REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENTDefense Logistics Agency Defense Supply Center Philadelphia SUMMARY The Construction & Equipment Supplier Operations is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) seeking integrated solutions for lumber products for a worldwide customer base. The anticipated level of support from an integrator includes forecast collaboration with customers, leveraged purchasing from a robust supplier base, warehousing, distribution and material tracking. PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) is examining the potential for integrated supply solutions for Wood Products Program supporting lumber, plywood and related wood product supplies in Federal Stock Classes 5510, 5530 and 5520. The majority of these items can be further delineated by grade and species. This support applies to all of DLA?s continental U.S. (CONUS) customers and OCONUS (overseas) customers. Presently, demands in CONUS are sourced through Prime Vendor Type Contract(s). The Continental United States is currently divided into seven regions: the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Gulf, Midwest, Southwest and the Northwest. The vendors are required to supply wood products (for other than facilities maintenance) to the customers in their respective regions. Historical CONUS activity has been roughly 2500 orders from approximately 150 different customers for $14 million dollars annually. OCONUS activity has historically involved in excess of 300 customers and covered approximately 5500 orders for $42 million annually. The largest customers were located in areas involving contingencies. There are approximately 9 CONUS based customers with sales in excess of $500,000. Typical wood products requirements for other that facility maintenance include but are not limited to, box & crate making, cribbing, shoring, bracing, blocking, dry-docking, wharf building, military unique construction and large or otherwise unique orders. The goals for this initiative are supporting the customer by ensuring reduced cycle times, achieving the best commercial pricing and structuring processes to ensure maximum oversight, reducing administrative burden and increasing customer satisfaction while allowing the customers to focus on their core competencies. Anticipated Scope of Services: Forecasting collaboration with customers - Accurately predicting future customer requirements/demand patterns. Supply Chain Management ? Development and maintenance of an active, robust and continually evolving state of the art supplier base. Distribution/Warehousing - The direction and control of activities with the purpose of getting the right inventory in the right place at the right time in the right quantity in the right form at the right cost. Quality Control/Industry Practice ? All products tendered meet the appropriate recognized national and industry standards regarding inspection, testing, grading, marking, treating, infestation, and general quality. Additionally, contractor shall assure that all products delivered to ordering activity comply with the description of products requested by customer. Customer Direct - Ship directly to joint warfighter customers across a broad spectrum of locations both CONUS and OCONUS. Deliver items using shipping methods defined by terms and conditions of the contract (i.e. required delivery date, packaging requirements, delivery address, special instructions for emergency or other needs). Track the delivery of items. Data Management - to include interoperability with industry and government systems. RFI Questions 1)Forecasting/Collaboration A)In your opinion, what is the best way to collaborate forecasting with the customers? B)Do you see a need for DLA involvement in this process? C)Describe your ability to participate in customer project planning. 2)Procurement/Purchasing A)Describe your purchasing system. B) In light of the volatility of prices for lumber products, how will you ensure that the Government will realize maximum cost savings under this initiative? 3)Distribution/Warehousing A)What is your concept for the Distribution/Warehousing requirements to support this effort? B)What are your capabilities for warehousing wood products that have longer lead times, such as purple heart, fire retardant, scaffolding, etc? C)What are your capabilities of warehousing common soft wood lumber/plywood items in support of OCONUS customers and contingency operations? D)What are your capabilities of delivering directly to in-theatre customers? E)Describe your capabilities of tracking material end-to-end within the logistics process. 4)Quality Control/Industry Practice? A)Describe your capabilities of providing all material consistent with U.S. industry standards, in accordance with U.S., Canadian or European grade stamps. B)Describe your capability and process of consolidating multiple customer orders to ensure maximum transportation cost saving are realized by the Government. 5)Customer Direct Delivery A)Describe your concept for providing CONUS/OCONUS customer direct delivery support. 6)Data Management A)What type of data systems do you currently use and do you see any concerns with integrating your IT systems with other industry partners and government agencies? B)Describe how your management information system will interact with DLA ANSI X-12 transaction requirements. C)Describe your ability to provide well documented material and distribution costs facilitating Government audit efforts. D)Describe your procedure for accepting/processing all customer orders. 7)General Business Information A)If your company is considered a Small Business under the proposed NAICS codes 321113, 321211, 321212, 423310 do you foresee any impediments in support of this initiative? i. Does your company qualify in any sub-category? (i.e. 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB) B)What type of contract do you consider to be best suited for an effort of this magnitude? C)What is the maximum number of years you would recommend for the total life of the contract? D)What do you envision as the risk areas associated with this effort and how would you mitigate those risks? E)Describe your plan to support surge requirements in the event of contingency operations world-wide. 8)Miscellaneous A)Please provide any additional feedback you feel is relevant to this initiative. SUMMARY Please send your responses to the RFI questions to the following P.O.C.s by 4 Mar 2008: Milissa Dart, Acquisition Specialist, Email: mailto:
[email protected]. cc: Rosemary Adams, Team Lead, Email: mailto:
[email protected]. DISCLAIMER. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for information received in response to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Information provided in response to this RFI will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for determining how to proceed in the acquisition process. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.