56 -- The Department of State has established a qualified manufacturers list (QML) for Forced Entry (FE) and Ballistic Resistant(BR)Requirements

The Department of State (DOS) has a continuing requirement for providing doors, windows, opaque panels and glazing panels to U. S. Diplomatic and Consular Missions overseas that have been DOS certified for forced entry (FE) and ballistic resistant (BR) protection. The DOS has established a qualified manufacturers list (QML) but DOS wants to continue to promote competition by increasing the number of qualified manufacturers for our FE/BR requirements. Hence, the following information is provided to interested manufacturers. Prior to DOS certification, each product must be tested by an independent test facility to meet DOS standards for a specified level of FE and BR protection. We currently utilize the following different FE/BR ratings: 5-minute FE, 15-minute FE/BR and 60-minute FE/BR. Products required for 5-minute FE protection include: doors with glazing panels, opaque doors, opaque door pairs, door pairs with glazing panels, fixed windows and teller windows with deal tray. Products required for 15-minute FE/BR protection include: doors with glazing panels, doors with glazing panel and deal tray, opaque doors, opaque door pairs, door pairs with glazing panels, fixed windows, teller windows with deal tray, opaque panels, transparent panels, and combination opaque and transparent panels. Products required for 60-minute FE/BR protection include: opaque doors, opaque door pairs, louvers and roof hatches. The standards and requirements that a potential offeror (or its product) must satisfy in order to become qualified are found in the following documents: Department of State (DOS) standard, SD-STD-01.01 (latest revision), Certification Standard for Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistance of Structural Systems, and requirements provided in the Office of Foreign Buildings Operations (FBO) Architectural & Engineering Design Guidelines for U. S. Diplomatic Mission Buildings Master-Guide-Spec, Section 08318 - Forced Entry (FE)/Ballistic Resistant (BR)Door Assemblies, Section 08661 - Exterior Security Windows, Section 08667 - Interior Security and Teller Windows, Section 08845 - Security Glazing, Section 13026 - Security Modular Panels, Section 10211 - Security Louvers, and Section 07727 - Forced Entry (FE)/Ballistic Resistant (BR) Roof Hatches. The specifications for these products are the least restrictive to meet the purposes necessitating the establishment of this qualification requirement. At a minimum, each manufacturer must have the following 15-minute FE/BR products tested and DOS-certified prior to any award of contract: door with glazing, opaque door, door with glazing panel and deal tray, fixed window, and teller window with deal tray. It is extremely difficult to mix manufacturers on one project due to different appearance, frame materials, finish materials and coordination of bolt holes if two different manufacturers frames are to bolted together. Therefore for large projects we would utilize one manufacturer for all products unless the products are not physically located in close proximity to distinguish physical differences. All requests for copies of these specifications and standards must be in writing and submitted to U.S. Department of State, DS/PSP/PSD, Attn: Dusty Rhodes, SA-14, Washington DC 20520-1403 with an information copy attached for A/OPE, Rm. 603, SA-6, Washington, DC 20522-0602. Mr. Rhodes may be contacted at +1 (555) 000-0000. The DOS has awarded contracts subject to this qualification requirement since fiscal year 2000. When a product is submitted for qualification testing, the applicant must furnish any specific information that may be requested of the manufacturer before testing will begin. The manufacturer is responsible for arranging, scheduling and paying for the tests conducted by an independent laboratory that has been approved by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Physical Security Programs, Physical Security Division (DS/PSP/PSD). The following test facility has been approved for certification testing: H.P. White Laboratory, Inc., 3114 Scarboro Road, Street, Maryland 21154-1822, +1 (555) 000-0000.