RFI: DLA Industrial Gas & Cylinder Re-compete

10/04/2023: This RFI is being amended to update the attached list of items to include the Federal Supply Class (FSC) and Nomenclature (description) for each NIIN. All other terms remain unchanged; see attachment - NIIN List RFIv2.xlsx for updated information. ++++++ REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENT Defense Logistics Agency - Aviation, Richmond, VA CONUS INDUSTRIAL GAS SUPPORT PROGRAM PROGRAM OVERVIEW DLA-Aviation, Richmond is seeking information in an attempt to determine strategic support options for the industrial gas support program, which aims to provide industrial compressed and liquefied gases to support U.S. Military forces conducting operations in the contiguous United States (CONUS) and outside the contiguous United States (OCONUS) and Foreign Military Sales (FMS). DLA-Aviation's intention is to leverage the commercial industry's best practices and implement a solution which assures readiness, safety, and efficiency. The goal is to effectively reduce lead-times, reduce material and administrative costs, and improve our support to our customer, the warfighter. This agency anticipates a ten-year term for this contract, a 5-year base period and a single 5-year Option period. Scope of Project This initiative contains DLA-Aviation managed National Stock Numbers (NSNs) in Federal Supply Classes (FSC) 6830 and 8120. 6830 - Gases: Compressed and Liquefied 8120 - Gas Cylinders See Attachment 1 for a projected list of 6830 and 8120 NSNs. Additions and deletions may occur during the course of a proposed contract. Anticipated Scope Perform as the Supply Chain Manager for the storage, and distribution for various types and grades of compressed and liquefied gases in a variety of cylinder sizes to various customer requesting facilities and other government designated locations throughout CONUS United States and OCONUS locations and Foreign Military Sales (FMS). Delivering filled cylinders to the customer's site or Government designated locations. Picking up empty cylinders from the customer's site, ports or other Government-designated locations as required. Maintaining and securing a pool of Government furnished property at the vendor's site. Performing maintenance on empty cylinders as required. Collaboration with DLA and customers on projected and anticipated demands. Disposing of unserviceable cylinders as required. Palletizing, packing, marking, labeling of excess cylinders for shipment to other location as required. Identify and comply with all applicable national, and local laws, rules, regulations, and directives governing the transportation, storage, safety, qualification, and certification of gases and cylinders necessary to perform this contract to include, but not limited to the AIM Act. The government anticipates feedback from industry including pros, cons, and risks. Request for Information (RFI) Questions: (Please answer in detail) Please provide your CAGE code, Company name, address, and point of contact information: Please indicate your firm's status (manufacturer, dealer/distributor, or other). If your firm is classified as a Small Business, what Small Business category does your firm qualify as (i.e., 8(a), Hub Zone, Woman-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, etc.)? Briefly describe your firm's experience supporting compressed gases and cylinder customers to include order fulfillment, supplying compressed gases, transportation, shipment tracking, managing cylinder returns, cylinder refurbishment, and cylinder disposal. Describe your firm's ability to support 100% of the compressed gases shown in the attached NSN list. If working with subcontractors, how would the work be divided? What percentage of work would the subcontractors be doing? Describe your firm's ability to comply with all DOT regulations for shipping and storing compressed gases and cylinders. Describe your firm's ability to comply with all US military product marking requirements (i.e., RFID, commercial, & MILSTD) for compressed gases. Describe the higher-level inspection system your firm utilizes (i.e., applicable ISO standard or other system). Describe the commercial terms and conditions that your firm utilizes in its commercial compressed gas contracts (i.e., pricing, incentive provisions, risk mitigation, etc.) Based on the price volatility in the compressed gas market, what level of Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) would your firm envision on this contract? Describe the major risk areas that your firm envisions in supporting the Government's requirement and how your firm might mitigate those risks. Describe your firm's ability to provide Certified Cost and Pricing Data (in accordance with FAR Subparts 15.403 and 15.406) should the Government's requirement exceed the Truth in Negotiations (TINA) threshold. If your firm is capable of providing Certified Cost and Pricing Data, how many days would it take for your firm to provide this data? Describe how the Government could leverage commercial marketplace practices most efficiently? Describe any new technologies in the compressed gas marketplace that could be leveraged in the execution of this follow-on requirement. Describe your firm's ability to meet Time Definite Delivery (TDD) standards for high-priority or emergent compressed gas requirements. Priority 01-03 IPG 1 2 Days Priority 04-08 IPG 2 5 Days Priority 09-15 IPG 3 12 Days Describe how your firm encourages timely returns of gas cylinders in your commercial business. There have been discussions on a possible change in scope to include Europe and/or CENTCOM. Describe your firm's thoughts on the possibility of expanding the current contract scope to cover EUCOM and/or CENTCOM customers within a similar TDD timeframe from the respective region during the contract term. (The contractor should possess a thorough understanding of ISO 9001 standards and demonstrate a commitment to complying with these standards when dealing with OCONUS shipments as required). Summary Information: Submission of materials, suggestions, and discussions are encouraged and will be appreciated. Please submit responses to the above questions by no later than 12 Oct 2023. Please send your electronic (e-mail) and/or hardcopy responses to the RFI questions to the following points of contact: Primary Point of Contact: DLA-Aviation Attention: Charles Hicks, Program Manager 6090 Strathmore Road, Bldg. 46/237 Richmond, VA 23237 Email: Charles.Hicks@DLA.mil Secondary Point of Contact: DLA-Aviation Attention: Jeremy Reeves 6090 Strathmore Road, Bldg. 46 Richmond, VA 23237 Email: Jeremy.T.Reeves@DLA.mil An Industry Day has tentatively been scheduled for 17 Nov 2023 from 0900-1500hrs at the Lotts Conference Center, DLA Aviation, Richmond, VA. Please confirm your company's attendance along with POCs NLT 12 Oct 2023. CONUS Industrial Gas Support Program Lotts Conference Center 6090 Strathmore Road Bldg. 31G Richmond Va, 23237 Disclaimer: In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the government to form a binding contract. This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. The government does not intend to award a contract based on this RFI or to otherwise pay for information received in response to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Information provided in response to this RFI will used by the government to assess tradeoffs and alternatives in order to determine how to proceed in the acquisition process. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.