24-0009 RFI.docx

August 29, 2024

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

24-0009 Envelope Production Materials

ANNOUNCEMENT

The State of Washington is in the process of developing specifications for Envelope Production Materials and is requesting input from the business community. The state is seeking to create a new contract.

BACKGROUND

This Agency Contract will provide for the as needed purchase of Envelope Production Materials (“Materials”). There are two categories of Materials: (1) Envelope Adhesives and (2) Envelope Window Film.

Expected combined sales of these Materials totals approximately $115,000.00 annually.

QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES

1. Customer Service. What opportunities for added value does your firm provide?

2. Sustainability practices. Please describe your sustainable products. Please identify any certifications for sustainable products that you offer. Please describe your ability to provide sustainable products (Products without excessive packaging, pigments or dyes; without toxic chemicals; that are not a single use product; are biodegradable; and/or contain recycled content).

3. Barriers. Identify any barriers for your business to bid on this opportunity.

4. Other feedback. Please provide any information you believe is relevant for Enterprise Services to consider in developing a solicitation for goods/services.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Please review the attached performance requirements document that lists desired standards that might be included in the upcoming competitive solicitation for this commodity.

As part of the RFI response, please identify any areas of confusion or challenges in meeting any of the listed performance requirements.

Specifications. Please review the attached specifications document. This document lists various areas of service as desirable or required for contract performance along with some basic explanation.

1. Please review these listings of customer expectations and let us know how feasible each specification is.

1. Please identify any areas of confusion or challenges in meeting any of the listed specifications.

Technical Specifications – Adhesives: Program Requirements

Supplied in sealed drums as follows:

1. Weight of sealed drum approximately 550lbs each.

2. Product must be protected from freezing temperatures during and up to final delivery.

3. Warehousing requirement: Product delivery complete within 24 hours of order.

4. All products must be suitable for an F.L. Smith Machine Co. Model RA Rotomatic 800 Envelope Converter.

5. Three types of adhesive are required.

a. Front Seal Gum: Low weight usage, very clean machining. Must have stable adhesion for high-speed inserters with 7-10 pages in a standard white wove #24. Very good humidity blocking resistance.

b. Seam (Back) Gum: Must be clean machining, non-throw product good on high-speed inserters. Comment by Hall, Tony (DES): We can allow the green UV, it is not a requirement to not allow it. Comment by Santoro, Sean (DES): OK

c. Window Gum: This adhesive must be aggressive for high-speed patch units. Clean machining non throw product that must perform well on high-speed inserters.

Technical Specifications – Technical Specifications – Adhesives: DataWindow Film: Data

1. Front Seal Gum: Viscosity, cps Winter-5500 Summer-6500 70% solids

10.1 weight per gallon.

2. Seam (Back) Gum: Viscosity 2000 70% solids

10.5 weight per gallon.

3. Window Gum: Viscosity 1000 70 % solids

8.9 weight per gallon

Technical Specifications – Window Film : Program Requirements

Supplied in roll format as follows:

6. Thickness .115 inches.

7. Multiple sizes/width rolls required from 4.75 inches up to 8.75 inches in width.

8. Rolls must be provided on 3-inch ID cores.

9. Rolls must be 18 inches OD.

10. Rolls must be wound tightly on cores.

11. Rolls must be packaged securely on pallets for shipment. Labeling must include manufacturing information, lot #, date of manufacturing, size of rolls.

12. Balanced orientation must provide Envelope Manufacturers with industry best cutting characteristics, also referred to as nick and wear.

13. Low dusting option so vacuum cylinders remain clean and unobstructed for seamless high-speed production, minimal maintenance, and virtually no down time.

14. Product must offer a consistent matte surface for controlled gloss and secure contact clarity for protecting personal identification in paper-based communications.

15. Product must be engineered for flawless processing in the USPS (United States Postal Service) OCR (Optical Character Reader) required value chain.

16. Product must have dimensional stability and maintain consistent gauge tolerance.

17. Product must be a "drop in" product, requiring little adjustment.

18. Product must be delivered within 2 working days from order placement.

19. Product must be suitable to run on F.L. Smith Machine Co. Model RA Rotomatic 800 Envelope Converter.

Technical Specifications – Technical Specifications – Window Film: DataWindow Film: Data

RFI PROCESS

Responses to this RFI should be submitted electronically to the RFI Coordinator listed below no later than October 15, 2024.

A response to this RFI is not a mandatory requirement for participation in any subsequent solicitations released by the State of Washington. The results of this RFI may be used in development of future solicitations. All business community communications concerning this RFI must be directed to the RFI Coordinator:

Sean Santoro RFI Coordinator Dept. of Enterprise Services PO Box 41411 Olympia, WA 98504-1411 Sean.santoro@des.wa.gov

(360) 407 8167

PUBLIC RECORDS

The business community acknowledges that state agencies are subject to Chapter 42.56 RCW, the Public Disclosure Act. Business community responses to this RFI will become public record as defined in the RCW. For the purposes of this RFI no information considered confidential or proprietary should be included.

NO OBLIGATION TO CONTRACT

Release of this RFI in no way obligates the State of Washington to award a contract.

TO SUMMARIZE

The State of Washington appreciates your thoughts and input on the Materials and would also welcome any thoughts and comments related to this commodity.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION 24-0009 ENVELOPE PRODUCTION MATERIALS PAGE 1

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