89 -- The Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee) is pursuing partnerships with one or more national brand name manufacturers to supply roasted and ground coffee

The Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee) is pursuing partnerships with one or more national brand name manufacturers to supply roasted and ground coffee to the Federal Government. Any resulting partnership will comply with the Committee's Operations Memorandum No. 22 (?Guidance on the Addition of Co-Branded Products to the Procurement List?) while meeting the following general criteria (proposals should address each criterion): 1) Possession of a nationally known brand name can be demonstrated to have significant appeal through evidence of substantial sales. 2) Willingness to enter into a multi-year agreement, which includes technical assistance, with a nonprofit agency that meets the criteria of the AbilityOne Program to manufacture (in whole or in part), package, and distribute the products in question thereby creating employment for people who are blind or severely disabled. 3) Commitment to working with the AbilityOne team to market the products to Government customers under the AbilityOne Program. 4) Willingness to work with the nonprofit agency, NISH and the Committee to ensure that the products' price to end-users is a fair and reasonable price. Additionally, the partnership shall meet the following project specific criteria (appear in order of importance; proposals should address each criteria): 1) Willingness to establish a collaborative manufacturing process which allows for ?value added? tasks to be performed by individuals with severe disabilities through the AbilityOne Program. Examples might involve providing roasted whole beans or roasted and ground coffee to the nonprofit agency in super sacks for grinding (if necessary), packaging, labeling, marking, and distributing to the Federal Government. Respondents are encouraged to submit other collaborative manufacturing process scenarios, which allow for ?value added? tasks to be performed by individuals with severe disabilities. Proposals can include multiple collaborative manufacturing scenarios. Proposals that maximize employment for individuals with severe disabilities will be given preference. Manufacturers' submissions shall indicate what functions the nonprofit agency's employees would perform. 2) Performance history during the past 24 months (commercial and Government). Past performance is defined as the manufacturer?s record of conforming to standards of good workmanship; adherence to delivery schedules; reputation for reasonable and cooperative behavior; commitment to customer satisfaction; and an overall business-like concern for the interests of the customer. Past performance will be used to determine whether the manufacturer has consistently demonstrated a commitment to customer satisfaction and to timely delivery of quality goods at fair and reasonable prices. 3) Past experience with a same or similar co-branding partnership. Proposals should include description of partnership; timeframe; partner diversity (small business, minority owned business, etc.); and results. 4) Past experience in Government sales of Roasted and Ground Coffee. 5) Geographical location(s). 6) Manufacturer?s submission shall include their additional requirements for the nonprofit agency such as quality systems/certifications, proprietary information/non-disclosure agreements; defect liability; product recall; etc. 7.) Co-brand partner must demonstrate a willingness to work with the nonprofit agency to ensure the price to the Federal customer is fair and reasonable. The deadline for response is November 3, 2007.