USAFA Officer and Mess Dress Uniforms

This announcement serves as a Sources Sought Synopsis issued for the purpose of market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 for the upcoming acquisition for the United States Air Force Academy. This sources sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation nor is this notice a request for quotations. DO NOT submit a quote or proposal in response to this synopsis. For the purpose of this acquisition, the North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 315222 and the size standard is 500 employees. The proposed contract is anticipated to be a firm fixed price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a base period of 1 year and four (4) option years. The sources sought is issued for determining if there are responsive small business concerns capable of meeting the requirement. Interested vendors must reference their 8(a), HUB Zone, Women-owned, or Service Disabled Veteran status. This must be signed by a company officer with authority to bind the company. The purpose of this notice is to identify companies, in particular small business socio-economic categories capable and qualified of providing the Officer and Mess Dress Uniforms for the United States Air Force Academy. The Officer Uniform consists of: Officer Uniform Men's Coat, Type I, Color Blue 1620, estimated quantity of 735 each. Officer Uniform Women's Coat, Type I, Color Blue 1620, estimated quantity 155 each. Officer Uniform Men's Trousers, Type I, Color Blue 1620, estimated quantity 1470 pair. Officer Uniform Women's Slacks, Type I, Color Blue 1620, estimated quantity 340 pair. The specifications are as follows: Officer Men's Coat, IAW PD YAGC 93-3, dated 22 June 99 USAFA Letter of Exception, Men's Coat, dated 30 Sept 04 Officer Women's Coat, IAW PD YAGC 93-4, dated 31 Mar 00 USAFA Letter of Exception, Women's Coat, dated 30 Sept 04 Officer Men's Trousers, IAW PD YAGC 85-1B Amendment 3, dated 3 Nov 93 USAFA Letter of Exception, Men's Trousers, dated 30 Sept 04 Officer Women's Slacks, IAW PD 93-6 Revision 2, dated 21 Jul 97 USAFA Letter of Exception, Women's Slacks, dated 30 Sept 04 The Mess Dress Uniform consists of: Mess Dress Uniform Men's Jacket, Type I, Blue 1583, estimated quantity 775 each Mess Dress Uniform Women's Jacket, Type I, Blue 1583, estimated quantity 175 each Mess Dress Uniform Men's Trousers, Type I, Blue 1583, estimated quantity 775 pair Mess Dress Uniform Women's skirts, Type I, Blue 1583, estimated quantity 175 each Mess Dress Uniform Men's Jacket, fill-in Type I, Blue 1583, estimated quantity 50 each Mess Dress Uniform Women's Jacket, fill-in, Type I, Blue 1583, estimated quantity 15 each Mess Dress Uniform Men's Trousers, fill-in, Type I, Blue 1583, estimated quantity 50 pair Mess Dress Uniform women's skirts, fill-in, Type I, Blue 1583, estimated quantity 15 each The specifications are as follows: Mess Dress Men's Jacket, IAW AESC 82-6A, dated 5 Dec 85 USAFA Letter of Exception, Men's Jacket, dated 29 Oct 04 Mess Dress Women's Jacket, IAW PD YAPC 04-5 Revision, dated 30 Nov 05 Mess Dress Women's Jacket, IAW PD YAPC 04-5 Amendment 1, dated 23 Mar 07 Mess Dress Trouser, IAW PD AESC 82-7A, dated 10 Jul 86 USAFA Letter of Exception, Men's Trousers, dated 29 Oct 04 Mess Dress Women's Skirts, IAW PD APC 05-06, revision dated 31 Jul 05 Exact quantities and sizes will be identified on individual delivery orders. The contractor will be responsible for procuring the fabric for both uniforms. Contractor will be responsible for providing Try-on garments for this acquisition and they will become government property. Those contractors who are interested in this acquisition must get certified through Department of the Air Force, Human Systems Center Clothing Division located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45533-7009 for each applicable garment. Interested contractors not certified may obtain information on certification approval from ASC/WNUV-TAC, Bldg 63, 1901 Tenth Street, WPAFB, OH 45433-7605, Attn: Gina Rice. Her extension is 937-255-6073, or email gina.rice@wpafb.af.mil, or the alternate point of contact, Deb Klensch, extension 937-255-4915, or email deb.klensch@wpafb.af.mil. All items and components must be made and manufactured in accordance with DFARS 252-225-7001, Buy American Act and Balance of Payments Program and DFARS 252-225-7012, Preference for Certain Domestic Commodities, also referred to as the Berry Amendment. The Berry Amendment applies only to DoD and has been included in DoD Appropriations Act since 1941. The Act restricts DoD expenditures of funds for supplies consisting in whole or in part of certain article and items not grown or produced in the United States or its possessions. Interested firms must reference their 8(a), HUBZone, Woman Owned or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned status and must be signed by a company official with authority to bind the company. All potential offerors are reminded, in accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFARS) 252.204-7004, Required Central Contractor Registration, lack of registration in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) will make an offeror ineligible for contract award. This Sources Sought Notice is also issued for the purpose of market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. All businesses capable of providing these uniform items are invited to respond. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this sources sought synopsis. A first article will be required in accordance with FAR 52.209-4 Alt 1. Bar codes will be required for these uniforms in compliance with Code 39 or UPC Bar Code. Delivery is FOB Destination to USAF Academy, CO 80840. The specifications for this requirement are attached. Comments and/or suggestions on the attached specifications are encouraged and can be included in your capabilities package. Interested businesses shall provide the following information: 1. Company name, mailing address, cage code, DUNS number, point of contact, telephone number and email address. 2. Business size status, e.g., 8(a), Woman Owned or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, small business, large business, etc. 3. How many employees do you have? 4. Appropriate written information and/or data supporting your capability to perform the required effort, to include past performance. 5. Answers to the following questions: (include questions below as applicable, otherwise delete. Add any questions specific to the acquisition not included below). a. How long have you been in business? b. Are you certified through Wright Patterson to manufacture these uniforms? If so, please provide the certification numbers. c. Have you manufactured mess dress, officer uniform or similar type of uniforms? d. What is your business arrangement in the commercial industry? e. What is the size of your facility? f. Are you a manufacturer or do you subcontract the work? g. What is your lead-time for manufacturing? What is the lead time for fabric? Is the fabric on hand or supplied Just-In-Time? What are the longest lead times for components (I.E. buttons/zippers)? h. Have you ever performed Government contracts? i. What are your payment terms? j. What is your standard packaging and marking requirements? k. What is industry standard for packaging uniform type items? What is your standard packaging and marking requirements? Do you use hanger package boxes? l. How is the manufacturing of uniforms being purchased (contract type incentives, structures)? m. Do you have a quality control process in place? If so, explain your process. n. Is your operation "Just in Time?" Do you operate differently? o. What would you consider "risk" on the contractor's part for this acquisition? p. Do you have a subcontracting plan if you are a large business? Is it a commercial subcontracting plan? Have you met your subcontracting goals? If not, are there subcontracting opportunities for small businesses? q. Are you in compliance with the Berry Amendment? Note: This includes components to make the end item (i.e. Buttons, zippers). r. If you require different terms and conditions than those normally used by the Government, what are your commercial terms and conditions? Please feel free to provide a copy of your terms and conditions for this type of work. s. What is your estimated cost per year for this requirement per garment? You will not be held to this price, it is only for market research purposes. t. In the commercial market, do you provide first article samples or production samples? What do you call this in the commercial market? u. In the commercial market, are you required to have bar codes on the individual garments? We are also seeking industry feedback on Economic Price Adjustments (EPA), FAR 52.216-3, Economic price Adjustment-Semi Standard Supplies as it could possible pertain to the rising cost of wool fabric. An EPA would provide for upward and downward revision of the stated contract price upon the occurrence of specified contingencies. Please discuss your proposed pricing index for the fabric and whether the EPA should be used and why? Also, it is an industry standard in the commercial market to have an EPA clause in your contracts? Will contractors be able to price out a base year with four options or would it be more beneficial/reasonable to request less than a base plus four options? Please explain. Place of Performance: Address: 8110 Industrial Drive, Suite 200, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO Zip Code: 80840 Country: USA This notice is designed to locate responsible sources that have an interest, and have the ability to supply the items described herein. If your firm is capable and qualified to provide the manufacturing of the Officer and Mess Dress Uniform, send required response in writing to the primary point of contact indicated within this announcement. Responses are due no later than 25 Aug 2011, 10:00 a.m. MDT by e-mail. Questions and responses should be addressed to the primary contact, Rachell Monteleone, Contracting Specialist, 719-333-8269 or rachell.monteleone@usafa.af.mil or the alternate point of contact, Diana Myles-South, Contracting Officer, 719-333-8650 or diana.myles-south@usafa.af.mil. Contractors must have a current registration with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at http://www.ccr.gov and with Online Representation and Certification Application (ORCA) at http://orca.bpn.gov by time of award.