56 -- Request for Information (Market Survey)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (MARKET-SURVEY) REQUEST: This is a market survey, requesting feedback, comments, or suggestions from contractors on a new “standard” window size that the US Department of State (Department) will be using on the bulk of it’s future projects. The Department is planning to implement this standardization this year. Therefore, please submit your input to this request within Fifteen (15) days from the date of this notice. BACKGROUND: The Department is in the midst of a massive building campaign where we are providing new US Embassies to replace unsafe and obsolete facilities worldwide. One aspect of this program is a Standard Embassy Design that allows the Department to complete these facilities quickly, and efficiently. One issue that the Department noted in the past is lack of a standard design for the fenestration products, which led to longer lead-times and difficulty in installation. In an effort to standardize, the fenestration for use in the Standard Embassy Design, Department is proposing to use a 1500mm wide by 2625mm high outside frame dimension for all exterior windows. However, a 1500mm wide by 2625mm high outside frame would have to be Force Entry/ Ballistic Resistant (FE/BR) certified using the ASTM UL or the Department’s testing standards. If you would like to get your product tested you can contact Mr. Les Roane of H.P. White Laboratories at (410) 838-6550 or you can go on the Internet at [email protected]. The Department is also considering using a 1500mm by 2250mm frame for the FE/BR windows, which would have to be certified, as an alternate, to the 1500mm wide by 2625mm high. These windows will be configured into groups for most elevations and into ribbon windows for the atrium ends. The Department is planning to specify this change in window sizing beginning with the planned 2004 projects. In future years, the Department will bulk-purchase these windows. QUESTIONS: What is the impact, from your perspective, of this new standard window dimensions? Will it save manufacturing time and expense? Will the quality of the products be impacted? Thank you for your assistance.