Auto Parts

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS ISSUED ONLY TO CONDUCT A MARKET RESEARCH STUDY FOR AN ANTICIPATED REQUIREMENT. PARTICIPATION IN THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION IS VOLUNTARY. NO COMPENSATION WILL BE PROVIDED. PURPOSE This is a Department of State (DOS) Sources Sought Notice Only. Contractors are requested to read and respond to the below and attached documents accordingly. The response from this notice may be used as market research to determine an acquisition strategy for an imminent anticipated competitive acquisition. The purpose of the Source Sought Notice is to survey the vendor community for potential sources who can provide a commercial off the shelf (COTS) solution for auto parts including all core product items for the manufacturer/models and model years cited in the attached workbook (worksheet titled Requirements) Respondents are encouraged to identify other readily available COTS auto parts products (manufacturer and models) not included in the attachment in their response. Specifically, DOS wishes to determine whether there may be small business manufacturers that can provide auto parts meeting the Department's requirements. The information received (or lack thereof) in response to this notice may be used as a partial basis for the Contracting Officer's determination as to the appropriateness or inappropriateness of a small business or other socio-economic set-aside under the subsequent solicitation (RFQ). Respondents are encouraged to provide an itemized list of applicable standard(s), including manufacturing and environmental standards, for each core product item cited in worksheet titled: Requirements as part of their response. The DOS also wishes to determine: 1) if multiple large business manufacturers can provide supplies that meet DOS core product items outlined in the attached workbook (worksheet titled Requirements). For the purposes of the RFI, DOS encourages responses from manufacturers only. RESPONSE FORMAT Responses must be submitted electronically, formatted in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel (any version). Margins must be 1" on all sides, to print on 8 " x 11" paper. Typeface must be Times New Roman, 12 pt. font. Responses should be specific to the core product items. The page limitation is five (5) pages to include Contractor's response to the worksheet titled Requirements. Respondents are cautioned to keep marketing materials and non-specific information to a minimum. No responses shall be accepted via US Mail or Fax. RESPONSE CONTENT Responses should clearly indicate if core product items are available on GSA Schedule and/or Open Market. Responses should include the Contractor's statement of interest, capabilities statement and specific commercial off the shelf (COTS) products that the respondent could deploy to fulfill the requirement if a solicitation were to be issued. Responses shall address the requirements in - Auto Parts RFI Matrix workbook (worksheet titled Requirements) and provide product information in the column entitled "Comments" to indicate which commercially available products that the respondent may suggest to meet these requirements. Respondent should include notation whether the product suggested would meet the requirement or not, and whether there is any other technical consideration, option, exception, and etc. that would apply. Respondents shall enter data into each applicable data cell in Auto Parts RFI Matrix workbook (worksheet titled Requirements) to provide basic organizational information, including reseller or manufacturer status, small business size standards, and Reseller and Manufacturer designation for each core product item, product availability under a GSA contract or Open Market. Respondents are encouraged to include in their response any questions or additional information that they would require prior to submitting a quote in the event a solicitation is issued. No pricing information is required at this time. For the purposes of this notice, the DOS encourages as brief a response as practicable. Responses to this sources sought synopsis should be forwarded to the attention of Annie Harlow. NOTE: DOS will not accept questions at this time. Please email your response to AutoParts@State.Gov no later than 3:00 PM, EDT on January 21, 2015. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NO AWARD WILL BE MADE ON THE BASIS OF RESPONSES RECEIVED TO THIS NOTICE.