Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF JUNE 28, 2008 FBO #2406
SOURCES SOUGHT

H -- UNITED STATES COAST GUARD RECREATIONAL BOAT TESTING AND FACTORY COMPLIANCE PROGRAM (RBFCP)

Notice Date

6/26/2008
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

NAICS

541330 — Engineering Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard (USCG), Commandant (CG-912), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters (CG-912), 1900 Half Street, SW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20593-0001
 

ZIP Code

20593-0001
 

Solicitation Number

HSCG23-08-R-RBFCP1
 

Archive Date

7/25/2008
 

Point of Contact

Cherish D Driver,, Phone: 202-475-3197, Beverly R. Fowler,, Phone: 202-475-3212
 

E-Mail Address

cherish.d.driver@uscg.mil, Beverly.R.Fowler@uscg.mil
 

Small Business Set-Aside

8a Competitive
 

Description

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. This RFI is seeking interest from 8(A) Companies 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 USCG is seeking interest from 8(A) vendors interested and capable of assisting the USCG in implementing its Recreational Boat Testing and Factory Compliance Program (RBFCP) for the Nation’s approximately 4,000 recreational boat manufacturers. These services shall consist of the following: (1) regular testing of recreational boats that are 20 feet or less in length, associated marine equipment, and specialized boats and equipment manufactured for sale in the United States, (2) periodic inspections of boat manufacturing facilities to monitor compliance with existing Federal regulations, and (3) engaging in educational outreach to recreational boat manufacturers regarding current regulations and available resources. Boats tested may be outboard (O/B), inboard (I/B), inboard/outboard (I/O), or manually powered. The USCG does not test canoes, racing boats, airboats, or catamarans. Regulations enforced through the RBFCP are defect notifications, boat identification, safe loading, safe powering, and level flotation for boats less than 20 feet in length. The RBFCP also ensures compliance with the regulations for level flotation, electrical systems, gasoline fuel systems, ventilation, start-in-gear protection, and navigation lights. Information collected from each factory inspection is recorded and maintained in the U.S. Government owned Manufacturer’s Identification Code (MIC) database. BACKGROUND: The USCG is responsible for the oversight and enforcement of Federal Regulations for recreational boats and associated marine equipment. The Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, as codified into Title 46 United States Code Chapter 43, gave the USCG authority to establish comprehensive boating safety programs; authorized the establishment of National construction and performance standards for boats and associated equipment; created a more flexible regulatory authority concerning the use of boats and associated equipment to include all recreational vessels and expanded the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction to all United States navigable waters. The first Federal regulations were adopted from industry standards published by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and other boating industry associations. These minimum regulations covered defect notifications, boat identification, safe loading, safe powering, and level flotation for boats less than 20 feet in length. Eventually, regulations for level flotation, electrical systems, gasoline fuel systems, ventilation, start-in-gear protection, and navigation lights were added. One element of oversight and enforcement is accomplished by physically testing boats and associated marine equipment for compliance with these Federal safety regulations. The USCG acquires boats through a voluntary program where manufacturers provide boats free of charge to the USCG for testing. The USCG also buys boats, both new and used, in the open-market for testing, targeting boats that are likely to fail one or more segments of the testing procedure. A vital element of the RBFCP is to ensure that the most up to date information regarding recreational boat manufacturers is maintained in the MIC database. This information is collected during each factory inspection and directly updated into the database. REQUIREMENTS. A. FACTORY COMPLIANCE PROGRAM 1. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP). The Contractor shall develop a SOP for use by the Contractor’s Compliance Associates from existing Factory Compliance Program materials. The Contractor shall specifically define categories of factory inspections including remote verification, physical verification, inspection, and education. The level of detail of inspection/education visits are further broken down into categories that reflect the complexity of the manufacturer’s operation visited. The Contractor shall outline methods of collection, packaging, and shipping of associated material samples collected at the direction of the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR). The category and level of factory inspection must have a direct correlation with the effort and pricing by the contractor. 2. FACTORY COMPLIANCE ASSOCIATE’S MANUAL. The Contractor shall submit, for COTR approval, a comprehensive Factory Compliance Associate’s manual describing the procedures and requirements necessary to successfully perform a factory inspection while minimizing disruption to a manufacturer's operations. The Contractor shall establish procedures to properly document findings from completed factory inspections. The completed manual will become the property of the Government. 3. BOAT MANUFACTURERS DATABASE (MIC). Upon receipt, the Contractor shall review the Boat Manufacturers Database (hereafter referred to as the MIC database) and make recommendations for improving the database and manner in which it is maintained and updated. The Contractor shall not institute any changes to the database without prior written COTR approval. Upon receiving COTR approval, the Contractor shall make changes to the database. This database shall be maintained by the Contractor, but shall remain the property of the Government. 3.1 The Contractor shall provide the Government full remote access to the MIC Database so that data entry, queries, and generate reports can be performed as needed. The Contractor shall ensure that the MIC Database remains searchable by report number, case number, a six-digit CA identification number, factory name and Manufacturers Identification Code. 4. COMPLIANCE ASSOCIATE TRAINING. Contractor shall submit for COTR approval a Compliance Associate certification and training program to assure Factory Inspectors are thoroughly familiar with pertinent regulations and voluntary standards. The training shall also provide Compliance Associate’s with communication, record keeping and other skills that may be needed by Compliance Associate in order to present themselves in a professional and effective manner. The certification training must be satisfactorily completed within thirty days of contract signing and before a Compliance Associate may conduct any factory inspections. Before implementation, the re-certification training shall be approved by the COTR. Documentation of each Compliance Associate’s initial certification and annual re-certification training shall be provided to the COTR. 4.1 The Contractor shall establish and implement an annual re-certification training program for Compliance Associates. This training is to ensure that Compliance Associate’s remain current with federal laws and regulations as well as changing trends in the manufacture of recreational boats. Training offered by organizations such as ABYC, the NMMA, Boat U.S., the American Bureau of Shipping or other sources that provide technical instruction in areas relative to boat structures and marine systems can be included as part of the re-certification training program. Before implementation, the re-certification training program shall be approved by the COTR. 5. FACTORY COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS. The Contractor shall provide all management, tools, equipment, and service required, to accomplish a minimum of 2000 factory inspections per year and provide the USCG with a case report on each inspection. The Contractor shall schedule Factory Compliance Inspections in according to the size, complexity, and type of production, geography, and the manufacturer’s history of compliance. Any manufacturer with a history of non-compliance will be given priority status for inspection scheduling. Contractor shall ensure that all factories are inspected at least once within three years of the beginning of the contract (taking into account past inspections conducted on the previous contract). Repeat inspections shall be scheduled with the approval of the COTR. 5.1 The Contractor shall develop and implement a formal means of soliciting feedback and addressing concerns of facility operators that are generated as a result of the Factory Inspection program. The Contractor shall develop a method to resolve conflicts arising from the Factory Inspection program. The Contractor shall provide a summary of comments, conflicts and resolutions in the Factory Compliance Inspection Reports. 5.2 The Contractor shall designate each factory inspection as a case with its own unique tracking number, which commences with the inspection and ends when all comments, conflicts, headquarter items, and other pending issues have been resolved. The Contractor shall develop and implement a database to track the status and progress of all cases, and have a web-enabled interface that allows the USCG to access the database. 5.3 The Contractor shall develop and implement a means of conducting telephone-only (remote) verifications. Remote verification is typically utilized for low-volume or special order manufacturers that do not have a history of cited issues or campaigns (a campaign is a recall of a recreational boat model). 5.4 The Contractor shall develop a Factory Inspection case report format that provides essential details of each inspection and each segment of the regulations the manufacturer was subject to. The format shall capture all aspects of current recreational boat manufacturing requirements. The Compliance Associate shall complete this report in a draft format, which is to be completed during the factory inspections, and then enter the validated information into the computerized database no later than seven days after completion of each factory inspection. The Contractor shall keep the draft format report in a case file until it is replaced by the following report from a subsequent inspection. 5.5 The Contractor shall use a standard letter format to communicate Defect Notifications, corrections to future production boats and recalls to manufacturers. These notifications shall include a method for constructive feedback from the manufacturer. Each manufacturer shall have this letter mailed or delivered to their attention no later than twenty-one days after completion of each Factory Inspection. 5.6 The Contractor shall, during the course of Factory Inspections, actively promote the voluntary boat testing program and other quality assurance programs administered by the USCG. The Contractor may also be directed to participate in boating industry group meetings and conferences to provide details about the Recreational Boat Factory Inspection Program and any Lessons Learned during the course of the inspection program. The Contractor may, at the direction of the COTR, be directed to disseminate information of special interest during Factory Inspections. B. BOAT TESTING. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR BOAT TESTING. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL FURNISH ALL LABOR, TOOLS, MATERIALS, AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THE BOAT TESTING. 6. ASSOCIATED MATERIAL SAMPLE COLLECTION. When requested by the COTR, the Contractor shall collect associated boat equipment material samples used by a particular manufacturer, and forward these objects to a testing facility specified by the COTR. Purchase and other forwarding (shipping) expenses shall be cost reimbursable items. 7. PURCHASING BOATS AND ASSOCIATED MARINE EQUIPMENT. The Contractor shall recommend candidate boats and associated marine equipment for testing to the COTR. The recommendation shall be based on the Contractor’s judgment that there is a high probability of non-compliance with 33 CFR 183 by the candidate boats. The Contractor shall procure test boats and associated marine equipment after approval of the COTR. Boats identified for purchase by the test program shall have standard equipment and accessories supplied by the manufacturer. If optional equipment is offered which may have an impact on the compliance test results, or the probable resale value at the GSA auction, the COTR may authorize purchase of the optional equipment. 7.1 Purchased boats shall be obtained from a boat dealer, retailer, manufacturer, or, in the case of used boats, a private seller. The Contractor shall schedule the purchase of test boats with consideration to the availability of cost effective means of transportation to the test site, availability of storage at the test site, workload at the test site, and resale market opportunities. 7.2 The Contractor shall not indicate to the seller in any way that the boat is being purchased on behalf of the USCG for compliance testing. When circumstances of the purchase of the boat makes it necessary to disclose the purpose of the purchase, the Contractor shall examine the purchased boat to ensure that it is representative of boats available to the general public. 7.3 The preferred method of procuring test boats is to request that individual manufacturers volunteer boats for the test program. The Contractor shall attempt to obtain a boat by requesting it be volunteered before any effort is made to purchase the boat. When purchased, boats shall be obtained at the lowest possible price. The COTR may authorize a higher price per purchase when necessary to obtain a boat with a high probability of failure to comply with Federal Regulations. All purchasing records, bids, etc. shall be retained and provided to the COTR concurrent with monthly invoices for payment. 7.4 The Contractor shall, at the direction of the COTR, purchase associated marine equipment used for recreational boating for testing. The Contractor shall obtain all necessary documentation for associated marine equipment that clearly indicates the equipment is intended for use on a recreational boat. 8. TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF BOATS. The Contractor shall ensure that purchased boats are transported to the contractor’s test facility. Transportation cost invoices, records, and quotations must be retained by the Contractor and provided to the COTR along with the Contractor’s invoice seeking reimbursement. 8.1. The Contractor shall ensure that volunteered boats are transported from the manufacturer to the test facility and returned to the manufacturer at the completion of testing. Transportation shall be arranged at the lowest possible cost. In lieu of transporting a volunteer boat, the Contractor may pay the manufacturer a fixed mileage rate and per diem for round-trip transportation of the volunteered boat from the factory to the test site. The fixed mileage rate and per diem shall be at the current Government travel rate specified in the Federal Travel Regulations. 8.2. The Contractor shall be responsible for storage and security of boats and associated marine equipment before, during, and after testing. The Contractor shall be accountable for all boats and associated marine equipment from arrival at the test facility to disposal and must maintain a verifiable inventory at all times. Stored boats and associated marine equipment must be sheltered to preserve their characteristics and value. The only suitable method for storing unsheltered boats and associated marine equipment is by shrink-wrapping with proper ventilation. The shrink-wrap method of storage must be approved by the COTR prior to use. 9. TESTING OF BOATS, UNIQUE BOATS, AND ASSOCIATED MARINE EQUIPMENT. The Contractor shall test all volunteered and purchased boats in accordance with the USCG’s Test Policy and Procedures Document. The Contractor shall, at the direction of the Government, purchase and test unique recreational boats and associated marine equipment, including unique marine equipment intended to prevent drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, propeller injury, or other injuries or casualties that may be associated with recreational boating. In the event appropriate testing facilities are not available, sub-contracting to outside testing organizations such as UL and the SAE is acceptable. Volunteered boats have priority for testing and retesting over purchased boats. 9.1 When a purchased or volunteered boat fails testing, the boat shall be re-tested within fifteen calendar days after corrections to the boat have been made. Manufacturers that supply volunteer boats are responsible for all repair decisions and procedures regarding the preparation of failed boats and their re-test. The Contractor shall not perform repairs on volunteered boats under any circumstances. Contractor may make repairs on purchased boats if the manufacturer, after notification of test failure, fails to provide materials and labor necessary to adequately repair the boat in order to pass the re-test. If a manufacturer is confirmed out of business, the Contractor may, at the direction of the COTR, make all necessary repairs to sell the boat at auction. Boats undergoing re-test do not require a second 18-hour pre-soak. 9.2 When a volunteered boat fails testing, the manufacturer or person volunteering the boat may choose not to make corrections to the failed boat. In this event, the Contractor shall forward a failed test report indicating that the boat was not re-tested at the direction of the manufacturer or owner. 9.2.1 If the manufacturer fails to respond to the Contractor’s first boat failure report and letter within thirty calendar days of mailing, the Contractor shall send out a second letter to the boat manufacturer, via Registered U.S. Mail, return receipt requested. 10. REPAIR OF BOATS AFTER TESTING. To correct a non-compliance issue, the boat manufacturer can either provide the labor, materials, and tools to repair the boat at the Contractor’s facility, or make provisions to have the boat repaired at another facility. The Contractor shall keep the COTR apprised of the manufacturer’s progress in repairing the boat with a paragraph in the monthly progress report. 10.1 If a boat is released to the manufacturer for repairs at another facility, the manufacturer is responsible for all costs associated with transportation of the boat. The manufacturer must agree to return the boat to the Contractor’s facility for re-testing no later than thirty days after the boat has been repaired. The Contractor shall obtain a signed receipt for the released boat. The Contractor shall notify the COTR within seven calendar days after the boat has been released to the manufacturer and within seven calendar of the boat’s return. If more than thirty days is required to repair the boat, the Contractor must notify the COTR of the expected return of the boat for re-testing. 11. POST TEST SALE OR DESTRUCTION OF BOATS. Purchased boats will be sold or destroyed after testing. 11.1 The Government will be responsible for the reselling of the boats that have passed the compliance testing to the general public through the GSA via Open Auction sale at least one time per year. The Contractor shall notify the COTR when the quantity of boats ready for auction reaches thirty. 11.2 The Contractor shall provide auction facilities, including office space with telephone for GSA representatives two days preceding the auction as well as on the day of the auction. This office space shall have only one open entrance with all other entranced locked in accordance with local fire ordinances. The Contractor shall clean the boats three days prior to the auction. The Contractor shall arrange for public inspection of boats two business days prior to the auction and through the day of the auction. The Contractor shall load the boats onto the purchaser’s conveyance upon request. Boats not sold will be retained in storage. The Contractor shall provide all necessary clerical and administrative support associated with conducting an auction including spotting boats, recording bids, and operating the fork lift when necessary during the auction. 11.3 If elected by the COTR, the GSA may hold an online auction in lieu of a physical auction. The Contractor shall support the online auction by making boats available for inspection in accordance with GSA guidelines. 11.4 Boats selected for destruction shall be destroyed in a manner that prevents later use in the water. The Contractor shall, at least ten days prior to the planned destruction date, request destruction approval from the COTR by fax or email providing details of the destruction method, place, and time. The COTR will notify the Contractor of approval/disapproval of destruction within five calendar days of receipt of the Contractor’s destruction request. For boats approved for destruction, the Contractor shall take one photograph of each boat before, during, and at the completion of destruction to serve as proof that the destruction was complete. Each picture shall include a placard showing the boat number, hull identification, and date of destruction. The Contractor shall be responsible for removal of destroyed boats to the local landfill. The COTR reserves the right to witness any or all boat destruction work. REQUESTED INFORMATION: The primary focus in this submittal should be in the areas related to the requirements described in this RFI. Respondents within the 8(a) community interested in providing a response to this RFI should submit information which clearly describes the following: (In A through D). A. Company Capabilities B. Estimated rough order of magnitude [ROM] C. Business Size in accordance with NAICS Codes 541330 (Official NAICS Code will be selected upon a solicitation being released), Dun and Bradstreet number, and any other Government contracts held including GSA Schedule. 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. D. Any other information that your company feels is pertinent to this acquisition. RESPONSES: Please submit information via email to James W. Radford, Contract Specialist, at james.w.radford@uscg.mil, or Cherish D. Driver, Senior Contract Specialist, at cherish.d.driver@uscg.mil, or Beverly R. Fowler, Contracting Officer, at beverly.r.fowler@uscg.mil no later than 12 Noon EST on 10 July 2008. You may also submit supplemental hardcopy materials such as brochures, etc (2 copies each) to the Points of Contact at Commandant, USCG Headquarters, Routing Symbol: CG-9122-B, Suite 1100/Office No. 0234, 2100 Second Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20593 ATTN: James W. Radford, 202-475-3254.
 

Web Link

FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=4db33d9f54c16c546b13e9e456af0187&tab=core&_cview=1)
 

Place of Performance

Address: 2100 Second Street, S.W., Washington, District of Columbia, 20593, United States

Zip Code: 20593
 

Record

SN01601840-W 20080628/080626220637-4db33d9f54c16c546b13e9e456af0187 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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