SOURCES SOUGHT: This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. The Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), is conducting a MARKET SURVEY to determine the interest and capability of any firm eligible to compete under NAICS code 334513, with a Small Business Size Standard of 500 employees for an upcoming requirement for the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory, Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, CO 80225 to provide PALL WATER FILTERS; Brand Name or Equal to Brand Name Salient Characteristics. Non-Manufacturer Rule (NMR). The NMR allows a small business to offer a product that it did not manufacturer under a small business set-aside if Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered a waiver. SBA does not offer a waiver for these supplies. On a supply contract, a firm must perform at least 50% of the cost of manufacturing the supplies (not including the cost of materials). The NMR is an exception to the performance requirements, and provides that a firm that is not a manufacturer may qualify as a small business on a supply contract set aside for small business if, among other things, it supplies the product of a small business made in the United States. The Brand Name supplies are not made by a small business in the United States. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. ALL COST ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING INFORMATION AS REQUESTED BY THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONTRACTOR. Submission is voluntary. This requirement is for water filters which are equal to the attached Brand Name Salient Characteristics. The Government is not required to issue a solicitation. Responses to this announcement are requested from Small Businesses. In response to this announcement, please indicate your firm's socioeconomic status (e.g. small business, service-disabled veteran-owned, women owned, HUBZone, etc.) This information will assist the Government in determining how small businesses can fit into the acquisition strategy. A firm is considered small under NAICS code 334513 if their AVERAGE annual number of employees for the preceding three (3) years were less than or equal to 500 employees. Any information submitted is voluntary. If sufficient interest and capability is not received from small business firms, any solicitation may be issued as unrestricted without further consideration. Interested small business firms who feel that they can provide the filters that meet or exceed the attached Brand Name Salient Characteristics (based upon the criteria specified), are invited to submit in writing an affirmative response to this announcement. An affirmative response must include references with contact names, email addresses, and phone numbers. These references are to be for contracts similar in scope as the contract under consideration. This information will be evaluated and used to determine if competitive opportunities exist. Small business firms who feel they can provide the filters shall also submit (1) NAME, ADDRESS, and PHONE NUMBER OF THE FIRM (including DUNS NUMBER); and (2) their SIZE STATUS. Your company must have a DUNs number and be registered on-line in the System for Award Management (SAM) found at www.sam.gov. You will also be required to provide your small business status information with your SAM registration at the SAM website, www.sam.gov, before an award to your company can be made. Your active SAM registration will cover any/all of your offers to the Federal Government. All responses must be submitted NLT 01/21/2016 at 5:00pm ET via e-mail to:
[email protected]. This is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Invitation for Bid (IFB) and does not constitute any commitment by the Government. Responses to this sources sought notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this market survey. Any solicitation that may be issued will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities (Fedbizopps.gov) website and no paper copies will be provided.