Sources Sought for Co-Brand Agreement for Index Tab Dividers

On behalf of The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee), the independent Federal agency that administers the AbilityOne Program, (National Industries for the Blind (NIB), a designated central nonprofit agency, is pursuing potential partnerships with U.S. commercial manufacturers of Index Tab Dividers for the purpose of providing employment for people who are blind or severely disabled. If successful, the result will be a co-brand agreement between the manufacturer and the AbilityOne Program, and its registered brands. The ultimate expectation is that the co-branded product will be placed on the Committee's Procurement List (PL). The Index Tab Dividers must meet and/or exceed FAR and other Federal Government published standards, Executive Orders and Federal Agency requirements. At a minimum, the following criteria must be met: 1. Possession of a nationally known brand name that can be demonstrated to have significant appeal through evidence of substantial sales. 2. Dividers with customizable tabs for a professional, printed-on look. Tabs are customized with clear labels that are applied in a single step covering all tabs at once. Divider to be made with 100% post consumer recycled paper. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification preferred. Dividers to be multiple tab configurations (5 and 8 tab), both white and multi-colored, commercial grade with side reinforcement. 3. The chosen manufacturer must be willing to set a high priority for delivering bulk materials to the non-profit agency in order to assure the agency of on-time deliveries to the federal government customer(s). 4. All products must be manufactured and lab tested, certified and customer tested to be effective according to their purpose, have current Material Safety Data sheets, if necessary, and meet certifications with corresponding documentation designated by customers. 5. A willingness to enter into a multi-year agreement which includes on-going technical and production assistance and the necessary factory trained technical field support while enabling the non-profit agency to meet the criteria of the AbilityOne Program to convert material, label, assemble and package the products thereby creating employment for people who are blind or severely disabled. 6. Commitment to working independently with the AbilityOne to market products to the Government customers under the AbilityOne Program. It is preferred that the chosen manufacturer has a dedicated team for Federal Government sales and marketing. 7. Willingness to work with the non-profit agency, NIB, and the Committee to ensure that the price to the end-users is a fair and reasonable price. 8. Manufacturers' submissions must demonstrate that proposed products meet the various criteria, as well as indicate what functions the nonprofit agency's employees would perform. The deadline for response is COB August 9, 2010. Responses should be directed to the contact listed in this Notice. Questions should be directed to Amy Fletcher at 703-310-0373.