Page 3 of 3 I. Introduction: This is for information to conduct additional market research during the solicitation phase for Solicitation 36C78618R0417 for the nationwide distribution for J1/L1 Flat Granite Markers and shall further supplement market research specific to providing supplies for FOB Destination Shipping. The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is currently conducting market research to locate qualified, experienced and interested potential sources to provide nationwide distribution for J1/L1 Flat Granite Markers with FOB Destination terms and conditions. Responses will not be considered as proposals, nor will any award be incurred by interested parties in responding to this source sought announcement. If interested, please respond to Solicitation 36C78618R0417 to submit a proposal. A previous Request For Information (RFI) was posted on Federal Business Opportunities under 36C78618Q0013 and responses were received. If you submitted a previous capability statement to this RFI 36C78618Q0013. Please resubmit your capability statement from RFI 36C78618Q0013 and respond to the questions listed below. Your previous responses will be included as a part of the market research specific to FOB Destination. NCA is seeking interested sources (contractors) for an active solicitation. We are looking for potential contractors with a socio-economic status of Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business(SDVOSB). At this time, do not respond to this request for information to submit a proposal. Please see Federal Business Opportunities for Solicitation 36C78618R0417 to submit samples and a pricing proposal. *Historical data with quantities and types of granite markers has been included in Solicitation 36C78618R0417*, II. Background: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA) furnishes headstones, markers and niche covers (monuments) for deceased Veterans worldwide. Memorial monuments are also furnished to memorialize veterans whose remains are non-recoverable. III. Requirements: This contract shall include all labor and materials necessary to furnish inscribed flat granite markers to select National and State Veterans Cemeteries based on FOB Destination. The contractor shall be responsible for providing all labor and material needed to produce the blanks, inscribe the blanks for J1/L1 Flat Granite Markers, package/label/palletize the inscribed monuments, and deliver the finished product to the identified National or State Veterans Cemeteries. IV. Submittal Information: Responses will assist in conducting additional market research for shipping FOB Destination for Solicitation 36C78618R0417. We are using this information to further validate enough responsible and capable Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) to provide J1/L1 Flat Granite Markers on a nationwide basis using FOB Destination. Therefore, interested vendors who are responsible and capable of performing the work based on FOB Destination terms and conditions are strongly encouraged to respond by the date specified. The following Information is requested in response to this RFI: Please include: Company Name, Company Address, Point of Contact, Telephone Number, and e-mail Address. Companies should provide clear and unambiguous evidence to substantiate their capability to fulfill these requirements. Experience B. Capabilities / Qualifications A written response providing clear and unambiguous evidence to substantiate the capacity to fulfill this requirement. Company business size and socioeconomic status (i.e., Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business the number of years in business, affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners. If, you are a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, please provide a copy of your verified VETBIZ VIP capabilities. Specify any teaming arrangements and how those arrangements will impact the structure of services their company can provide including technical expertise provided by each company. Questions A written response is required and it must be clear and unambiguous. A single response of Yes or No will not be accepted. Can your company handle large volumes of granite orders required on FOB destination basis? The requirement will be for these to ship nationwide FOB destination. Will you be able to meet this requirement of shipping FOB destination? Will you be able to provide a proposal or price quote based on a large quantity of granite/marble markers, headstones, headstones on FOB destination basis? Will you be able to provide pricing on FOB destination basis? If not, explain in detail how you will be unable to provide pricing on FOB destination basis? Do you have the transportation services/company to ship large volumes of granite orders using FOB destination? Provide a list of any existing or past contracts that have been awarded on FOB destination basis or nationwide basis or not. Please list any past contracts or existing contracts for markers, niche covers, headstones (granite or marble) based on FOB destination. Please submit electronic responses (via email) to Antionette Collins-Somerville at
[email protected] no later than 12:00 PM EST on Friday, September 28, 2018. Please submit emails with compressed or small document attachments to ensure timely and successful submission. Submit any questions related to this RFI through email. Disclaimer THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Confidentiality, No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).