EPA Safer Choice Solid Laundry Products

Request for Information (RFI) and Sources Sought - EPA Safer Choice Compliant Solid Laundry Products Background The Federal Bureau of Prisons (Bureau) is an agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ). It consists of 122 institutions throughout the United States, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico; 6 regional offices, a Central Office (headquarters), 2 staff training centers, and 26 Residential Reentry Management offices. More information about the agency can be found on the Bureau's website, www.bop.gov. The National Acquisitions Section (NAS) is responsible for the execution and administration of all national contracts and blanket purchase agreements (BPAs). NAS seeks to adhere to the Presidential Executive Orders for the acquisition process of EPA Safer Choice compliant solid laundry detergent products Bureau wide. A national agreement will aid Bureau wide acquisition personnel by reducing administrative costs, adhering to EPA standards of water and product use and meeting socio-economic goals. Purpose The purpose of this RFI is to seek information regarding the options that are currently available in the marketplace for EPA Safer Choice Solid Laundry products and possible Small business sources. Information received from this RFI may be utilized for a future procurement need. Additionally, the Government may conduct One-on-One market research sessions with responders to this RFI to further understand the responders' market capabilities. Requirements - Bureau will need for responders to address the following EPA Safer Choice compliant Solid Laundry items: 1) Detergent 2) Breaks and Builders 3) Sours and Softeners 4) Stain Removers 5) De-Stainers Response to this RFI is intended solely for the use to improve communications between potential contractors and the Bureau of Prisons. If for some reason, the responses are requested by outside parties (i.e. FOIA request), the information is not protected as source selection information (FAR 2.101 and 3.104). If you intend for the information to be exempt from disclosure under FOIA Exemption 4, please indicate this in your response and on each page you want exempt. Furthermore, indicate that your response is proprietary information that may not be used, reproduced, or disclosed to any other parties for any purpose without the expressed written permission. Questions regarding this RFI must be submitted to p5clark@bop.gov by 4:00 pm on February 22, 2016. Responses to the RFI questions, shall be emailed, no later than 2:00 pm (EST) on February 24, 2016, to Paul Clark, Contracting Officer, at p5clark@bop.gov. Questions 1. Describe your company's ability to supply the (5) five Products listed. 2. Provide a description and use of the dispensing equipment. 3. Describe your company's business structure. (Manufacturing, distribution and partnering). 4. Please provide the product cost (dollars, not percentage), volumes and concentrations listed for all of the requirements. 5. Provide detailed information on reporting product capabilities, EPA Safer choice certifications, MSD sheets and analysis tools. 6. Describe common problems that buyers encounter. How are these problems resolved? 7. What type of support capabilities (including training and preventative maintenance) does your company offer? What are the hours of operation? 8. What is the average implementation time for your company's installation (including training)? Please provide a sample time-line for implementation. 9. Does your company currently hold a GSA Schedule which covers the EPA Safer Choice solution? If so, what is the schedule number and expiration date? How long will it take to add a Safer Choice product to your GSA schedule? 10. Interested parties shall specify the North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code, Federal Supply Classification (FSC) used, and the current business size and SBA type of their company for the EPA Safer Choice Compliant Solid Laundry solution. 11. Please provide information on past or current contracts similar in nature to the RFI; please include business/government entities, contact names, email addresses, and phone numbers). Size, scope, and complexity should be addressed.