10--W52H09-08-T-0448 awarded 5 August 2008 against PO W52H09-08-P-0507.

The following questions and Government responses are posted to assist industry in responding to this requirement. QUESTION #1: Packaging: Is there any special packaging required other than what is called-out in the synopsis? GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Packaging is Best Commercial practices. Any subsequent purchase order will have the following packaging clause incorporated: The preservation, packing, and marking requirements for the item identified above shall be accomplished in accordance with the performance requirements defined herein. The following Packaging requirements shall apply: Preservation: COMMERCIAL Level of Packing: COMMERCIAL Quantity Per Unit Package: BEST COMMERCIAL PRACTICES 1. Packaging - Preservation, packaging, packing, unitization and marking furnished by the supplier shall provide protection for a minimum of one year, provide for multiple handling, redistribution and shipment by any mode and meet or exceed the following requirements. 1.1 Cleanliness - Items shall be free of dirt and other contaminants which would contribute to the deterioration of the item or which would require cleaning by the customer prior to use. Coatings and preservatives applied to the item for protection are not considered contaminants. 1.2 Preservation - Items susceptible to corrosion or deterioration shall be provided protection by means of preservative coatings, volatile corrosion inhibitors, desiccants, waterproof and/or watervaporproof barriers. 1.3 Cushioning - Items requiring protection from physical and mechanical damage (e.g. fragile, sensitive, material critical) or which could cause physical damage to other items, shall be protected by wrapping, cushioning, pack compartmentalization, or other means to mitigate shock and vibration to prevent damage during handing and shipment. 2. Unit Package. A unit package shall be so designed and constructed that it will contain the contents with no damage to the item(s), and with minimal damage to the unit pack during shipment and storage in the shipping container, and will allow subsequent handling. The outermost component of a unit package shall be a container such as a sealed bag, carton or box. Unit packs shall be designed to have minimum size and weight while retaining the protection required and enhancing standardization. 3. Unit Package Quantity - Unless otherwise specified, the unit package quantity shall be one each part, set, assembly, kit, etc. 4. Intermediate Package - Intermediate packaging is required whenever one or more of the following conditions exists: a. the quantity is over one (1) gross of the same national stock number, b. use enhances handling and inventorying, c. the exterior surfaces of the unit pack is a bag of any type, regardless of size, d. the unit pack is less than 64 cubic inches, e. the weight of the unit pack is under five (5) pounds and no dimension is over twelve (12) inches. Intermediate containers shall be limited to a maximum of 100 unit packs, a net load of 40 pounds, or a maximum volume of 1.5 cubic feet, whichever occurs first. 5. Packing 5.1 Unit packages and intermediate packages meeting the requirements for a shipping container may be utilized as a shipping containers. All shipping containers shall be the most cost effective and shall be of minimum cube to contain and protect the items. 5.2 Shipping Containers - The shipping container (including any necessary blocking, bracing, cushioning, or waterproofing) shall comply with the regulations of the carrier used and shall provide safe delivery to the destination at the lowest tariff cost. The shipping container shall be capable of multiple handling, stacking at least ten feet high, and storage under favorable conditions (such as enclosed facilities) for a minimum of one year. 6. Unitization: Shipments of identical items going to the same destination shall be palletized if they have a total cubic displacement of 50 cubic feet or more unless skids or other forklift handling features are included on the containers. Pallet loads must be stable, and to the greatest extent possible, provide a level top for ease of stacking. A palletized load shall be of a size to allow for placement of two loads high and wide in a conveyance. The weight capacity of the pallet must be adequate for the load. The pallet shall be a 40 x 48 inch, 4-way entry pallet although variations may be permitted as dictated by the characteristics of the items being unitized. The load shall be contained in a manner that will permit safe handling during shipment and storage. 7. Marking: 7.1. All unit packages, intermediate packs, exterior shipping containers, and, as applicable, unitized loads shall be marked in accordance with MIL-STD-129, Revision P, Change Notice 4, dated 19 Sep 2007 including bar coding and a MSL label. The contractor is responsible for application of special markings as discussed in the Military Standard regardless of whether specified in the contract or not. Special markings include, but are not limited to, Shelf-life markings, structural markings, and transportation special handling markings. The marking of pilferable and sensitive materiel will not identify the nature of the materiel. Passive RFID tagging is required in all contracts that contain DFARS clause 252.211-7006. Contractors must check the solicitation and/or contract for this clause. For details and most recent information, see http://www.acq.osd.mil/log/rfid/index.htm for the current DoD Suppliers Passive RFID Information Guide and Supplier Implementation Plan. If the item has Unique Item Identifier (UII) markings then the UII needs to be 2D bar coded and applied on the unit package, intermediate and exterior containers, and the unit load. 8. Hazardous Materials (as applicable): 8.1 Hazardous Materials is defined as a substance, or waste which has been determined by the Secretary of Transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce and which has been so designated. (This includes all items listed as hazardous in Titles 29, 40 and 49 CFR and other applicable modal regulations effective at the time of shipment.) 8.2 When applicable, the packaging and marking for hazardous material shall comply with the requirements for the mode of transport and the applicable performance packaging contained in the following documents: --International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations --International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) --Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 29, Title 40 and Title 49 --Joint Service Regulation AFJMAN24-204/TM38-250/NAVSUPPUB 505/MCO P4030.19/DLAM 4145.3 (for military air shipments). 8.3 If the shipment originates from outside the continental United States, the shipment shall be prepared in accordance with the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods in a manner acceptable to the Competent Authority of the nation of origin and in accordance with regulations of all applicable carriers. 8.4 A Product Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) is required to be included with every unit pack and intermediate container and shall be included with the packing list inside the sealed pouch attached to the outside of the package. 9. Heat Treatment and Marking of Wood Packaging Materials: All non-manufactured wood used in packaging shall be heat treated to a core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for a minimum of 30 minutes. The box/pallet manufacturer and the manufacturer of wood used as inner packaging shall be affiliated with an inspection agency accredited by the board of review of the American Lumber Standard Committee. The box/pallet manufacturer and the manufacturer of wood used as inner packaging shall ensure tractability to the original source of heat treatment. Each box/pallet shall be marked to show the conformance to the International Plant Protection Convention Standard. Boxes/pallets and any wood used as inner packaging made of non-manufactured wood shall be heat-treated. The quality mark shall be placed on both ends of the outer packaging, between the end cleats or end battens; on two sides of the pallet. . Foreign manufacturers shall have the heat treatment of non-manufactured wood products verified in accordance with their National Plant Protection Organizations compliance program. In addition, wood used as dunnage for blocking and bracing, to include ISO containers, shall be ordered with ALSC certified marking for dunnage or the markings may be applied locally at two foot intervals. 10. Quality Assurance: The contractor is responsible for establishing a quality system. Full consideration to examinations, inspections, and tests will be given to ensure the acceptability of the commercial package. 11. SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS: N/A QUESTION #2: How will the shipping be handled? GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Shipping is FOB Origin. The Government reminds all potential offerors that this is a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) requirement. Any subsequent purchase order will have the following shipping clause incorporated: (a) The Contract Administration Office designated at the time of contract award, or the office servicing the point of shipment if subsequently designated by the original office, will be the contact point to which the contractor will: (1) Submit, as necessary, DD Form 1659, Application for U.S. Government Bill(s) of Lading/Export Traffic Release, in triplicate at least ten days prior to date supplies will be available for shipment; (2) Obtain shipping instructions as necessary for F.O.B. Destination delivery; and (3) Furnish necessary information for MILSTRIP/MILSTAMP or other shipment documentation and movement control, including air and water terminal clearances. (4) For FMS, at least 10 days in advance of actual shipping date, the contractor should request verification of Ship to and Notification address from the appropriate DCMA. (b) The Contract Administration Office will provide to the contractor data necessary for shipment marking and freight routing. (c) The contractor shall not ship directly to a Military air or waterport terminal without authorization by the designated point of contact. QUESTION #3: The solicitation calls for Harris products by name not sole sourced. Is it supposed to be sole sourced to Harris? GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The solicitation does indeed call for specific Harris products. The Government is NOT, however, limiting offerors ONLY to Harris Engineering, CAGE 57215. This requirement is open to any responsible Small Business offeror that can meet all of the terms and conditions of the solicitaton as published, while providing the required hardware in accordance with the delivery schedule as stated. The solicitation response time is NOT extended as a result of this modification and remains 2 July 2008, 2pm Central Time. Follow the specific submission requirements as outlined in the combined synopsis/solicitation.