MODIFICATION
66 -- 2013_EPA_LAB_SUPPLIES_RFI
- Notice Date
- 3/21/2013
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 423490
— Other Professional Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
- Contracting Office
- Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Acquisition Management, EPA/Headquarters, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., 3801R, Washington, District of Columbia, 20460
- ZIP Code
- 20460
- Solicitation Number
- 2013_EPA_LAB_SUPPLIES_RFI
- Archive Date
- 3/23/2013
- Point of Contact
- Janet B. Bowman, Phone: 2025647312
- E-Mail Address
-
bowman.janetb@epa.gov
(bowman.janetb@epa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- Lab and Field Supplies - RFI Update Question re Electronic / Searchable Retail Catalog Availability March 21, 2013 While the deadline for full RFI submissions is past, EPA has a question for all interested contractors. Based on feedback obtained from RFI responses, EPA is considering establishing an open market BPA rather than the planned approach of issuing a BPA to GSA contract holders. Pricing would be based on a vendor's retail catalog rather than their GSA contract catalog. In order to understand whether this approach is feasible, we would like to know whether contractors would be able to provide a full catalog of available items and pricing in an electronic and searchable format Please respond to this question, letting us know whether you would be able to provide an electronic version of your full catalog and pricing as part of an RFQ response. Please note that we are not asking for your catalog at this time. Rather, we want to know if you would be able to provide a catalog of available items and pricing if requested in the upcoming solicitation. Email your responses to: bowman.janetb@epa.gov by Thursday, March 28, 2013. Thank you again for your help in ensuring the EPA is able to establish a BPA that is effective for both EPA and our industry partners. ==================================================== Original Request for RFI Submissions ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY LABORATORY AND FIELD SUPPLIES REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) =========================================================== Disclaimer This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ), Invitation for Quote (IFQ), or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any services. Responses to this RFI are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract of any nature. The Government will not award a contract based on this RFI. The Government reserves the right to determine how it should proceed as a result of this notice. Responding parties should not anticipate Government feedback on their respective submissions. The Government will not pay any cost incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party's expense. All information solicited and received in this RFI will be treated as information only. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. ========================================================== PURPOSE RFI: This Request for Information is issued for the purpose of gathering data on small businesses with the ability to provide the products and services needed to support EPA's Laboratory and Field Supplies requirements. The overall objective is to get feedback from industry for our initiative to establish an EPA-enterprise approach to sourcing laboratory and field supplies. This approach will include establishing a web-based ordering portal available across all EPA labs and data reporting available at the EPA level. Of particular importance is the supply market's capability to (1) maintain an ordering portal with EPA-specific pricing and (2) meet EPA supplies needs through GSA contracts and/or open market. Industry Day: Related to the RFI, a virtual Laboratory and Field Supplies Industry Day was announced on FedBizOpp.Gov on February 11, 2013. Industry Day will be held on February 26, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. See the FedBizOpps Special Notice, "Lab Supplies Industry Day" for details. Interested contractors are encouraged to attend the virtual Industry Day. BACKGROUND In response to the OMB's strategic sourcing initiative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a spend analysis of its Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 acquisition data and concluded that the "laboratory supplies" commodity area represents an excellent opportunity for strategic sourcing. The EPA spends approximately $7 million annually via purchase card in this commodity area. The agency's key laboratory organizations are the Office of Research and Development, the Programs, and the Regions. There are approximately 40 agency laboratory units across the continental US that serve these organizations. There are a wide variety of mission specific and generic supplies that are routinely acquired. The EPA intends to award one or more single or multiple-award Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA) as a small business set aside. Depending on the results of market research, the BPA(s) may be established with GSA contract holders or non-GSA contractors (open market). Description of Information Requested The Government requests that you read through this RFI, as well as the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW) and its three attachments, and fill in the requested information in the four spreadsheets in the Price Quote Workbook: (1) Contractor Information, (2) Categories, (3) Category Manufacturers, and (4) Specific Products, and the spreadsheet in the Online Ordering Features Workbook. Responses to this RFI may be evaluated by Government technical experts drawn from staff within EPA and/or by selected support contractor personnel. Support contractors will be bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements to protect proprietary and source selection information. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and must be clearly marked. STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) EPA is currently assessing the ability of industry to meet its laboratory and field supplies needs as well as to provide an on-line ordering interface and periodic detailed reporting. The attached Draft SOW represents the SOW EPA plans to present to industry to meet these needs. REQUESTED INFORMATION Please answer the following questions and provide the requested information to assist the EPA in understanding industry capabilities: 1. To the extent willing, please provide the requested information in the spreadsheets within the Price Quote and Online Ordering workbooks attached to the SOW (See Attachments 1 and 2.). The EPA understands substantial time and resources are required on your company's part to provide EPA with requested information, but your responses will provide significant input into EPA's identification o f a mutually the best contract strategy for acquiring laboratory and field supplies. We appreciate your efforts to help EPA design a mutually beneficial solution. 2. Online Ordering Features: a. Do you have the ability to serve EPA's labs in the manner described above and in the draft SOW (web portal, reporting requirements, etc.)? b. If not, under what conditions would you be willing to take steps to support this type of contract? c. How long would be required to establish the ability to support EPA's labs in this manner? 3. What challenges do you foresee in supporting the EPA requirements outlined in the draft SOW? 4. What suggestions do you have for developing a more cost effective EPA-wide lab & field supplies program? 5. Are there any changes to the draft SOW that would make it more attractive to you as a contractor? Please describe. 6. What suggestions do you have regarding the Performance Metrics table on pages 7 and 8 in the Draft SOW? What Should Be Included in Your Response 1. Do submit succinct, thoughtful responses to the questions listed in this RFI. 2. Do provide all information requested in attached spreadsheets. 3. Do submit comments that address the Government's requirements, assumptions, conditions or contemplated approaches to a future acquisition. 4. Do submit information and suggestions that may encourage new, different, or innovative approaches that would result in direct cost savings to the Government and improve data quality. What Should Not Be Included in Your Response 1. Do not submit proposals or offers. 2. Do not submit past performance information or general descriptions of corporate experience. 3. Do not submit requests to be considered for award or to be notified of a future solicitation. 4. Do not submit requests to be added to a mailing or distribution list. 5. Do not use excessive marketing lexicon or submit complex or elaborate brochures; and other unnecessary sales literature. 6. Do not submit questions or comments not related to the RFI. 7. Do not respond via telephone. How to Respond Industry Day Questions: Contractors are requested to submit questions for the Industry Day agenda, NLT 12 noon, Monday, February 25, 2013. Questions should be submitted via email to Janet B. Bowman, bowman.janetb@epa.gov. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Industry Day / RFI Follow-up Questions: After Industry Day, Contractors may submit additional questions regarding the RFI. Questions must be submitted via email to bowman.janetb@epa.gov, NLT 12:30 p.m., Thursday, February 28, 2013. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. RFI Written Responses: Please submit your written response to this RFI, including MS WORD and MS EXCEL attachments, via e-mail to Bowman.JanetB@epa.gov, with the words "EPA_2013_LAB_SUPPLIES_ RFI Response" in the e-mail subject line. Please limit responses to no more than five (5) pages (double-sided) in length. Telephonic and mail/courier responses will not be accepted. The deadline for submitting responses to the RFI is NLT 5:00 P.M. EST, March 8, 2013. Thank you for your participation in this RFI. Janet B. Bowman Contracting Officer US Environmental Protection Agency Attachments 1. LAB_SUPPLIES_DRAFT_SOW.docx 2. Attachment_1_Price_Quote_Workbook.xlsx 3. Attachment_2_Online_Ordering_Features.xlsx 4. Attachment_3_Past_Performance_Questionnaire.pdf
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/EPA/OAM/HQ/2013_EPA_LAB_SUPPLIES_RFI/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03017418-W 20130323/130321234341-fd7b2cb511757e488b96af13b6618a65 (fbodaily.com)
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(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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