Description
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THIS REQUEST IS NOT A SOLICITATION. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT A PROPOSAL. The Air Force Installation Contracting Agency (AFICA) is requesting information and conducting market research to determine the capabilities of manufacturers to produce and/or provide a follow-on contract for Non-Fire Resistant Combat Shirts in an Air Force wide strategic sourcing initiative throughout the Continental United States (CONUS). This Request for Information (RFI) is issued as a method of market research in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. This RFI will close on 30 October 2015, 4:30 PM CST. In Accordance with FAR 52.215-3, your response will be treated as information only. This RFI does not constitute, nor should it be construed as: a solicitation, Request for Proposal, Request for Quotation, Invitation for Bid, or any other commitment by the Government. All businesses who believe they are capable of meeting all requirements laid out in this RFI are invited to complete the questionnaire attached to this RFI. The input will assist in determining the interest, capability, and capacity of all potential offers. Responses will not be evaluated, but are for the purpose of gathering information to help refine our requirements and acquisition strategy. Following your response to this RFI, USAF representatives may choose to engage in additional communications with selected respondents. Such communications would only be intended to support USAF market research by obtaining further clarification of the capabilities of the industry to meet requirements. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI, nor will the Government provide compensation for providing information. There is no solicitation available at this time. Responses are not offers, and the Government is not under any obligation to award a contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. If the Government decides to support a follow-on contract for Non-Fire Resistant Combat Shirts, it will issue a Request for Proposal at a later date. Please monitor the Federal Business Opportunities website ( www.fbo.gov ) for future information regarding this potential requirement. Respondents are also advised that submitting any information provides the Government permission for the Government to use the data, pictures, and other information contained in the submittals for Government purposes. The Government intends to receive electronic responses to this RFI and no mailed paper responses will be accepted. All information received in response to this RFI marked as "proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Information provided as a response to this RFI will not be returned. Small Businesses are encouraged to provide a complete and thorough response to this RFI, in order to assist AFICA in determining levels of competition available in the industry, as well as helping to establish a basis for developing any subsequent potential subcontract plan goal percentages. However, not responding will not preclude participation should a solicitation be released. The Non-Fire Resistant Combat Shirt is a follow-on effort to be procured as listed on Attachment 1, Salient Characteristics. The purpose of this strategic sourcing initiative is to continue to consolidate and standardize the Non-Fire Resistant Combat Shirt requirements throughout the Air Force. The purpose of publicizing this RFI notice is to communicate the strategic sourcing initiative to the industry. The Government intends to use information accumulated from these interactions to identify commercial best practices, increase competition to broaden industry participation in meeting Government requirements, and gather information for planning purposes about the Non-Fire Resistant Combat Shirt market or capabilities, as defined in FAR 15.201 (e).