Synopsis: Request for Information (RFI): Navy Certification Quality Assurance Program. The Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) is seeking information on quality assurance solutions and services to include textile testing, factory audits, product inspections and software. This RFI is issued solely for information gathering and planning purposes. This RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals. The following sections of this announcement contain details of the scope of technical efforts of interest, along with instructions for the submission of responses. 1.0 Background & Scope - NCTRF's role in the Certification Program includes 240 different dress clothing and accessories items, over 2,500 metal and textile insignia as well as hundreds of personal protection and sustainment clothing items. It is NCTRF's intent to look for improved and more efficient ways of managing its programs as it pertains to quality and inspections. 1.1 Testing and Evaluation of Materials and End items (quality, performance and safety). See Table I. 1.2 Factory Audits (pre-qualifying factories and regulatory compliance) all to be performed in the United States and/or Puerto Rico. 1.3 Inspections (raw material, throughout production) all to be performed in the United States and/or Puerto Rico. Raw material can include knits and wovens. End items can include coats, trousers, outerwear or accessories. 1.4 Software systems to manage day-to-day quality assurance activities, and to store/monitor/access test, inspection and audit reports. Must be able to work with Department of Defense infrastructure technical (IT) requirements. 2.0 Instructions to Respondents • NCTRF appreciates responses from all capable and qualified sources located within the U.S. • Responses must include the following: 1. A one page cover sheet that identifies the title, organization(s), respondent's technical and administrative points of contact - including names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, and email addresses of all co-authors, and clearly indicating its association with this RFI. 2. A substantive, focused, one page information paper that describes each of the services and technical qualifications to perform the tasks listed in Paragraph 1. 3. Estimated costs for each of the services listed in Paragraph 1 to include a detailed price list for textile testing (see Table I). • Responses to this RFI are due no later than Friday, 15 March 2017 at 1200EST. All submissions must be electronically submitted to the primary POC, Kelly Fratelli (
[email protected]). Do not send questions with proprietary content. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. Questions concerning this RFI may be submitted via email no later than 15 February 2017 at 1200EST to the primary POC, Kelly Fratelli (
[email protected]). All questions, answers, discussed information, test protocols, and any other information pertinent to this RFI will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website (https://www.fbo.gov/). Information considered intellectual property and identified as such will not be posted. 3.0 DISCLAIMERS AND IMPORTANT NOTES This is an RFI issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Respondents are advised that NCTRF is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received, or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. NCTRF will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this RFI. No proprietary or classified concepts or information should be included in the submittal. It is the respondent's responsibility to ensure that the submitted material has been approved for public release by the information owner.