SKIFF ICE (SKF-ICE) BOAT

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) BEING RELEASED PURSUANT TO FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) PART 10: MARKET RESEARCH. This RFI is issued solely for informational, market research, and planning purposes only. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) is not at this time seeking proposals, and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the United States (U.S) Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party's expense. At this time, proprietary information is not being requested, and respondents shall refrain from providing proprietary information in response to this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S Government to form a binding contract. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this RFI. SCOPE: The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is searching for vendors interested and capable of manufacturing and delivering Skiff Ice Boat (SKF-ICE) for the USCG (see the attached draft specification). The SKF-ICE will be used as a Short-Haul deployment craft (i.e. for ice rescue SAR cases where the response is less than one-half of a nautical mile from shore). The standard response is a three-person rescue team that travels to the nearest point on shore adjacent to the distress location, and traverses onto the ice for the purpose of conducting a rescue. The ice rescue team is assisted by at least one shoreside member for communications relay. The general case response involves the ice rescue team walking to the location of distress and conducting recovery using a shuttle board and approved rescue slings. The shuttle board is also typically used to help transport gear of the rescue team and assist with victim transport over ice back to shore. A timely response may also necessitate transiting small open pools of water or cracks between ice shelves in which the ice rescue team may need to transit these small areas in order to conduct a timely rescue. The proposed platform needs to be able to support the ice rescue team transit these small areas of open water and also assist with survivor recovery. REQUESTED INFORMATION: Respondents interested in providing a response to this RFI should carefully read the attached draft specification and submit information which clearly describes the following: (In A through E). A. Provide comments to the attached draft specification as well as any recommended changes to the Specification. B. The Company Capabilities to manufacture the boat as well as proven commercial availability. All sources are requested to summarily address each specification listed and identify whether or not they can currently provide each of the specification requirements. C. A rough estimate for the boat concerning production timeframe and price ranges. D. (1) Business Size in accordance with NAICS Code 336612. The expression of interest should state whether the concern is a Large or Small Business, and identify if Small Business Disadvantaged Business, HUB-Zone Business, Women Owned Business, 8(a) certified small business, Veteran Owned Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business and business size under the potential NAICS, (2) Dun and Bradstreet number, (3) Any other Government contracts held including General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule (include the GSA schedule number), and (4) If your firm has recently submitted a proposal for any similar requirements with any Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, or other U.S Federal Government activities, please indicate this with your submission to include agency's name, solicitation number, and Contracting Officer's name and point of contact information. E. Any other information that your company feels is pertinent to this RFI. RESPONSES: Please submit information via email to Ms. I.J Ezeonwuka, Contract Specialist, at ijeoma.ezeonwuka@uscg.mil no later than 12 Noon EST on 21 May 2010. You may also submit supplemental materials such as brochures and product literature to the above email address. Attachments: (1) Request for Information (RFI) (this document) and (2) Draft SKF-ICE Specification.