Commercial Fine Art and Historical Artifact Mover; Sources Sought Notice (Market Research Purpose) This not a pre-solicitation or solicitation notice. This is a request for information sources sought notice only. The purpose of this sources sought notice is to gain market knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classifications; HUBZone, 8(a), Small Disadvantage Business, Woman Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Large Business relative to North American Industrial Classification Code (NAICS) 484220 Truck Transportation - Specialized Freight Local and 484230 Truck Transportation - Specialized Freight Long Distance, the small business size standard is $27.5M. Responses to this sources sought synopsis will be used by the Government to make appropriate determinations about potential sources only. No solicitation is currently available, there is no guarantee that a solicitation will be offered. After review of the responses to this sources sought announcement a synopsis and/or solicitation announcement may be published at a later time. Responses to this notice shall include company name, address, point of contact, size of business pursuant to (NAICS) and must respond to the following eight questions: 1) Is your business a small business under NAICS code 484220 and/or 484230? 2) Does your firm qualify as a small disadvantaged business? 3) If disadvantaged, specify if your firm is certified under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act? 4) Are you a certified HUBZone firm? 5) Are you a woman-owned or operated business? 6) Are you a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned or Veteran Owned business? 7) Is your business a large business? 8) Please provide a capability statement addressing your organization's ability to perform as a prime contractor the work described below: DESCRIPTION OF WORK: US Army Center of Military History (USACMH) requires services from a commercial fine art and historical artifact mover to pack, transport, deliver, unpack, and place a collection of historical artifacts from Villanova, Pennsylvania to the Museum Support Center located at Fort Belvoir, VA. The Contractor shall provide all planning, personnel, equipment, tools, materials, vehicles, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to accomplish the tasks. The contractor shall perform to the standards as described herein. The USACMH Museum Division's mission is to manage the Army Museum System (AMS), maintain accountability of Army historical property, and serve as the repository of the Army's material culture historical artifacts. The USACMH is accountable for all Army-owned historical property. The collection to be moved consists of historical artifacts dating from the Revolutionary War period to the War of 1812. These artifacts vary considerably in their condition from those in stable condition to those that are very fragile, deteriorated and unstable. Many of the artifacts are rare, valuable, and irreplaceable, requiring sensitive handling to preserve their historical integrity. Special attention shall be given to the drums that were fabricated from animal skins and are highly sensitive to climatic and environmental changes. OBJECTIVE: Transport, under museum safe conditions, high-value historical artifact collections belonging to the USACMH from current location, Villanova, Pennsylvania to the Museum Support Center, Fort Belvoir, VA. TECHNICAL EXPERTISE SAFE HANDLING AND TRANSPORTATION OF HISTORIC ARTIFACTS: The contractor must demonstrate expertise in the fabrication of museum crates or containers, the packing, transportation, unpacking, and placement of highly fragile art and or artifacts and related materials. The Contractor shall ensure that its personnel, to include sub-contracted personnel, are adequately trained in the safe handling and transportation of historic artifacts to support the requirements. TECHNICAL EXPERTISE QUALITY CONTROL: The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. TECHNICAL EXPERTISE CONTACTOR OWNED EQUIPMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY: The Contractor shall employ single-function, museum-safe, climate-controlled vehicles with late-model air-ride suspension dating no later than 2010 with no less than 2 airbags per wheel (8 airbags on the tractor and 4 airbags on the trailer), to transport collections to the Museum Support Center, Fort Belvoir, VA and ensure accountability. BASIC SERVICES: The contractor shall provide the following services: Planning for Movement, Packing of Art and Artifacts to Prepare for Transport, Transportation of Artifacts from Villanova, Pennsylvania to the Museum Support Center, Fort Belvoir, VA and Delivery (Unpacking and Positioning). GENERAL INFORMATION: This is not a request for proposal and in no way obligates the Government to award any contract. Please provide responses to this notice to: Kim Ramsay
[email protected] Telephone responses will not be accepted, please do not call USACMH. Please provide responses in writing no later than 07 January 2015. Responses to this sources sought announcement will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. No solicitation is currently available; there is no guarantee that the Government will issue a solicitation. CONTRACTING OFFICE: NCR/CCTA-HSA-N/MS350 Army Contracting Command - Warren Installation and Vehicle Support Contracting Division 6501 E. 11 Mile Road Warren, MI 48397-5000 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USACMH, 9955 Tracy Loop, Bldg 765, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060.