIREMEN'S
Agency:            Department of the Navy
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             OVERALLS, CHEMICAL, JOINT PROTECTIVE AIR CREW ENSEMBLE (JPACE) in Sage (class 1), Universal Camouflage (class3) and Field Expedient Repair Kits (OFERK and LFERK)
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Coveralls, Flers 27P, Coveralls Women's, Type I and Type II
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Cadet Raincoats
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Fabric - Gold Nylon, Berry Compliant
Agency:            Department of Justice
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Drawstring Backpack with Logo
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Coveralls, Flyers 27P, Sage Green, Coveralls, Women's Green, Type I, AF, Coveralls, Women's Green, Type II, Navy
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Uniform
Agency:            Department of State
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             US Navy Service Dress Whites, Men
Agency:            Department of Transportation
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             LAMINATED CLOTH
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Mattress encasements
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Cold Weather Jackets 
Agency:            Department of the Air Force
-------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Army Trouser Contact Awarded

Tullahoma Industries LLC, Tullahoma, Tennessee, has been awarded a maximum $25,482,000 modification (P00115) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPM1C1-13-D-1033) with four one-year option periods for various permethrin trousers. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina with a March 12, 2016, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Kid’s Korner Children’s Zipper Hooded Sweatshirts Recalled by Kroger Due to Choking Hazard

Recall Details

Units: About 140,000

Description: This recall involves Kids Korner brand boy’s, girl’s and toddler’s cotton/poly blend fleece zipper hooded sweatshirts with a front zipper, two front pockets and knit ribbing around the wrists and waist. The sweatshirts were sold in 62 different prints and solid colors in infant, toddler to children’s size 4. The size can be found on a label sewn into the back seam of the neck. A white label sewn into the lower left inside seam reads Inter-American Products, Lahore, Pakistan and has style number ending in 8025, 8025P, 8128, 8128P, 8174P, 8251, 8326 or 8326P. Also on the label are the following manufacture dates: March 2014, April 2014, June 2014 or November 2014 and batch numbers: 1, FLC-P5, FLC-P6 or FLC-P8. To view photos of all recalled sweatshirts, visit the Recall Alerts section on the firm’s web site.

Incidents/Injuries: Kroger has received one report of a zipper pull detaching from the sweatshirt. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the sweatshirt away from young children and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers without a sales receipt will be refunded current retail price.

Sold at Dillons, Fred Meyer, King Soopers Marketplace, Kroger, Smith’s and Fry’s Marketplace and other stores nationwide from June 2014 through February 2015 for between $8 and $10.

Importer: Fred Meyer, Inc., of Portland, Ore. dba Kroger of Cincinnati, Ohio

Manufactured in Pakistan

Youth Loungewear Pants Recalled by M&M’S World Store Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

Recall Details

Units: About 19,000

Description: This recall involves youth loungewear pants. The youth loungewear pants came in two prints, one with an allover boxed M&M’S® character print and the second with an allover M&M’S® candy print. Both youth loungewear pants are 100% cotton and were sold in youth sizes small through XL. The recalled garments have a label sewn inside the waistband with the product’s identification number that includes the last four digits as the date of manufacture in MMYY format. The recalled youth loungewear pants have identification numbers ending in 0711, 0212, 1112, 0313, 0413 or 0713.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled youth loungewear pants away from children, stop using them and return them to M&M’S World® for a full refund.

Sold exclusively at M&M’S World stores nationwide from July 2011 through November 2014 for about $22.

Importer: Mars Retail Group, of Mount Arlington, N.J.

Manufactured in China

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Issued Patents

This week I will focus on issued patents. Below is a summary of selected patents that have been recently issued in textile related classification codes:

Gravity-loading body suit: An elastic skin suit simulates gravitational loading. By selecting material(s) of appropriate dimensions and appropriate module of elasticity, and optionally integrating inelastic portions to maintain a desired surface distribution, the suit can be adapted to impose a loading regime that simulates the loading of terrestrial gravity in a more continuous, shoulder-to-ankle manner than current loading suits. Patent: 8769712. Inventors: Waldie and Newman. Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Impact marking vest: A method and apparatus for use in facilitating force-on-force (FOF) training. Specifically, an impact marking vest (IMV) for use in registering a ballistic impact event upon a three-dimensional target surface. Patent: 8769713. Inventors: Lee and Jones. Assignee: Apex Tactical Specialties, Inc.

Digit tip protection: A digit tip protection device comprises a concave puncture-resistant member adapted to protect a pulp of a user's digit. This is a shield that can be worn on the fingertips. Patent: 8769714. Inventor: Meltzner. Not Assigned.

Boot machine-device: Boot machining device for angular adjustment of a boot sole. The device includes a support frame and a flat frame. The frame is provided with an opening larger than the sole of the boot in order to provide access, a securing arrangement fixed in the support frame for securing the boot in the device such that it is accessible from the top side, an arrangement for adjusting and locking the angular position of the boot sole, and a machining tool carrier for supporting a machining tool. Device is for use with ski boots. Patent 8769750. Inventor: Hallander, et.al. Assignee: Solemate AB.

Method of attaching a traction cleat to a shoe mounted receptacle: A thinner shoe mounted receptacle results from a thin cleat attachment flange received in a shallow receptacle cavity. An angled interface between the cleat and receptacle provide a friction fit engagement to minimize inadvertent disengagement of the cleat and receptacle. Rotational locking occurring inside or outside the cavity further prevents inadvertent cleat rotation. Multiple positionally synchronized angular stops positively define the final angular orientation of the cleat in the receptacle. Patent: 8769751. Inventor: Burt, et.al. Assignee: Pride Manufacturing Company, LLC

Automatic lacing system: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper. Patent: 8769844. Inventor: Beers, et.al. Assignee: Nike, Inc.

Dial of circular hosiery knitting machine of the type with cylinder and dial with yarn cutting device: A dial of a circular hosiery knitting machine of the type with a cylinder and dial with yarn cutting device. The dial comprises a dial body which is disk-shaped which is provided with a cutting device. The cutting sectors are arranged at sectors of the dial body which are intended to be free from needles. The cutting device comprises a cutter which is adapted to abut against the cutting edges of the cutting sectors to cut at least one yarn engaged by one of the cutting sectors in its rotary motion about the axis of the dial body with respect to the cutter. Patent 8769996. Inventor: Lonati, et.al. Assignee: Santoni S.P.A.

Methods and devices for controlling a tufting machine for forming tufted carpet: A control system for a tufting machine configured for forming tufted carpet. The tufting machine can have a system controller in communication with the tufting machine and with a plurality of yarn feed controllers for controlling operation of yarn feed motors that are configured to supply yarn from a source of yarn to the tufting machine. The system controller is programmable to enable input of a plurality of predetermined yarn feed profiles for selected stitches of a programmed pattern to be tufted such that, although at least two of the predetermined yarn feed profiles can be different, substantially the same feed length of yarn is used from each of the plurality of yarns. Patent: 8770122. Inventors: Vaughan and Honeycutt. Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company.

Reed and weaving machine for weaving pattern formation in woven fabrics with additional pattern effects: A machine for producing woven fabrics with additional pattern effects, one or more effect threads are supplied substantially in the warp direction and are moved over neighboring warp threads in the weft direction. To facilitate this, the reed includes first reed blades which, at their upper end, each include a sloping thread guide element projecting in the longitudinal direction of the reed, so as to at least partially extend over the upwardly facing opening of a neighboring reed gap. The reed further includes second reed blades having no such sloping thread guide elements. The guide elements guide the effect threads down into the proper reed gaps. Patent: 8770235. Inventors: Wahhoud, et.al. Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft Mbh.

Jim Carson is a principal of RB Consulting, Inc. and a registered patent agent. He has over 30 years of experience across multiple industries including the biotechnology, textile, computer, telecommunications, and energy sectors. RB Consulting, Inc. specializes in providing management, prototyping, and regulatory services to small and start-up businesses. He can be reached via email at James.Carson.Jr@gmail.com or by phone at (803) 792-2183.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Federal Business Opportunities, Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Recently posted federal business opportunities.

-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Massif Elements Lite Jackets and Pants - U.S. Army
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Roof Cap Assembly, Tan, Modular Command Post
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Harness Assembly, Hood and Mask
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             TROUSERS, MEN'S, DRESS, POLY/WOOL, ARMY, BLUE, SHADE 451, WITHOUT BRAID
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             CLOTH, WOOL, ELASTIQUE, WEST POINT, GRAY, MDW
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Sources Sought Only - Grey Uniform Shirts for USMA West Point Cadets
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Medical Office Work Shoes
Agency:            Department of Labor
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             SKETCHERS SHOES
Agency:            Department of the Navy
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             T-Shirt, Athletes, AF, PTU
Agency:            Defense Logistics Agency
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Men & Women Footwear 
Agency:            Department of Transportation
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             Uniform
Agency:            Department of State
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             The United States Army Garrison West Point, NY is seeking sources for a Contractor to provide 2,400 yards of WHITE CLOTH POCKETING conforming to USMA LOCAL STOCK NUMBER PD C0061.
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------
Title:             The United States Army Garrison West Point, NY is seeking sources for a Contractor to provide 2,000 yards of CLOTH HORSE HAIR conforming to USMA LOCAL STOCK NUMBER PD C0105.
Agency:            Department of the Army
-------------------------------------------------------

Children’s Pajamas Recalled by K.J. Sportswear California Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

Units: About 9,200

Description: This recall involves children’s one-piece and two-piece Thor pajama sets. The children’s one-piece 94% polyester and 6% spandex with “Thor” printed on the center front in three different color patterns: blue and white, red and white, and pink and black. The children’s two-piece, long-sleeve and pant pajama set is 94% polyester and 6% spandex with “Thor” printed on the center front in three different color patterns: blue and white, red and white, and pink and black. The pajamas were sold in sizes 6 to 12 months, 12 to 18 months and 18 to 24 months through youth large. This recall includes both pajama styles with these tracking numbers on the back of the neck label: 728141, 995755, 995756, 995757 and 995758.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled pajamas away from children, stop using them and return them to K.J. Sportswear California for a full refund.

Sold at Authorized Thor motocross retailers nationwide from June 2013 through December 2014 for between $30 and $45.

Importer: K.J. Sportswear California Inc., of Huntington Beach, Calif.

Manufactured in China.

Department of Defense Procurement from Federal Prison Industries

On March 6, 2015, the Department of Defense Defense Acquisition Regulations System published in the Federal Register Acquisition of Items for Which Federal Prison Industries Has a Significant Market Share; Notice.

On November 19, 2009, a final rule was published at 74 FR 59914 which amended the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement ("DFARS") subpart 208.6, to implement section 827 of the National Defense Authorization Act ("NDAA") for Fiscal Year 2008, Public Law 110-181. Section 827 changed DoD competition requirements for purchases from Federal Prison Industries, Inc. ("FPI") by requiring Department of Defense ("DoD") to publish an annual list of product categories for which FPI's share of the DoD market was greater than five percent, based on the most recent fiscal year data available. Product categories on the current list, and the products within each identified product category, must be procured using competitive or fair opportunity procedures in accordance with DFARS 208.602-70.

The Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy ("DPAP") issued a memorandum dated February 27, 2015, that provides the current list of product categories for which FPI's share of the DOD market is greater than five percent based on Fiscal Year 2014 data from the Federal Procurement Data System. The product categories to be competed effective March 29, 2015, are the following:

3990 (Miscellaneous Materials Handling Equipment)
5210 (Measuring Tools, Craftsmen's)
7110 (Office Furniture)
7125 (Cabinets, Lockers, Bins and Shelving)
7230 (Draperies, Awnings, and Shades)
8405 (Outerwear, Men's)
8410 (Outerwear, Women's)
8415 (Clothing, Special Purpose)

The DPAP memorandum with the current list of product categories for which FPI has a significant market share is posted at: http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/policyvault/USA001110-15-DPAP.pdf. The statute as implemented also requires DoD to--

Include FPI in the solicitation process for these items; a timely offer from FPI must be considered; and award procedures must be followed in accordance with existing policy at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.602(a)(4)(ii) through (v);
Continue to be make acquisitions, in accordance with FAR Subpart 8.6, for items from product categories for which FPI does not have a significant market share. FAR 8.602 requires agencies to conduct market research and make a written comparability determination, at the discretion of the contracting officer. Competitive (or fair opportunity) procedures are appropriate if the FPI product is not comparable in terms of price, quality, or time of delivery; and
Section 827 allows modification of the published list if DoD subsequently determines that new data requires adding or omitting a product category from the list.

American Woolen Company Announces Spring/Summer 2016 Collection

American Woolen Company has announced their Spring/Summer 2016 collection; reintroducing luxury, quality and excellence in the very finest worsted and wool blend fabrics-Made in the USA.

This refined collection comprises 16 base styles. 100% wool and wool blends are offered; versatile blends of wool/linen, wool/cotton, and wool/silk. American Woolen highlights classic color lines of grays, blues, browns, tans and greens as well as on point fashion shades. American Woolen Company delivers an array of patterns for 2016: polished stripes, intricate plaids, mini checks and micro patterns. The use of fine count yarns, including super twist for crisp, wrinkle-resistant fabrics meet, and exceed, expectations with fabric weights ranging from 5.5-10 oz. (165-300 gm.).

In addition to the Spring/Summer 2016 collection, American Woolen Company will be introducing a line of Signature Fabrics in 2015, paying homage to their brand heritage and commitment to re-establishing "The American Cloth".

The first Signature Fabrics produced by American Woolen are the Oswego Serge and Washington 1789.

The Oswego Serge is an industrious Batavia twill composed of domestic yarn spun in Maine, woven and finished by American Woolen Company in Connecticut, thus creating a pure New England cloth.

The Washington 1789 is a classic American style gabardine woven with very fine 2 ply yarns, resulting in a fabric that's broad appeal will be appreciated and worn all over town from music clubs to boardrooms.

Burlington Introduces the Iconic Collection of Merino Wool Fabrics

Burlington has introduced the Iconic Collection of high-end luxurious fabrics for menswear. A collection of super fine Merino Wool fabrics, the Iconic Collection is designed in contemporary and traditional silhouettes - styled for today’s tailored gentlemen and crafted for elegant suits, blazers, and trousers.

The Spring 2016 Collection is available in both super 110s and 120s fine yarns featuring softness with a clean hand and smooth drape. The Collection is made up of Burlington "Made in Americas" fabrics manufactured in both the U.S. and Mexico. "The Iconic Collection represents the finest fabrics, drawn from Burlington’s legacy in fine worsted wools and fashioned in new, elegant designs that embrace the style of today’s contemporary man," says Peter Baumann, senior vice president merchandising, Burlington Menswear. "We are positioned to be the fabric supplier of choice to a broadened better and moderate men’s market, offering customers a choice of platforms and expanded fabric collections."

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Department of Labor issues report on worker rights concerns in Honduras, Honduras pledges to work closely with the United States

On February 27, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor released a report that raises serious concerns regarding the effective enforcement of labor laws in Honduras under the labor chapter of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement ("DR-CAFTA"). The report provides recommendations to address the concerns and calls for the contact points established under Article 16.4 of DR-CAFTA to consult to develop and implement a monitoring and action plan.

The U.S. Submission specifically asserted such failures with respect to seven factories in the apparel and auto parts manufacturing sectors, nine plantations or farms in the agricultural sector, and enterprises at the Port of Cortés.

CBP Seizes Backpacks, Lunch Bags

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Houston Seaport in two separate incidents seized more than 6000 children’s backpacks and lunch bags after testing confirmed unacceptable levels of lead. In both instances, the backpacks and lunch bags originated in China and were destined for the American marketplace....READ MORE.

Army Coat Contract Awarded

DeRossi & Son Company Inc., Vineland, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $10,479,672 firm-fixed-price contract for men's coats. This contract was a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. This is a one-year base contract. Location of performance is New Jersey with a March 3, 2016, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-15-D-1033).

Children’s Pajamas Recalled by KTM North America for Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

Recall Details

Units: About 2,800

Description: This recall involves children’s onesies and two-piece KTM motocross pajamas. The Baby Racing Body onesies are 95% cotton and 5% elastane and were sold in three prints. One is orange with white sleeves and the KTM brand logo on the left chest. The second is white and orange with the KTM brand logo in bold orange printed on the center front of the chest and on the left and right hip. The third onesie is yellow with orange and black detailing and the KTM brand logo printed on the left. All onesies are long-sleeved and have snap closures from the neck to the left ankle and were sold in sizes 18 months to 2T.

The two-piece, long-sleeve and pant pajama sets are 100% cotton and were sold in two prints. The Kids Racing Gear pajama is white with black, orange and grey detailing on the top and pant with a black elastic waistband and KTM printed on the left side of the chest. This set was sold in sizes 2T through 5T. The Kids Gravity Gear pajama two-piece set is white with blue, and orange detailing on the top and pant with an elastic waistband in orange and KTM printed on the left side of the chest and on the right hand wrist. This set was sold in sizes XXS through L.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Sold at: Authorized KTM motorcycle shops nationwide from August 2012 through January 2015 for between $28 and $32.

Importer: KTM North America, Inc., of Amherst, Ohio

Manufactured in: China

Issued Patents

This week I will focus on issued patents. Below is a summary of selected patents that have been recently issued in textile related classification codes:

Batting pad for adjusting location of bat in batter's hand: A batting pad comprising a body made from a cushioning material and having a ring portion adapted to fit over a batter's thumb and an appendage to cushion the palm area between a batter's thumb and index finger. Patent 8763162. Inventor: Lomedico: Assignee: Pro-Hitter Corporation

Convertible maternity garment: A convertible maternity garment that includes a first garment configured and arranged as a maternity garment to be worn by a woman during her maternity term and a second garment constructed from a portion of the first garment to provide a garment having a configuration for non-maternity use. Patent: 8763164. Inventor: MacGillivray. Not Assigned.

Head guard: A head guard is provided which has a fabric layer and a padding layer. The head guard is stretchable between a relaxed configuration and an expanded configuration. The expanding configuration has a convex shape such that it can conform to a head of a wearer. The head guard can be worn by a wearer in combination with a helmet. Patent: 8763166. Inventor: Velasco. Assignee: 2^nd Skull LLC.

Anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarments: A protective undergarment with protective panels with slash-proof properties. The protective areas are made from a flexible Kevlar® knit and extend to cover the groin, crotch, substantial areas of the buttocks and the inner thigh regions of both legs. The protective panels stitched to a low thermal burden material to provide elasticity and complete the structure of the shorts. Patent 8763167. Inventor: Howell, et.al. Assignee: BCB International, Limited.

Method of producing a hydroentangled nonwoven material: A method of producing a nonwoven material by hydroentangling a fiber mixture containing spunlaid filaments, natural fibers and synthetic staple fibers. At least at least 10% by fiber weight manmade staple fibers is wetlaid and hydroentangled in a first hydroentangling station and spunlaid filaments are laid on top of the hydroentangled first fibrous web. A finishing fibrous web including natural fibers is wetlaid on top of said spunlaid filaments. Patent: 8763219. Inventor: Jonsson, et.al. Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products Ab.

Removable outsole elements for articles of footwear: An outsole element for an article of footwear having a base and a lug that extends from the base. The outsole element includes a body and a cavity defined in the body. The cavity receives the lug to removably couple the body to the lug. Also, the cavity includes an internal undercut. Theoretically, this allows the replacement of portions of a shoe tread pattern. Patent 8763276. Inventor: Greene, et.al. Assignee: Nike, Inc.

Footware with shock absorbing sole: A shoe including cushioning elements housed in a tread sole adapted to come into contact with the ground. The cushioning elements include a plurality of cushioning capsules orientated in a manner such that they substantially follow a line on which the weight of a person is transferred during walking. The cushioning capsules have different sizes and shapes that are geometrically similar to each other, constituting a series of modular elements adaptable to every shoe size and type. Patent: 8763277. Inventor: Sartor. Assignee: Stonefly S.P.A.

Footwear assembly with integral footbed suspension system: A footwear assembly with integral footbed suspension system. A shoe comprises a sole, a blade extending away from the sole, an Energy Return System (ERS) connected to the blade, an upper, and a cradle coupled to the upper and coupled to the ERS via a plurality of ties. The ERS is configured to resiliently deform under pressure from the foot while the foot is substantially suspended via the cradle relative to the sole. A plurality of sensors are configured to detect relative movement between components of the shoe and to transmit data to a chip positioned in the shoe. The data can be used for gait and performance analysis. Patent: 8763278. Inventor: McKay. Assignee: Plantiga Technologies, Inc.

Seam construction for a one piece woven airbag: A seam construction for a woven fabric for an OPW airbag, in particular for person restraint systems, which seam construction is characterized by a weaving seam having a single-layer region which is surrounded by an at least two-layer region, the individual layers of which have in each case a looser woven structure than the single-layer region. Patent: 8763649. Inventor: Becker, et.al. Assignee: Global Safety Textiles Gmbh

Antimicrobial fabrics made using sol-gel/N-halamine chemistry, and methods of making same: Methods of treating fabrics using sol-gel halamine chemistry to impart antimicrobial properties thereto are described, as well as fabrics produced by the described methods. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial fabrics may be used to fabricate antimicrobial divider curtains for use in hospitals and medical facilities. Patent: 8764851. Inventor: Ghosh and Mannari. Assignee: Eastern Michigan University.