BLM, BC-660, Bldg #50, Denver Federal Center, P.O. Box 25047, Denver, CO 80225-0047

84 -- UNIFORMS DUE 121997 POC Barbara Bellio,303/236-9438; Marty Coffey, 303/236-9439 WEB: Click here to download a copy of the draft solicitation., http://www.BLM.gov/natacq/sol.html. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contracting officer via e-mail, bbellio@nc1155wp.sc.BLM.gov. The Bureau of Land Management and the Office of Surface Mining have a requirement for uniforms. This is a sources sought/market survey (Request for Information) to identify potential sources that exist with capabilities to supply commercially available items (adhering to specifications contained in the BLM draft solicitation, attachment 8) or offering items that are modified which BLM and/or OSM would find acceptable. In addition, this is an opportunity for industry to provide comments that would help the two agencies shape a contract or a method of buying that is easy, efficient, cost-effective and coincides with existing industry terms and conditions yet at the same time helps the government meet certain requirements. The BLM draft solicitation calls for a firm that provides an all inclusive service (manufacturing, warehousing inventory, distribution, automated system for ordering/billing and a system for providing various reports). We are open to comments/suggestions on ways to better define our requirements that would provide industry an interest in competing for the opportunity to provide BLM and/or OSM uniforms. Following is background information on each agency: THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT: The BLM implemented a uniform program 10 years ago (1988). The first contract was awarded as a five year contract (base year plus 4 option years) via a request for proposal. The contract type was a indefinite quantity, indefinite delivery-requirements type contract. The contract was for the service of manufacturing or suppling uniform components per government specifications, quality control, warehousing requested inventory and inventory control, distribution, automated accountability system that will assure the BLM that funds are being accounted for properly which includes the tracking of individual employee uniform allowances and the associated expenditures, marketing (information/communication assimilation of all uniform components and furnishing various reports regarding uniform sales. Initially the government owned 80% of the inventory and paid the contractor via progress payment as goods were finished and sold, however, this was later changed in the 2nd contract period and the contractor purchased all inventory items (finished goods and raw materials) from the government. Initial sales were estimated at approximately $1 million a year. The following shows the actual expenditures in thousand of dollars since the initial uniform contract: 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997(est.) 863 860* 720* 777 665 517 365 285 290 (Thousands) *estimated based on 6 mos. of data The initial award was competitive, three firms submitted offers and was awarded to Lion Apparel. The second, five year contract (expires 2/28/98) was also competitive, one firm submitted an offer and was awarded to Lion Apparel. COLORS: Tans, browns and taupe (Ref BLM draft Solicitation, Section 1, paragraph 1.1, first paragraph) NON-MANDATORY PROGRAM (Ref BLM draft Solicitation, Section 1, paragraph 1.1, fifteenth and sixteenthparagraph) NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AUTHORIZED TO WEAR UNIFORM: 3,737 (2,683 males, 1,054 females). (Ref BLM draft Solicitation, Section 1, paragraph 1.1, fourteenth paragraph) AVERAGE AMOUNT AUTHORIZED: $200.00 per employee (Ref BLM draft Solicitation, Section 1, paragraph 1.1, fifteenth paragraph) OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING: OSM had a contract in place, however the contract has lapsed. OSM is seeking to combine with BLM, if possible, based upon industry comments. COLORS: Light olive, dark green (dark forest green and/or hunter green), khaki (Ref OSM draft Solicitation, C.1.1, page 4) NON-MANDATORY PROGRAM AND MANDATORY PROGRAM NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AUTHORIZED TO WEAR UNIFORM: 110 (85 males, 25 females). (Ref OSM draft Solicitation, C.1.1, page 1) AVERAGE AMOUNT AUTHORIZED: $400.00 per employee -- first year; $200.00 per employee thereafter (Ref OSM draft Solicitation, C.1.1, page 1) DRAFT SOLICITATION INFORMATION: A draft solicitation is available on the INTERNET at http://www.BLM.gov/natacq/sol.html. Please select RFI question and Draft solicitation under the heading "Request For Information (RFI) Bureau Uniform Program". Please download this draft solicitation. Contained at the end of the document as part of the draft solicitation are the draft solicitation requirements from OSM. The draft solicitation document is referenced below as additional background information for the questions that are being asked of industry. This document does not reflect in anyway a Request for Proposal, and the BLM, or OSM do not intend to award a contract on the basis of any information that is submitted. Any preparation expenses to this Request for Information shall not be compensable. If you are unable to download the draft solicitation please call the following numbers to request a hard copy: (303) 236-9439, Marty Coffey or (303)236-9438, Barb Bellio. QUESTIONS for INDUSTRY: 1) If BLM and OSM leave the solicitation requirements as is, would industry be interested in submitting an offer? Why or why not. For BLM only, an initial investment of approximately $218,000 is necessary to purchase existing inventory item from incumbent contractor. (Ref BLM draft solicitation, Section 2, paragraph 2.2.18 "Buy-out Provision"). 2) It is BLM's intent, inclusive of or exclusive of OSM, to utilize simplified acquisition procedures as allowed by the use of commercial item acquisition as specified in the Federal Acquisition Regulation ( FAR) Part 12. Does industry have any exception to this being a commercial item acquisition either as an all inclusive SERVICE contract or as the supplying of individual components. 3) Some components, specifically Law Enforcement Uniform components, are being acquired directly from retail/catalog vendors. (REF, BLM draft solicitation., Section 1, paragraph 1.1, first paragraph). Does industry see any benefits or disadvantages for all of BLM uniform components to be acquired directly from retail/catalog vendors. 4) If direct purchase from retail/catalog vendors is feasible would industry be willing to offer a "government discount"? on all items? regardless of the quantity ordered at a given time? 5) Would industry further be willing to waive any minimum ordering requirements if direct individual employee purchases via a credit card were feasible? Example, over a one year period BLM would order approximately 1,000 polo shirts. John Smith in Idaho would have the need to order just one via his credit card and Bob Plunket would have the need to order 2 the next day. If your company has a minimum order of 24, could that requirement be waived in order to accommodate individual orders, recognizing that over the year the minimum order would be exceeded? Does industry have any suggestions on how else we could get around a minimum order amount for specific items? 6) Based on the specifications for each specific component, as listed in the BLM draft solicitation-attachment 8, can you identify components that are readily and commercially available? List your company name and the items that you could supply. Please mail a catalog and price list to:Bureau of Land Management,Attn: Barbara Bellio, BC-660A,Denver Federal Center,POB 25047,Denver, CO 80225-0047 7) Are alterations a possibility? 8) Does your firm provide for "nonstandard sizes", i.e., maternity wear or unusual measurements? 9) Does industry have any comment with regard to the requested/required sizes? See Attachment 8 of the BLM draft solicitation, each garment has specifications which also list the required sizes. 10) Provide information regarding your quality control procedures. 11) Do you have a refund policy. Please describe. 12) How are back orders handled? Please describe. 13) What is your policy regarding delivery of ordered items. Is BLM's requirement for filling an order within 3 working days (60 calendar days for nonstandard sized) from receipt of order and the delivery of them within 10 working date from order ship date reasonable? Can your firm meet this requirement? (Ref BLM draft solicitation, Section 1, paragraph 1.3, subparagraph D, "Distribution") and (OSM draft solicitation C.1.2, page 2 "Maintenance of stock levels by vendor") 14) Do you have the capability for orders to be placed electronically over the INTERNET? 15) Do you accept credit cards (the government purchase card -- VISA)? 16) Describe how you products are packaged, labeled, and shipped. 17) Is your catalog and prices available on the INTERNET? Are pictures available on the INTERNET? What is your Internet address? 18) Are you willing to send hard copies of your catalog to all of the 199 BLM offices and 21 OSM offices throughout the continental Unites States and Alaska should your firm be selected as a source of supply? 19) Would you be willing to provide BLM a monthly report detailing all of the items purchased, by individual, by the office, showing dollar amount and a summary amount? 20) If your firm has the ability, and the requirement for BLM and OSM is for an all inclusive contract as the draft solicitation is written could you please provide a percentage figure that the item will be priced at over and above the price of a commercially available item. 21) Does industry have any recommendations regarding a streamlined, economical, efficient way to procure quality, comfortable, and stylish uniforms? 22) Does industry have any comment with regard to Section 1, paragraph 1.4, subparagraph 2, of the BLM draft solicitation which states the BLM reserves the right to make changes in specifications, including, but not limited to modifying, deleting, or adding garments? The phase-out plan for discontinued items? 23) Would further discounts be possible if BLM would enter a long term (5 year maximum) buying arrangement? If so, what would it be? 24) Are you a large or small business? The Standard Industry Classification (SIC) code is 5136 and 5137 (Men's and Boy's Clothing and Furnishing; Women's and Children's and Infants' Clothing and Accessories, respectively). The size standard for these two categories is 100 employees. Over 100 employees constitutes a large firm. 25) Does industry have any comment with regard to the Economic Price Adjustment as provided for in Section 2, paragraph 2.2.10? 26) If you are a retail/vendor catalog firm how often do your prices increase and what is the amount of the increase? 27) Any comments with regard to the evaluation criteria as detailed in Section 5 of the BLM draft solicitation? 28) Any comment with regard to benefits or disadvantages to be derived in combining the two agencies (BLM and OSM)? 29) Are any of the uniform component specifications limiting? In your opinion, would their be a commercially available item? Could it be modified if needed? Example, say our vest is 3 button vest and you have a 2 button vest. BLM would be interested in knowing what the cost would be to us if we insisted on a 3 button vest as opposed to a commercially available 2 button vest. 30) Any problem in maintaining individual account records for each employee with regard to size and measurements? (Ref OSM draft solicitation, C.1.1. page 2). 31) We recognize that as the draft solicitations stand now the requirements are different regarding billing, delivery times, ordering procedures, etc. If awarded a contract, could you accommodate these different requirements? If so, would prices be higher? Would prices be lower is requirements were standard for all agencies? 32) Would their be additional quantity discounts recognized for a given item even if the color is different? 33) Any comments regarding an "Agency specific" pictorial catalog, which is to be produced and supplied by the awardee? 34) Do you allow exemption from State and local taxes for government purchases? 35) Does industry have any ideas on how BLM and/or industry could track and be accountable for employee allowances? 36) Are you currently stocking inventory for valued customers? 37) Are you offering your valued customers any additional benefits, such as account activity reports, free or greatly discounted silk screening and/or embroidery, ....any others? 38) If a uniform component becomesunavailable, how would you provide a similar replacement component, either through your company or a subcontractor? Please address time frames. 39) Maintaining the same shade of color throughout a line of components (i.e., all shirts) is important. Please address how you would met this requirement and make any suggestions. 40) Do you have any questions or additional suggestions for BLM or OSM? Please submit your interest and responses to the above questions to the Bureau of Land Management, Denver Federal Center, POB 25047, Attn: Barb Bellio -- Mail Code BC-660A, Denver, CO 80225-0047. If you have questions, please call Barb at (303)236-9438. You may also e-mail your responses, interest or questions to Bbellio@NC1155WP.SC.BLM.GOV PLEASE HAVE YOUR RESPONSES TO BLM BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON DECEMBER 19, 1997. Thank You for your help in shaping an effective uniform program!!!! (0337)

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