USMS Prisoner Operations Division Restraining and Protective Equipment

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT FOR USMS Prisoner Operations Division Restraining Devices RFI-USMS-001POD Notice Type Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought NAICS Code: 332999 PSC number: 99 Description THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY - This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United State Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States Government. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. This opportunity will be posted on FedBizOPPS (FBO). It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor the site for additional information pertaining to this requirement. Synopsis The Prisoner Operations Division (POD), on behalf of the United States Marshals Service (USMS), is seeking qualified GSA Schedule 84 vendors to supply restraining devices and protective equipment to the United States Marshals service to support its operations in 94 Districts. POD plans to award a single or multiple award Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to procure restraining and protective devices. POD plans to procure the following product categories from the BPA(s). - Handcuffs (regular, over-sized, under-sized) - Leg restraints (regular, over-sized, under-sized) - Waist Chains (regular, over-sized) - Soft restraints (soft cuffs) - Spit masks - Bite guards - Spit Hoods - Blackout Hoods - Restraint Chairs - Zip ties - Transport Belts Offerors are not required to provide all products listed above to participate in a future RFP; however, offerors are encouraged to support as many categories as possible. Background The USMS is the nation's oldest and most versatile Federal law enforcement agency. The Agency has served the country since 1789 and occupies a uniquely central position in the Federal justice system, as the enforcement arm of the federal courts involved in virtually every federal law enforcement initiative. Presidentially appointed U.S. Marshals direct the activities of 94 districts - one for each Federal judicial district with approximately 3,752 Deputy U.S. Marshals and Criminal Investigators that form the backbone of the agency. The Service on average arrests 273 fugitives each day and averages 716 prisoner movements per day. The USMS is responsible for the custody of Federal prisoners from the time of remand and ending when prisoners are acquitted, arrive at a designated facility to serve a sentence, or are otherwise ordered released from USMS custody. POD is responsible for managing prisoner detention and in-district prisoner movements. The average daily detention population for USMS prisoners is over 51,000. The purpose of this RFI is to ascertain the most efficient and cost-effective approach to purchasing and managing the procurement of restraining devices and protective equipment for the 94 districts. It is POD's intent to procure equipment that meets the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards where applicable. In order to assist POD in developing a RFP that meets our stated purpose, we are asking offerors to provide input regarding the following questions: 1. Would offerors be able to better support a national BPA or regional BPAs (Northeast, Southeast, South Central, and Northwest) in order to manage, purchase, and ship products with a short turn-around time? 2. What products (if any) offer price break points if ordering above a certain quantity? What are the price-break points for each product? 3. Would offerors be able to provide more competitive pricing if USMS agreed to purchase guaranteed annual minimums of each product category? 4. Do offerors have the capability to provide reports by USMS district on the quantities of products purchased and products returned or replaced? 5. What types of warranties do offerors provide for each type of device, if any? 6. Can offerors support pricing for a Deputy "Go Bag"? (See below) In addition to the above questions, POD would like offerors to provide details on their ordering and shipping processes, warranty and return policies, and product support capabilities. POD would like to determine the feasibility of offerors supporting a "Go Bag" for deputies to take with them when they go to arrest fugitives, pick up prisoners from jails for transport, and to pick up prisoners from Justice Alien & Transport System (JPATS). The purpose of the "Go Bag" is to have an easy to carry bag that contains non-standard restraint and protective devices that a deputy may need to safely restrain a prisoner or fugitive. The "Go Bag" would provide the USMS with a standard kit for deputies to grab quickly that provides them the tools they would need to support their operations in the field. The "Go Bag" would include the following non-standard devices: - Over-sized handcuffs and leg restraints - Under-sized handcuffs and leg restraints - Over-sized waist chains - Zip ties - Spit Masks - Bite Guards - Blackout hoods Response Guidelines Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper. The white paper shall describe a preference for regional or national support, describe the ordering and shipping process, whether price-break points are given for products, high-level warranty descriptions, whether the product meets NIJ compliance (if applicable), product support capabilities, warranties provided, and return policies. The white paper should also indicate whether offerors could provide more competitive pricing if guaranteed minimums where set for each product category. The offerors shall complete the table below in Microsoft Word or Excel with a list of products offered from the categories listed in the synopsis section of this RFI (products shown below are examples only and do not construe a requirement). Product Category Product Description Materials Used NIJ Compliant Price Break Point Offered Warranty Handcuffs Stainless steel, 3 chain link handcuffs with standard key Stainless-steel Yes Yes lifetime Spit Masks Over-the-head nylon spit mask with adjustable straps Nylon N/A No none All data received in response to this RFI that is marked, or designated as corporate or proprietary, will be protected from any release outside the Government. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL. Please limit the white paper to 10 pages, 12-point font or larger, with at least one-inch margins on 8 1/2" x 11" size paper. The response should not exceed 5MB email limit for all items associated with the RFI response. The response date for this market research is NO LATER THAN July 19, 2016. No collect calls will be accepted. All responses to this RFI shall be submitted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF and sent via email to Vickie.Taylor2@usdoj.gov. Include this announcement number in the subject line of email and on all enclosed documents.