Deli & Bakery Updated Performance Work Statement (PWS) - Request For Information (RFI) - Defense Commissary Agency

*The purpose of this modification to the RFI is to extend the deadline for industry comments/questions from the close of business (COB) February 19, 2013, to the COB February 25, 2013. Additionally, the deadline is extended to post responses to www.FBO.gov for the submitted industry comments/questions from March 14, 2013, to March 21, 2013. All other instructions and information contained herein remains unchanged.* This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) in accordance FAR 15.201(e) and is not a Request for Proposals (RFP). The Government will not award a contract on the basis of this notice. No funds are available to pay for preparation or responses to this RFI and no entitlement or payment of direct and/or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of a vendor's submission of a response to this RFI or the Government's use of such information. This RFI is for planning purposes only and any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary. The Government wants to secure information regarding the capabilities of industry to meet Agency requirements as stated herein. The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is a United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD) agency, with its headquarters at Fort Lee, VA. DeCA operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees, and their families. DeCA currently operates 248 military commissaries worldwide with annual sales estimated at $6 billion. Of that total, 178 stores are located within the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, and 70 stores are located in 12 countries outside of the U.S. A military commissary is a Government facility providing grocery products, services, and other merchandise to authorized individuals, termed "patrons." It is a facility designed and operated similar to commercial supermarkets. DeCA's goals are to provide the military community with a great shopping experience; sustain a capable, diverse, and engaged civilian workforce; and be a model organization through agility and governance. DeCA is in the process of updating the performance work statement (PWS) language for the delicatessen and bakery operations to ensure the requirement performance and goals align with the continued success of DeCA's mission, vision, and goals. DeCA's objective is to utilize industry expertise and best practices and seeks industry comments for the revised PWS language attached hereto. Furthermore, DeCA requests industry comments on the following language and the feasibility of the pricing elements of the requirement criteria. DeCA is seeking a percentage of savings for each of the five product categories listed below. The amount expressed as a percentage of savings is what the offeror proposes to save the commissary patron on each item for the respective product category when evaluated against same or similar items from comparable commercial supermarket operations in a twenty (20) mile local commuting survey area of each commissary location. Offerors shall propose no less than a twenty (20) percent of savings, for each product category, for each CLIN, and corresponding sub-CLINs, as set forth in a potentially solicited SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES. Pricing offered on a sub-CLIN shall be applicable to all locations covered by the CLIN. Additionally, pricing of the one or more clusters of sub-CLINs offered from the potentially solicited SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES shall include labor, materials, overhead, and profit costs for the work effort required to operate and manage the contracted operations at the locations set forth in the schedule. **NOTE** The following categories are listed in descending order of importance: Product Categories: a. Random Weight: Bulk meats, cheeses and other items which are sold by weight and which require additional preparation and or packaging prior to being purchased by the patron. Examples include sliced deli meat, cold salads, salad bar, olives, etc. b. Bakery: Includes breads, cakes, muffins, pies and other items which are either pre-packaged for immediate sale, or require some preparation from contractor personnel. Specialty items such as wedding cakes, sheet cakes, designer cupcakes, etc. are included in this category. c. Ready to heat/ready to eat: Items which are prepared by vendor for immediate consumption by the patron, or which have already been cooked and can be reheated for use by patrons. Examples include rotisserie chicken, side dishes, meal solutions, sandwiches, soups, etc. d. Sushi: Items which are primarily made up of cold rice dressed with vinegar, formed into any of various shapes, and garnished especially with bits of raw seafood or vegetables. Typically these items will be prepared in store, by trained personnel. e. Non Random Weight: Items which arrive at the store pre-packaged by manufacturer require no additional preparation, for immediate purchase by patrons. These items usually have a manufacturer provided UPC code. Examples include imported, local and ethnic grocery like items. Responses are limited to twenty-five (25) single-sided pages, Times Roman, size twelve (12) font, and one inch margins. Contact with the individual DeCA stores is prohibited. In the event that a vendor has any specific questions regarding this initiative, they are asked to refer those questions, in writing, by the cut-off date, to the email address shown below. The deadline for the receipt of questions and/or comments is the close of business (COB), February 25, 2013*. Written queries will be answered by the appropriate subject matter expert. Responses to all questions submitted will be consolidated and posted to www.fbo.gov, no later March 21, 2013*. Refer all questions and/or comments via email to Mr. David Leffert, Commissary Management Specialist, Defense Commissary Agency, contact@example.gov.