Appraisal Services

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR QUOTE. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Respondents will not be notified of the result of the review. Not responding to this sources sought does not preclude participation in any future and potential solicitation. It is the intent of the Contracting Office to use this for market research purposes only. If a formal solicitation is released, it will be via the Federal Business Opportunities (http://www.fbo.gov). The Government shall not reimburse the costs of preparing responses to this request for information. The Department of Defense (DoD), Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), is performing market research to determine the availability, interest and capability of potential business sources in sufficient number, with appraisal service to identify quality, and assign values to foreign and domestic gifts received by both military and civilian representatives of the U.S. Government. This support will also provide written documentation of all gifts appraised to include photographs and detailed appraisal reports in support of the Program and Services Division, Foreign and Domestic Gifts Program. The contractor must be an independent, registered, qualified, expert appraiser under the auspices of an accredited Board of Examiners Appraisal and is professionally experienced to conduct appraisals in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. All vendors wishing to do business with the Government should make sure they have a DUNS number http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform) and are registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database (https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx). The Contractor must be qualified in recognizing flags and emblems of various countries; features of design that may constitute increased value; design features that have special connotations; identify specific kinds of work in various materials used that determine density of material; read markings on precious metals; the ability to effectively communicate with makers, manufacturers, and embassies through various forms of communication. The Contractor must be able to correctly name items from different countries; identify specific kinds of work in various materials; identify different kinds of materials and determine density of material; ability to read markings on precious metals; recognize flags and emblems; and recognize features of design and features that have special connotations. The Contractor must have ten (10) years continuous appraisal service based on knowledge, experience and professional judgment. The Contractor must also be knowledgeable about procedures pertaining to foreign gifts received by military and civilian representatives from foreign or domestic sources, to include on-site appraisal experience interfacing with High Level Government Officials. The Contractor must have current or prior appraisal experience with other Federal or Government entities. The Contractor shall provide all equipment, tools, and materials as well as non-personal services necessary to perform the contractual obligation of Appraiser. The Contractor must be able to perform additional appraisal review processes to ensure the identification, origin, and assessment of gifts received by military and civilian representatives of the Department of Defense from foreign or domestic sources results in a fair RVUS market value. The Contractor must have qualifications to perform appraisal work for foreign gifts with knowledge of written numerals and written information in other languages; knowledge of types of stones (precious, semiprecious, etc); knowledge of the use of gram scale (weight); knowledge of determining knot count in rugs and other fabrics and able to identify whether rugs are handmade or machine made; knowledge of silver hallmarks, symbols, numeral markings, currency translations, and exotic materials; the ability to convert foreign price/cost relative to U.S. fair market retail values. Respondents should complete the Market Research Questionnaire which contains provisional information for the Appraisal services requirement. HOW TO RESPOND Please submit your responses to the Market Research Questionnaires and Capability Statement to this RFI via email attachment. The Capability Statement must be on 8 - by 11-inch standard paper and limit number of pages to 5 (including all attachments) to Janice Bennett, Contract Specialist, at janice.bennett@whs.mil, by Monday September 20 2010 at 09:00 A.M. EST. **NO PHONE CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED**