SOLICITATION NOTICE
84 -- TSA Screener Uniform Program - Request for Information
- Notice Date
- 8/30/2002
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of Transportation, Transportation Security Administration, Headquarters TSA, 7th & D St., SW GSA - Room 5100, Washington, DC, 20407
- ZIP Code
- 20407
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-DTSA20-02-C-999999
- Response Due
- 9/13/2002
- Point of Contact
- Lisa Maass, Contracting Officer, Phone 202.385.1576, Fax 202.493.1802, - Lisa Maass, Contracting Officer, Phone 202.385.1576, Fax 202.493.1802,
- E-Mail Address
-
Lisa.Maass@tsa.dot.gov, Lisa.Maass@tsa.dot.gov
- Description
- In this Request for Information, TSA is seeking information from industry with regard to commercial practices for uniform design, manufacture, and distribution, to use in developing an acquisition strategy for a potential new uniform requirement. By October 2003, TSA is tentatively planning to implement a new, permanent uniform program for all federal passenger and baggage screeners. Part of this permanent uniform program will be to review uniform design/style options in order to develop a unique TSA uniform design. After a design is developed, all (approximately) 52,000 screeners will need an entire uniform set, which TSA anticipates will require an initial fitting. After all TSA screeners have received their initial uniform set, this surge in uniform requirements is expected to decrease to a maintenance/replacement level of uniform need. Given all the elements in this potential requirement, uniform design, fitting sessions, uniform manufacturing, uniform distribution, and uniform program maintenance, TSA would like industry input with regard to the best way to structure this uniform procurement and program. In developing an acquisition strategy for this potential procurement, TSA is interested in feedback on the following: 1. including small businesses in the program, including veteran and disabled veteran owned businesses, agencies employing people who are blind or severely disabled (JWOD), and the potential for a mentor-prot?g?e program. 2. the value of conducting fitting sessions versus having employees place remote orders using size information. 3. the value/impact of conducting this procurement either as a single procurement or multiple procurements. 4. suggestions on how to improve the following Statement of Objectives. 5. suggestions for ensuring a secure design, manufacturing, and distribution process for unique TSA items. 6. suggestions/information regarding industry practices for testing garment performance, including the commercial standards used. 7. information regarding the duration of similar business arrangements in a commercial environment. 8. any other suggestions/information, which may be helpful in developing the procurement strategy for the uniform program. Following is a general description of TSAs future potential uniform requirement. TSAs design objective is to develop a comprehensive and integrated direction for uniforms that communicates the Transportation Security Administration?s positioning of secure modes of transportation without inconvenience. Uniforms should evoke a style that is crisp, garners respect, and motivates pride to work for TSA. It should be distinctive, professional and hip, yet grounded in a traditional style. It should also reflect the local geographic area but not create more than five options. The uniform should be also be considerate of employee?s cultural requirements. TSAs desired design takeaway/outcomes: 1. A status uniform that communicates distinctiveness. 2. Sophisticated, yet young-at-heart and current (Personality) 3. A uniform that is inclusive, comfortable, and practical. NOT trendy, exclusive, cold. (Tonality) 4. A uniform that is grounded in the classics but contemporized with charisma and importance. (Style) TSA desired design considerations. The design should: 1. reflect an organization that is customer savvy and responsive, yet delivers a sense of confidence. 2. suggest a four-five star hospitality image grounded in traditional security appearance. 3. create a sense of place that is secure, comfortable, and expedient. 4. look bold, passionate, current, hip and not timid. 5. reinforce traveler trust and confidence. 6. reflect regional expressions, yet invoke a sense of national uniformity. As part of this effort, the resulting design should consider the following environmental/usage elements: 1. climate variations among airports. 2. passenger/baggage screeners will be working interchangeably. 3. differences in working conditions of passenger screeners versus baggage screeners. 4. the design must be manufacturable on a mass scale in order to control costs. 5. the necessity for maternity uniforms. The uniform design will also include the following: 1. fabric recommendations. 2. pattern specifications, sewing/stitching specifications, button specifications, and any other specifications/instructions/guidance necessary for constructing the uniform as submitted in the design. After a uniform design is established, TSA requires a business partner who is a SERVICE PROVIDER rather than simply a MANUFACTURER or a DISTRIBUTOR to run our uniform program. The business partner shall be responsible for: 1. developing a technical approach that will accommodate the Governments initial surge need for uniform sets, then settle into a maintenance/replacement level of uniform need with no disruption in program operation or service. 2. manufacturing and/or acquiring all uniform items required. 3. providing all uniform items for TSA passenger and baggage screeners, including belts, socks and shoes, and any other accessories. 4. providing inventory control and management, warehousing and tracking of all inventories either manufactured or acquired to ensure secure storage and timely deliveries of all uniform items. 5. establishing a secure distribution process, including shipping, handling, and delivery to all airport locations. 6. working with TSA to provide employees with a secure web site inclusive of a web based catalog, price list, order form, and customer comment/feedback card. 7. providing an ordering process to effectively manage changes to current and existing uniform items. 8. implementing a made to measure program for employees that are hard to fit. 9. effectively balancing/managing inventories with customer demand. 10. effectively assuring quality control in the manufacturing process. Interested parties are requested to submit input/suggestions in writing using NO MORE THAN FIVE (5) pages. Interested parties may also submit capability statements using NO MORE THAN TWO (2) pages. Please DO NOT SUBMIT MORE THAN SEVEN (7) pages in response to this request for information. Input may be submitted by mail to the Contracting Address, via e-mail, or by fax. Respondents are advised that the purpose of this Request for Information is to conduct market research in order to develop an acquisition strategy for a performance based uniform system for TSA. Accordingly, no funding is currently associated with this proposed contract action, and no award will be made as a result of this Request for Information. The Government reserves the right to consider all, some, or none of the input received as a result of this Request for Information.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Across the USA and its territories, including the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
- Country: USA
- Country: USA
- Record
- SN00154863-W 20020901/020830213527 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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