THE SNAP FASTENER - Request for Information (RFI)

This Request for Information (RFI) is the initiation of market research under Part 10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and is not a Request for Proposals (RFP). The Government does not intend to pay for information furnished pursuant to this RFI. The DLA Troop Support seeks your expression of interest and any suggestion regarding DLA Troop Support's desire to established supply support of: Snap Fasteners to help in the manufacture of clothing to support the DLA Military customers located worldwide. Component Information. The snap fastener shall be brass, with either a black hard glossy finish (japanned) , or black, chemical finish in accordance with MIL-F-495. It shall be either a round or square style, rolled edge. The size(s) shall be 1/0 and shall be a sew-on type. The black finish shall completely hide the color of the underlying material. Gloss shall be 25 maximum when tested in accordance with ASTM-D-523. Reference Documents: MIL-F-495 (Finish, Chemical, Black, for Copper Alloys) ASTM-D-523 (Gloss, Specular) Vendors may submit samples to the Contracting Officer to be used in a visual examination. Any samples received, for which vendors indicate proprietary or confidential materials, will be received and held in confidence for U.S. Government use only. Vendors will not be paid for any samples submitted. No samples will be returned to the vendor; however, vendors may retrieve samples at their own expense. DLA Troop Support reserves the right to dispose of unrestrained samples as necessary. Any results of the visual examination will be for informational purposes only, and will not result in a contract or any other form of a legally-binding agreement. DLA Troop Support has developed a web-based system that allows manufacturers to request additional specifications, patterns, and drawings on our contracting page at: http://www.dscp.dla.mil/Portal/sreqfrm.aspx DLA Troop Support will offer any vendor who is interested the opportunity to make an oral/audio/visual presentation of their information. For an appointment, contact the Contracting Officer below. Responses to this RFI that indicate that the information therein is proprietary or represents confidential business information will be received and held in confidence for U.S. Government use only. However, DLA Troop Support's intent is to analyze the information provided from industry as a whole, and develop future strategies. All samples submitted must be accompanied by paperwork citing this RFI number, dated and sample retrieval date. In addition, the participant shall indicate they are providing samples that conform to current military specifications or represent a commercial alternative. ****NOTE: Due to certain requirements, the item must be manufactured in the United States. Please provide written responses by close of business, December 22, 2011 by 3:00PM Philadelphia Local Time, to the following address: DLA Troop Support ATTN: Contracting Officer: Anthony D'avella, FQCA, and 3A-4047 700 Robbins Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19111 Email address of Contracting Officer PHONE: 215-737-3193 FAX: 215-737-2851