Description
Note: This announcement is a re-announcement of CP-12-22, which expired on January 22, 2009. Interested parties should respond with the current announcement number listed above. The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee), the Federal agency that oversees the AbilityOne (formerly Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program, is seeking a U.S. commercial company to provide Mill (Jumbo) rolls, glossy and matte finish cellophane tape in conjunction with a selected nonprofit agency to furnish such products to the Federal Government under the AbilityOne (JWOD) Program. The products described must meet and/or exceed the Federal Acquisition Regulations (F.A.R.) and other published Federal standards, including Executive Orders and applicable agency-unique requirements. To be considered for this commercial partner opportunity, the following criteria, at a minimum, must be met: 1) Possession of an established brand name that 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, National Industries for the Blind (NIB) 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. Items are presented in order of importance and proposals should address each criterion: • Willingness to establish a collaborative manufacturing process which allows for value added tasks to be performed by individuals who are blind or visually impaired through the AbilityOne Program. • Willingness to assist in the selection of required tooling for maximum efficiencies with blind or visually impaired labor. • Ability to provide branded raw materials conforming to ASTM standards---- (D3121, D3330, D3654, D3759, D3811, D5750) for pressure-sensitive tapes, whereby selected nonprofit agency produces finished products - meeting suitability criteria for the AbilityOne Program with manufacturing processes such as slitting, rolling, separating, boxing, labeling and shipping. • A willingness to offer national sales and training support, as well as, technical expertise as needed within the federal government marketplace. • Willingness and commitment to provide supply chain processes and products that are as environmentally responsible as is technically practical and work to continuously monitor and improve the sustainability of both over time. • Partner's performance history during the past 24 months to include Trade Agreement Act (TAA) compliance and 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 • Past experience in Government sales of cellophane tapes • 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 • The deadline for response is April 10, 2009.