75 -- Office Supplies to support NOAA Operations

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a bureau operating within the Department of Commerce, is interested in identifying venders capable of providing office supplies to support its ongoing operations. During government fiscal year 2004, NOAA acquired over $4 million worth of office supplies using thousands of purchase card transactions and over 50 different contractual agreements. A majority of its purchases were made using a credit card and were categorized under Federal Supply Codes 7510, 7520 and 7530, NAICS Code 424120.NOAA's demand for office supplies emanates primarily from its buying offices located in Silver Spring, Maryland, Norfolk, Virginia; Kansas City, Missouri; Boulder, Colorado; and Seattle, Washington. Supplies were delivered to these locations, as well as other NOAA offices throughout the United States. PURPOSE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT: NOAA desires to identify vendors capable of meeting NOAA's demands for office supplies with discounted pricing (based on prospective order volume) and create an efficient ordering process that accepts the Federal credit card (Visa) and automatically obtains certain supplies from mandatory sources of supply (e.g., UNICORE, JWOD, NISH). NOAA is interested in hearing from vendors and learning about the type and extent of office supplies that can be provided as well as the most effective method(s) for acquisition. Ultimately, NOAA is interested in awarding one or more contracts to vendors, or Blanket Purchase Agreements to vendors holding GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts. In any event, the vendor must accept a credit card as the means of payment. NOAA is particularly interested in identifying small or small disadvantaged, women owned, service disabled veteran owned, or qualifying hubzone businesses capable of meeting its needs. Finally, in order to ensure NOAA complies with Federal mandates to acquire certain supplies from required sources of supply, NOAA is interested in identifying vendors with business ties to these sources. Some of the key issues NOAA is interested in learning more about are: 1. The type and extent of vendors capable of providing office supplies to NOAA (FSC Code 75, NAICS Code 424120). 2. The extent to which one vendor can meet some or all of NOAA's potential total order volume. 3. The socio-economic category and size status of each vendor 4. The extent vendors have contracts with GSA's Federal Supply Schedule 5. The method that supplies will be provided to NOAA (e.g. direct ship from warehouse/wholesaler or from retail office location) 6. The feasibility and potential added cost (if any) of on-site restocking of supplies for various NOAA offices in multiple locations. 7. The extent that e-commerce ordering can be accommodated including online product catalogs and order placement. 8. The types of agreements the vendor has to offer products provided by Federal required sources of supply such as UNICORE, JWOD, NISH, etc. 9. The extent of discount off retail and/or GSA/FSS prices that could be offered. SUBMITTING A RESPONSE: Interested firms with capability to provide office supplies to NOAA are invited to provide a written response that addresses each of the issues identified above, and any other ideas or concerns. All responses must be submitted to Robert Ransom no later than 12:00 Noon (EST) on February 4, 2005. The response should be submitted electronically via email with no more then two attachments to robert.ransom@noaa.gov or in paper form to Robert E. Ransom, Contracting Officer, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Suite 7604, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. The vender's cover letter should be no longer than 2-pages and include a description of the firm including the type of business, central contractor registration status, location, current size and socio-economic status, GSA/FSS MAS Contract Number (if any), DUNS Number, tax identification number, points of contact - names, phone, fax, email. The vendor may also include catalogs for office supplies currently offered as well as pricing and prospective discounts. Questions and comments may be directed to the Contracting Officer by email only at robert.ransom@noaa.gov.