Lead-Free Glass and Crystal Tabletop Ware

Solicitation Number: SAQMMA-10-CRYSTAL Market Research and Sources Sought Agency: Department of State Office: Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Location: Arlington, VA 1. GENERAL INFORMATION: This “Market Research and Sources Sought” announcement is issued to determine industry interest, capabilities and qualifications to manufacture, store, transport and deliver representational glass and crystal tabletop ware to the Department of State. The information obtained from this announcement shall be used for preliminary acquisition planning purposes only, and should not be construed as a commitment of any kind to award a contract. NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS MARKET RESEARCH. This announcement is neither a solicitation nor request for proposal and in no way commits the Government to award a contract. Respondents will not be compensated for responding to this announcement, nor will Respondents be notified of the results of this Market Research. The U.S. Department of State reserves the right to terminate this Market Research and/or change its requirements or timeline at any time. Responding to this Market Research does not guarantee participation in future procurements by the Department of State. 2. BACKGROUND: The Department of State provides representational glass and crystal tabletop ware to United States Embassies worldwide and in doing so, the Department of State furthers U.S. Diplomatic interests. The purpose of this Market Survey is to determine if there are any U. S. owned and/or controlled glassware manufacturers in the United States that have the technology and resources to provide high-end retail industry glass and crystal tabletop ware quality and cost effective glass and crystal tabletop ware to the Department of State. The United States international relations, national interest and success are, in part, built upon the ability of our ambassadors to entertain host country nationals in our embassies and residences abroad. In this regard, furniture, art and tableware that are provided by the Department of State to our embassies and residencies abroad represent U.S. cultural and manufacturing excellence to our host country guests. 3. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS: The procurement of glass and crystal tabletop ware falls under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 327212 (Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware Manufacturing). The Government is seeking to identify qualified, experienced and reliable companies capable of providing the following requirements: a) DESIGN: The design will consist of high-end retail quality, lead-free, crested and un-crested glass and crystal tabletop ware exclusively for the U. S. Department of State (DOS). The requirements/specifications include: • Lead-free crystal (DOS will test for compliance) • 100% manufactured lead-free crystal tabletop ware in the United States • Industry standard for Sizes/Capacity Standards • High-end retail industry crystal ware quality • Etching: Sandblasted or current technology • Exclusive pattern for the U. S. Department of State • DOS logo on stemware base • Hand-blown crystal/glass • Pulled stem with attached foot • 5 mm gold banded on crested stemware • 2.5 mm gold banded un-crested stemware DOS will provide the conceptual drawings of about 27 glass and crystal tabletop ware items. The Contractor will provide a compatible design from their archives, and perform slight modifications to these existing archival pieces for DOS exclusive pattern. From the DOS approved designs, prototypes will be created of several DOS’ selected stemware pieces for DOS’ evaluation and acceptance. After the selected prototypes are approved by DOS, technical drawings will be prepared for the remainder of the lead-free crystal ware items for approval and acceptance. The U. S. Government will retain 100 % ownership of the all designs, dyes, casts, prototypes, etc. for the glass and crystal tabletop ware items as stated in the awarded contract. (b) PRODUCTION: After DOS’ approval and acceptance of all of the technical drawings, the contractor will manufacture the required lead-free glass and crystal tabletop ware. All of the manufacturing processes must be done in the United States. Foreign sources will not be considered. See Attachment A for estimated quantities for one year. (c) INVENTORY MANAGEMENT: Inventory management includes receiving, stocking and inventory reporting of existing items and newly produced items in a secured U. S. facility. An on-site warehouse facility inspection and inventory report will be included in monthly progress reports to DOS. (d) PACKAGING/SHIPPING: The existing and new lead-free glass and crystal tabletop ware will be re-packaged in bundles and shipped to the various overseas U. S. embassies, consultants and U. S. Ambassadors’ residences upon Department of State’s individual requests. (e) CERTIFICATIONS: Current certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2008 are required. 4. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS/CAPABILITY STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS: Interested sources are invited to submit a concise, descriptive and focused capability statement to provide the requirements as described herein. Any submitted brochures, videos, and other materials will not be returned. Sketches or pictures of items can be included in the interested sources’ capability statement package. Do not submit cost or price information with the statement package. All sources should include in their capability statement package a cover letter expressing interest in providing the goods and services in this announcement. The cover letter should provide the name of the interested source, its address, a point of contact, the contact’s title, telephone number, email address and statement of qualifications addressing the Description of Requirements above in Item 3. Interested sources are asked to specify if they are currently manufacturing high-end retail quality, 100% lead-free glass and crystal tabletop ware in the U. S. or overseas. If the glass and crystal tabletop ware are manufactured in the U. S., companies must indicate in their capability statements when and where they began manufacturing lead-free glass and crystal tabletop ware in the U. S. Interested sources must include the company’s current certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2008. Please state in your capability statement if you have the required certifications, if you do not have the certifications, and/or if you plan on obtaining either or both certifications. Responses are due no later than 3:00 PM EST on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Only hard copies of the capability statement packages will be accepted. Capability statement packages must be addressed as follows. By commercial courier mail (i.e., FedEx/DHL//UPS, etc) to: U. S. Department of State A/LM/AQM/FDCD ATTN: Tandra Jones 1701 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite L-600 Arlington, VA 22209 By U. S. Postal Service to: U. S. Department of State A/LM/AQM/FDCD ATTN: Tandra Jones P. O. Box 9115 Rosslyn Station Arlington, VA 22219 If you have any questions regarding this announcement, contact Tandra Jones via e-mail, [email protected], or phone, 703-875-4230, or Blondell Taylor via e-mail, [email protected], or phone, 703-875-6961 no later than 5:00 PM EST on Thursday, May 27, 2010.