This announcement serves as a Sources Sought Synopsis issued for the purpose of market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 for an upcoming acquisition at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). This sources sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. DO NOT submit a quote or proposal in response to this synopsis . For the purpose of this acquisition, the North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 315990 and the size standard in number of employees is 500. The purpose of this notice is to identify companies capable and qualified to manufacture Cadet Flight Caps, Officer Flight Caps, Service Caps, and Parade Caps for the United States Air Force Academy. All businesses capable of providing the caps are invited to respond. Interested small business vendors must reference their 8(a), HUB Zone, Women-owned, or Service Disabled Veteran status, if applicable. This must be signed by a company officer with authority to bind the company. The proposed contract is anticipated to be a Firm-Fixed Price Requirements type contract with a base period of one year with up to four option years. The Government will make available to the contractor Government Furnished Material (GFM) to manufacture the Cadet Flight Caps and Service Caps, as indicated in the specifications summaries below. The Government will provide the material to manufacture the outer body band for the Parade Caps; the contractor will be responsible for procuring all other materials to manufacture the Parade Caps. The contractor will be responsible for procuring all fabric and materials to manufacture the Officer Flight Caps; GFM will not be provided for the Officer Flight Caps. The estimated quantities, per year, are: · Men’s Cadet Flight Caps, 3,500 each · Women’s Cadet Flight Caps, 950 each · Men’s Officer Flight Caps, 1,000 each · Women’s Officer Flight Caps, 300 each · Men’s Service Caps, 1,150 each · Women’s Service Caps, 425 each · Men’s Parade Caps, 1,225 each · Women’s Parade Caps, 375 each The specifications for each cap are: · Men’s Cadet Flight Caps: Specification MIL-C-3261F, dated 22 September 1989 and USAFA Letter of Exception MIL-C-3261F, dated 8 September 2011. GFM provided for crown, side panels, and curtain pieces. · Women’s Cadet Flight Caps: Specification MIL-C-44130C (GL), dated 11 January 1991 and USAFA Letter of Exception MIL-C-44130, dated 9 September 2011. GFM provided for crown, side panels, and curtain pieces. · Men’s Officer Flight Caps: Specification MIL-C-3261F, dated 22 September 1989 (Requires Wright-Patterson Certification), and USAFA Letter of Exception MIL-C-3261F, dated 8 September 2011. GFM is not provided. · Women’s Officer Flight Caps: Specification MIL-C-44130C (GL), dated 11 January 1991 (Requires Wright-Patterson Certification), and USAFA Letter of Exception MIL-C-44130, dated 9 September 2011. GFM is not provided. · Men’s Service Caps: Specification USAFA CU 400-07, dated 23 September 2015. GFM provided for crown, front, side quarters, and body band pieces. · Women’s Service Caps: Specification USAFA CU 2090-05, dated 23 September 2015. GFM provided for crown, front, side quarters, and body band pieces. · Men’s Parade Caps: Specification USAFA CU 400-07, dated 27 April 2010, and USAFA Letter of Exception, dated 28 July 2011. GFM provided for body band piece only. · Women’s Parade Caps: Specification USAFA CU 2090-05, dated 27 April 2010, and USAFA Letter of Exception, dated 28 July 2011. GFM provided for body band piece only. Exact quantities and sizes will be identified on individual delivery orders. The estimated quantities listed above are for a recurring, annual basis. A first article will be required in accordance with FAR 52.209-4 Alt 1. Bar codes will be required for these caps in compliance with Code 39 or UPC Bar Code. Those contractors who are interested in this acquisition must be certified through Department of the Air Force, Human Systems Center Clothing Division located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45533-7009 for the Men’s and Women’s Officer Flight Caps IAW MIL-C-3261F, dated 22 September 1989 and MIL-C-44130C (GL), dated 11 January 1991. Certification must be obtained prior to submitting and offer. Contractors may obtain information on certification approval from Debra Klensch at phone : 937-255-4919, email :
[email protected] , or mail : ASC/WNUV-TAC, Bldg. 63, 1901 Tenth Street, WPAFB, OH 45433-7605. All items and components must be made and manufactured in accordance with DFARS 252-225-7001, Buy American Act and Balance of Payments Program and DFARS 252-225-7012, Preference for Certain Domestic Commodities (also referred to as the Berry Amendment). The Berry Amendment applies only to DoD and has been included in DoD Appropriations Act since 1941. The Act restricts DoD expenditures of funds for supplies consisting in whole or in part of certain article and items not grown or produced in the United States or its possessions. All potential offerors are reminded, in accordance with FAR 52.212-4(t)(4), System for Award Management, lack of registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) will make an offeror ineligible for contract award. Offerors and Contractors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via SAM accessed through http://www.sam.gov. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this sources sought synopsis. Delivery is FOB Destination to USAF Academy, CO 80840. The specifications for this requirement are included. Comments and/or suggestions on the specifications are encouraged and can be included in your capabilities package. If you are a potential source interested in participating in this procurement, please submit a written response with your capability statement on letterhead to one the following: Mail : 10 CONS/LGCB, Attn: Diana South and Shaun Bright, 8110 Industrial Dr., Suite 200, USAF Academy, CO 80840-2315 -or- E-mail :
[email protected] and
[email protected] Responses should also include the following: 1. Three (3) past performance references with a point of contact, contract number, and telephone number. 2. Company name, mailing address, cage code, DUNS number, point of contact, telephone number and email address. 3. Business size status, e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, Woman Owned Small Business, Veteran-Owned or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, large business, etc. 4. Appropriate written information and/or data supporting your capability to provide the stated caps. 5. Answers to the following questions: a. How long have you been in business? b. Have you ever performed Government contracts? c. Are you certified through Wright Patterson to manufacture the Officer Flight Caps? If so, please provide the certification numbers. d. What is your business arrangement in the commercial industry? e. Have you ever manufactured these types of caps or a similar headwear? f. Are you a manufacturer or do you subcontract out the work? g. What is the size of your facility(s)? h. Where will each item be manufactured? i. What is your lead-time for manufacturing? What are the longest lead times for components (e.g., braid, buttons)? j. What is your standard packaging and marking requirements? k. Do you have a quality control process in place? If so, explain your process. l. What would you consider “risk” on the contractor’s part for this acquisition? m. Do you have a subcontracting plan if you are a large business? Is it a commercial subcontracting plan? Have you met your subcontracting goals? If not, are there subcontracting opportunities for small businesses? n. What type of relationship do you have with your suppliers or subcontractors? o. Do you have your own capability to make patterns? Or do you subcontract out the work? p. Are you in compliance with the Berry Amendment? Note: This includes components to make the end item (e.g., braid, buttons). q. Are the components readily available in the market? r. If you require different terms and conditions than those normally used by the Government, what are your commercial terms and conditions? Please feel free to provide a copy of your terms and conditions for this type of work. s. What is your estimated cost for this requirement per cap? You will not be held to this price, it is only for market research purposes. t. In the commercial market, do you provide first article samples or production samples? What do you call this in the commercial market? u. In the commercial market, are you required to have bar codes on the individual caps? v. Are you able to price out a requirement for a base year with four options or is the market so unstable that this is not doable to price out this far ahead. Would it be more efficient to shorten the contract period? 6. We are also seeking industry feedback on Economic Price Adjustments (EPA), FAR 52.216-3, Economic Price Adjustment-Semi Standard Supplies, as it could possibly pertain to the rising cost of labor. An EPA would provide for upward and downward revision of the stated contract price upon the occurrence of specified contingencies. Please discuss your proposed pricing index and whether the EPA should be used and why? Also, it is an industry standard in the commercial market to have an EPA clause in your contracts? Will you be able to price out a base year with four options or would it be more beneficial/reasonable to request less than a base plus four options? Please explain. This notice is designed to locate responsible sources that have an interest, and have the ability to supply the items described herein. If your firm is capable and qualified to provide the Cadet Flight Caps, Officer Flight Caps, Service Caps, and Parade Caps, please send your response in writing to the primary point of contact indicated within this announcement. Responses are due no later than 13 January 2017 , 10:00 a.m. MDT. Questions and responses should be addressed to the primary contact, Shaun Bright, Contracting Specialist, 719-333-3600 or
[email protected] or the alternate point of contact, Diana Myles-South, Contracting Officer, 719-333-8650 or
[email protected] .