15 - Critical Information Specific to Schedule 51V

Schedule #51V – Hardware SuperStore Solicitation 6FEC-E6-060173-B (Refresh # 25)

Critical Information Specific to Schedule 51V The information provided in this document is specific to Schedule 51V Solicitation 6FEC-E6-060173-B, Refresh #25. Before submitting your offer, please ensure you have met all of the requirements outlined in this document that are applicable to the products you are offering, as well as any other applicable general requirements listed in the solicitation attachments (e.g. Information and Instructions to Offerors, etc.)

Please review this document in its entirety for important information and changes.

1. NOTICE: The GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program has recently experienced a tremendous increase in new offers. Due to the large number of new offers currently in process, it could take up to (12) months before your offer is evaluated.

GSA's practice is to evaluate offers in the order in which they are received. However, GSA may give priority to processing certain offers when circumstances dictate, such as when a federal agency Contracting Officer specifically requests an expedited offer review in order to meet a pending requirement that will be procured under the MAS program, or when there is a need for GSA to bring strategically critical new products or services to market in order to meet federal customer needs.

2. The current Solicitation 6FEC-E6-060173-B, Refresh 25, dated January 19, 2018 is hereby issued to enhance SIN structures. Refresh 25 replaces Refresh 24, issued November 21, 2017, in its entirety. In addition, as posted in GSA Interact on January 19, 2018, GSA is combining SINS, no new SINS are being added to Schedule 51V (Solicitation 6FEC-E6-060173-B). The following:

· COMBINE SINS 051 200 ACCESSORIES, 341 100 LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY, IMPLEMENTS, AND PRODUCTS, AND 341 800 LAWN AND GARDEN TOOLS and CHANGE SIN 341 100 “ LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY, IMPLEMENTS, AND PRODUCTS” and its current description in its entirety TO

LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS , PRODUCTS AND ACCESSORIES - Including but not limited to: Mowers (all types) not to exceed 30 hp; gas and diesel tractors dedicated to lawn and garden without implements (excludes tractors with attachments enabling multiple or general purpose use such as loading, excavation, agricultural, highway or road maintenance or clearing, mowing construction, etc.); mowing implements; flail mowing units; boom mowers; sickle mowers; rotary mowing units; rototillers; snow throwers and blowers; grass, hedge and tree trimmers; edger’s; blowers; vacuums; sweepers; sprayers; renovators; spiders; sod cutters; broadcasters; spreaders; seeders and other various lawn and garden implements (not tractor drawn or mounted). Tools including but not limited to: chain saws, lawn sprinklers, soaker hoses, garden hoses, grass shears, pruning shears, tree trimmers, pruning saws, weed whip cutters, rakes, spading forks, manure forks, brush hooks and garden hoes. Products include typical nursery and garden items, such as trees, shrubs, plants, seeds, fertilizer, bulbs, and sod.

NOTE: Commercially available products under this SIN may include items which meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (recycled content) program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture BioPreferred (biobased) program.

NOTE: Accessories accepted only in support of and incidental to the commodities offered under the Hardware SuperStore 51 V Schedule (industry partners may not offer standalone accessories).

A formal contract modification to terminate SIN 341 800 LAWN AND GARDEN TOOLS and SIN 051 200 ACCESSORIES with an end date of January 11, 2018 will be issued.

· COMBINE SINS 550 001 TOOLS, POWERED, 600 001 TOOL BOXES, TOOL CHESTS AND TOOL HOLDERS, 612 209 TOOL KITS AND 613 001 TOOLS, NONPOWERED and CHANGE SIN 613-001 “TOOLS, NONPOWERED” and its current description in its entirety TO

TOOLS (POWERED AND NON-POWERED), TOOL KITS , TOOL BOXES AND ACCESSORIES - Including but not limited to: Socket wrenches, screwdrivers, saws, riveters, scalers, micro-shavers, air regulators, hammers, drills, grinders, impact wrenches, sanders, polishers, nutrunners, air vacuums, sealant guns, nail guns, ratchets, sockets, screw starters, pliers, nippers, mallets, punches, chisels, nail sets, cutting and stripping tools, measuring tools, setup and layout tools, connector tools and specialty tools; tools powered including but not limited to: hammer drills, grinders, routers, sanders, saws, screwdrivers, drills, staple guns, nail guns, scribers, torque wrenches, drivers, riveters, socket wrenches, riveters, scalers, micro-shavers, air regulators, hammers, grinders, impact wrenches, polishers, nutrunners, air vacuums, sealant guns, ratchets, sockets, screw starters, pliers, nippers, mallets, punches, chisels, nail sets, cutting and stripping tools, measuring tools, setup and layout tools, automotive specialty tools and connector tools. Tool boxes, tool cabinets, tool chests and tool holders - all types of boxes, cabinets, chests, holders, rolls, satchels, bags, pouches, and organizers for the storage of tools and tool accessories including but not limited to: portable, stationary, vehicle mounted, workbench mounted, hand-held, anti-static, rugged, modular, secure, locking, stackable and safety. Tool kits including but not limited to: general maintenance, vehicle, system specific, aircraft system specific, repair, cable, master, pinch pin, metric, standard, Society of American Engineers (SAE), mechanic, heavy equipment, diesel, industrial, impact, pneumatic, electrical, machinists, HVAC, gear, plumbing and soldering.

NOTE: Accessories accepted only in support of and incidental to the commodities offered under the Hardware SuperStore 51 V Schedule (industry partners may not offer standalone accessories).

A formal contract modification to terminate SIN 550 001 TOOLS, POWERED, SIN 600 001 TOOL BOXES, TOOL CHESTS AND TOOL HOLDERS and SIN 612 209 TOOL KITS with an end date of January 11, 2018 will be issued.

· COMBINE 834 100 COMMERCIAL COATINGS, ADHESIVES, SEALANTS AND RELATED SERVICES, 834 500 STAINS, VARNISHES, SEALERS, SHELLACS AND LACQUERS AND RELATED SERVICES, 834 600 COMMERCIAL COATINGS REMOVERS AND RELATED SERVICES AND 834 700 COMMERCIAL COATINGS APPLICATORS and CHANGE SIN 834 100 “ COMMERCIAL COATINGS, ADHESIVES, SEALANTS AND RELATED SERVICES, 834 500 STAINS, VARNISHES, SEALERS, SHELLACS AND LACQUERS AND RELATED SERVICES “ and its current description in its entirety TO

COMMERCIAL COATINGS, REMOVERS, ADHESIVES, SEALANTS, STAINS, VARNISHES, SHELLACS, LACQUERS, APPLICATORS, ACCESSORIES AND RELATED SERVICES” – Including but not limited to: Marine commercial, architectural commercial, aerospace commercial, vehicle and industrial commercial coatings, adhesives and sealants including topcoats, sealers, fillers, primers, pre-treatment products, varnishes, shellacs, lacquers, thinners and related products designed for, but not limited to, repair, marking, maintenance, or prevention of the formation and propagation of corrosion on structural surfaces, or for joining structural members, in both interior and exterior applications. Also includes products for the manufacture, repair, routine maintenance, or prevention of the formation and propagation of corrosion on marine vessels, oil drilling platforms, navigational aids, component parts and structures intended for exposure to a fresh or salt water marine environment either above or below water. Coatings include both latex and alkyd paints for use on either wood or metal surfaces, anti-seize compounds, preservatives for wood, metals, plastics or textiles, coatings and sealers for concrete or asphalt pavements and materials to convert metal oxide corrosion to protective coatings. Commercial coatings removers include liquids and solids. Products containing either lead or chromate must be prominently and properly identified and labeled. Product may be a kit or require a multi-component system application. Application accessories and equipment, including but not limited to: brushes, mitts, sticks, rollers, roller covers, conditioners, grids, roller kits, sprayers and paint booths.

NOTE: Service Contract Act (FAR 22.10) and Davis-Bacon Act (FAR 22.404) applicable wages pursuant to, but not limited to, services in support of and ordered in conjunction with products for application, repair or replacement of commercial coatings, adhesives, paints, sealants, stains, varnishes, sealers, shellacs, and/or lacquers. Excludes Architectural Engineering Services (A and E) under the Brooks Architect-Engineers Act as stated in Federal Regulation (FAR) Part 36.

NOTE: Commercially available products under this SIN may include items which meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (recycled content) program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture BioPreferred (biobased) program.

NOTE: Accessories accepted only in support of and incidental to the commodities offered under the Hardware SuperStore 51 V Schedule (industry partners may not offer standalone accessories).

A formal contract modification to terminate SIN 834 500 STAINS, VARNISHES, SEALERS, SHELLACS AND LACQUERS AND RELATED SERVICES, SIN 834 600 COMMERCIAL COATINGS REMOVERS AND RELATED SERVICES and SIN 834 700 COMMERCIAL COATINGS APPLICATORS with an end date of January 11, 2018.

· COMBINE SINS 577 002 MAINTENANCE INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND RELATED SERVICES, 577 001 WOODWORKING MACHINERY EQUIPMENT AND RELATED SERVICES, AND 577 005 METALWORKING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT AND RELATED SERVICES and CHANGE SIN 577 001 “ WOODWORKING MACHINERY EQUIPMENT AND RELATED SERVICES “ and its current description in its entirety TO

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (INCLUDING WOODWORKING, AND METALWORKING MACHINERY), MAINTENANCE, ACCESSORIES AND RELATED SERVICES – Including but not limited to woodworking, metalworking, industrial machinery, equipment, lathes, sanders, sawing equipment (circular, band, radial arm, mitering, table and panel cutting), grinders, shaping, surfacing machinery milling machines; engraving machines; arc, wire, heli-arc welders; gas welding and cutting equipment; hydraulic presses; press brakes; shears; drill presses; grinders; engine lathes; metal sawing equipment and CNC machinery.

NOTE: This SIN includes Service Contract Act (FAR 22.10) and Davis-Bacon Act (FAR 22.404) applicable pursuant to, but not limited to, services in support of and ordered in conjunction with industrial machinery. Excludes Architectural Engineering Services (A and E) under the Brooks Architect-Engineers Act as stated in Federal Regulation (FAR) Part 36.

NOTE: Accessories accepted only in support of and incidental to the commodities offered under the Hardware SuperStore 51 V Schedule (industry partners may not offer standalone accessories).

A formal contract modification to terminate SIN 577 002 MAINTENANCE INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND RELATED SERVICES and 577 005 METALWORKING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT AND RELATED SERVICES with an end date of January 11, 2018 will be issued.

· ENHANCE SIN 341 500 ANIMAL DETERRENTS and its current description in its entirety TO PEST AND ANIMAL DETERRENTS AND ACCESSORIES - Including but not limited to: mosquito deterrents, cattle guards; audible and ultrasonic bird and pest control devices; salts, pellets and sprays.

NOTE: Accessories accepted only in support of and incidental to the commodities offered under the Hardware SuperStore 51 V Schedule (industry partners may not offer standalone accessories).

· ENHANCE SIN 105 003 TO HARDWARE STORE, HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER, OR MRO - SERVICES and its current description in its entirety TO HARDWARE STORE, HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER, OR MRO - SERVICES All commercially available services typically performed in a Hardware Store. This also includes All services performed must be within the spirit and concept of a hardware store. THESE WOULD BE ANCILLARY SERVICES FOR THE PRODUCTS ORDERED THROUGH SIN 105-001 OR 105-002 (NOT FOR SERVICES ONLY).

For purposes of 51V Hardware Superstore this also includes Contractor Operated Civil Engineer Supply Stores (COCESS), Contractor Operated Hardware Stores (COHS) and Contractor Operated Supply Stores (COSS) or Virtual Contractor Operated Supply Stores (VCOSS), including Hardware Store, Home Improvement Center, or MRO – Services. THESE SERVICES MAY ONLY BE OFFERED BY CONTRACTORS AWARDED SIN 105-001 AND/OR 105-002.

Offers received after January 19, 2018 MUST be submitted using the Refresh 25 templates and attachments. Offers received after January19, 2018 using any templates or attachments from previous refresh solicitations will be rejected.

3. Solicitation Number 6FEC-E6-060173-B is a standing solicitation with no closing date. Resultant contracts awarded under this solicitation will be Multiple Award Schedule IDIQ contracts with a base 5-year period, and the potential for three additional 5-year options.

4. All offers must be submitted electronically through the eOffer system. Paper offers will not be accepted, and will not be returned. Please be advised that digital certifications are required for all e-offer and e-mod submittals. Please visit http://eoffer.gsa.gov/ to submit your e-offer and e-mod requests. Any and all references within the solicitation and associated documents pertaining to paper submissions should be disregarded.

5. The following documents are listed as “Optional” in the Offer Response Document; however, if these documents are relevant to your individual offer, you must submit them at the time you submit your offer. For example, if you are a Large Business, then the Subcontracting Plan is still required and MUST be submitted with your offer. The “Required” designation is removed so that offers not requiring these documents are not mandated to upload a document stating that it is N/A, resulting in additional, nonessential documentation. Pursuant to these instructions, if your company status dictates the requirement for any of these documents and you fail to submit them with your initial offer, your offer may be rejected.

6. All products offered under all SINs must be compliant with clause 52.225-5, Trade Agreements Act. Under SINs 105-001 and 105-002, you are required to submit your entire store or catalog, excluding non-TAA compliant products and ETS AbilityOne products. Separate spreadsheets, one for non-TAA compliant products and one for ETS AbilityOne products, must be submitted with your offer. The products excluded as non-TAA must include the country of origin for each product.

7. The Services Contract Act and Davis Bacon Act in this solicitation are applicable ONLY to SIN 834-100 under the Commercial Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, and Lubricants Department, and SINs 577-001 under the Industrial Machinery Department. The contractor’s main focus must be selling the products, and then offer the services secondary. If using sub-contractors for the Services, the invoicing must be done by the contractor. Offers for services only will NOT be accepted.

8. All new offerors must address all requirements in clause SCP-FSS-001-N, Instructions Applicable to New Offerors (OCT 2015) (ALTERNATE IV - JUL 2016).

All new offers submitted by currently successful contractors who, at a minimum have started Year 14 under their existing contract, must address all requirements in clause SCP-FSS-001-S (Instructions Applicable to Successful FSS Program Contractors (MAR 2016) (ALTERNATE III -JUL 2016).

Documents and information relevant to offers submitted under the Service Contract Act or Davis Bacon Act are listed as “optional” however; they are required for any offers submitted if offering labor services under SCA or DBA which are ancillary / supplemental to a product offering. They are listed as “optional” so that the eOffer system does not require offerors to submit them if offering products only.

9. E-verify is required and must be accepted for offers submitted under the Service Contract Act or Davis Bacon Act.

10. The Contractor shall recognize the GSA SmartPay purchase card from the 4-digit prefix in the charge card numbers (called Bank Identification Numbers or BINs). The current GSA SmartPay BIN numbers are:

11. Green Requirements: All products included in product categories listed below either added by modification to current contracts or awarded under new contracts for Special Item Numbers (SINs) 105- 001 Hardware Store, Home Improvement Center, or MRO (maintenance, repair, operations) - Store Front, 105-002 Hardware Store, Home Improvement Center, or MRO (maintenance, repair, operations) – Catalog, and 639-001 Domestic Appliances, must meet the sustainable acquisition requirements in Executive Order 13693, Planning For Federal Sustainability In The Next Decade, section 3(i)e https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/19/executive-order-planning-federal-sustainability-next-decade which states:

Sec. 3. Sustainability Goals for Agencies. In implementing the policy set forth in section 1 of this order and to achieve the goals of section 2 of this order, the head of each agency shall, where life-cycle cost-effective, beginning in fiscal year 2016, unless otherwise specified:

(i) promote sustainable acquisition and procurement by ensuring that each of the following environmental performance and sustainability factors are included to the maximum extent practicable for all applicable procurements in the planning, award, and execution phases of the acquisition by:

(iv) acting, as part of the implementation of planning requirements of section 14 of this order, until an agency achieves at least 95 percent compliance with the BioPreferred and biobased purchasing requirement in paragraph (i) of this subsection.

Effective immediately, non-compliant items in the categories listed below are no longer being accepted. “Green" products shall meet the requirements of the FAS environmental icon standards as listed in GSA Advantage! and are required on all new offers submitted under the solicitation and modification requests to current contracts.

We will focus on the following products as applicable to the proposed SIN’s for the initial transformation from Brown to Green under the 51V schedule.

Appliances

Heating & Cooling

Clothes Washers

Air Conditioning, Central

Dehumidifiers

Air Conditioning, Room

Dishwashers

Room Air Cleaners & Purifiers

Freezers

Refrigerators

Plumbing

Room Air Cleaners & Purifiers

Water Heater, Gas Condensing

Water Coolers

Water Heater, Heat Pump

Water Heater, High Efficiency Gas Storage

Water Heater, Solar

Water Heater, Whole Home Gas Tankless

12. Hardware Store Department 3 (SINs 105-001, 105-002, 105-003) Requirements:

Offerors submitting an offer for acceptance under this program must be a hardware store, home improvement center or MRO, and shall include a diverse line of products and related services that would normally be found in a commercial hardware store, home improvement center or MRO. Offers under SIN 105-001 shall include your complete storefront(s) and, if offering under SIN 105-002, your entire catalog shall be included with your initial offer. Offers that are not diversified in nature will not be considered. Diversity is considered to be a minimum of three (3) or more distinct categories or distinct product groups (not brands name or manufacturers) which may include but are not limited to: flooring, fencing, hardware, building materials, tools, appliances, electrical, paint, plumbing, lawn and garden, motors, shop, machining, welding, material handling, carts/trucks, dock equipment, HVAC, cleaning, irrigation and related services.

Offerors submitting offers under this Department are directed to www.abilityone.gov to review a listing of products available through the AbilityOne mandatory source program. Because the AbilityOne products are mandatory purchases for federal customers, contractors are required to remove the commercial essentially the same ETS items from its offer. If you offer products that are essentially the same ETS as AbilityOne products, you are encouraged to become an authorized distributor of AbilityOne products. In addition, all AbilityOne Technical Factors must be addressed.

13. Letters of Supply (if non-Manufacturer): See the approved GSA template included with the solicitation. Any other format will not be accepted. Letters of Supply are required if you are a dealer or distributor submitting an offer under any SIN, with the exception of 105-001, 105-002, 105-003, 515-001 and 515-002. Offers submitted under 105-001, 105-002, 105-003, 515-001 or 515-002 must still show compliance with clause 9.104 and I-FSS-644 by submitting a Letter(s) of Supply, providing a statement of assurance of a source of supply for the life of the contract, or providing evidence that you will have an uninterrupted source of supply from which to satisfy the Government's requirements for the contract period. A self-certification may be made by providing the GSA Letter of Supply template. The Letter has been revised to include the requirement that each Supplier must specify the brand, product line, and/or manufacturer being provided.

14. Discount Proposal Spreadsheet: Offers under Schedule 51V are required to provide a Most Favored Customer (MFC) on a product by product (line by line) basis. Disclosures under 51V can be on a product by product basis, family of products or by category of customers only if the offer is submitted as a non-TDR offer. Offerors may provide a multiple discount structure based on product line categories as a separate attachment to the CSP-1, Commercial Sales Practices Format.

If the offer is submitted as a TDR offer, CSP, MFC and BOA information is not required.

15. Invoices: For non-TDR offer must provide a random sampling of approximately 20-25 invoices to your most favored commercial customer (MFC). These will be used for the purpose of verifying discount and pricing structures disclosed as well as freight evaluation.

Offerors under TDR (Transactional Data Requirements), must provide a random sampling of approximately 20-25 commercial (not MFC) invoices. These will be used for the purpose of verifying commercial prices disclosed in the offeror’s Commercial Price List submitted with the offer.

16. Financial Responsibility: Please be aware that a financial responsibility determination will be completed on your firm. Therefore, financial documentation (Income Statements and Balance Sheets) from your firm’s last 2 years are required and must be submitted. Offers received with less than 2 years of financial history will not be considered for award. In addition, you are encouraged to ensure that your Dun and Bradstreet information is current. With your offer, you will be required to submit copies of lien releases for any outstanding liens reflected in the D&B Credit Rating Report.

17. Marketing Plan: Although Marketing Plans are no longer a mandatory requirement of the solicitation, you are strongly encouraged to submit one with your initial offer. The submission of a Marketing Plan will assist the Contracting Officer in making a determination that the offer has the ability and resources to market to Federal customers. If a Marketing Plan is not submitted with the initial offer, it will be at the Contracting Officer's discretion to request one during the initial clarification process.

18. Sub-Contracting Plan: A Sub-contracting Plan Model is included in this refresh solicitation for information only. Offerors must submit the electronic version.

19. FOB Terms: The Government’s preferred FOB Term is FOB Destination. FOB Origin is accepted only under special circumstances. Offeror must provide substantial documentation to justify any request for FOB Origin.

20. NAICS Codes: You are required to update your SAM registration to reflect the applicable NAICS (North American Industry Classification Codes) based on the scope of the products and/or services you are offering. If you certify your company as a large business for purposes of the applicable NAICS, you will be required to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan for approval with your offer.

21. Offerors for Accessories and/or Services: Accessories or services of any kind offered under any SIN will NOT be accepted unless offered in conjunction with the applicable products or machinery. Offers received for accessories or services only will be rejected.

22. Wage Determinations: A Wage Determination document is not currently available with this refresh. All identified SCA eligible labor categories must be mapped to the appropriate SCA Equivalent Code and Title (available at http://www.wdol.gov). Utilize the spreadsheet format referred to as SCA Matrix in the solicitation. All offerors should be taking into consideration wage determination rates when submitting proposed pricing.

24. AbilityOne (Applicable to all SINs). If an offeror / contractor sells products determined to be Essentially the Same (ETS) as AbilityOne products, that offeror / contractor must be an authorized AbilityOne distributor by the Committee for Purchase from People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled, and must provide documentation showing acceptance as a distributor by AbilityOne. The offeror / contractor shall meet the AbilityOne Exclusivity Requirement by blocking orders of commercial products that are identified as being identical to or Essentially the Same" (ETS) as AbilityOne offered products.

Offerors submitting an offer must visit the AbilityOne website at http://www.abilityone.gov/index.html for a listing of AbilityOne directed source items. If items being offered are essentially the same (ETS) they must be excluded from the offer. A list of the excluded items MUST be submitted with your offer.

As the AbilityOne Program is a mandatory source of supply for all Federal entities, any contractual vehicle to furnish products to Federal employees must eliminate commercial items that are identical to or essentially the same (ETS) as AbilityOne items. Otherwise, the users of that vehicle may, unknowingly or knowingly, violate the JWOD Act. This position is consistent with FAR clause 52.208-9, Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply. In addition, offerors are strongly encouraged to participate as an AbilityOne Program distributor. Participating distributors shall offer all or a portion of the AbilityOne product line, as negotiated with the Committee, in consultation with NIB and NISH. GSA and the Committee, in consultation with NIB and NISH, will make the final decisions regarding the ETS products and appropriate AbilityOne product mix on a case-by-case basis when a new vendor contacts the AbilityOne Program.

Offerors must eliminate any commercial items deemed by the Committee to be similar to their respective mandatory source products and in lieu of those items, will offer and distribute the comparable AbilityOne product. Purchases by Federal customers of commercial items that are identical to or “essentially the same” (ETS) as AbilityOne products are in violation of the JWOD Act, 41 U.S.C. 46-48c. Thus, Government agencies are prohibited from acquiring ETS items. A complete listing of AbilityOne items can be downloaded at http://www.abilityone.gov.

AbilityOne Technical Factors: You must address the following AbilityOne Technical Factors.

Offerors may propose alternative approaches to each of the sub factors below consistent with the concept of making AbilityOne products available and preventing the sale of commercial equivalent products. However, alternate approaches that do not accomplish the AbilityOne compliance objective will not be accepted.

a. Describe processes that will be used to identify possible product overlap, such as supplying an inventory list, reviewing the AbilityOne catalog, etc. If overlap exists, describe method for supplying the appropriate AbilityOne products such as putting in retail inventory and/or catalogs, making available through special orders, or some combination and/or alternative approach.

b. Describe how AbilityOne products will be stocked in the retail locations or otherwise made available for order. If applicable, address approximate space provided, whether or not products will be integrated throughout the store or in a separate area, and any other details about physical stocking of AbilityOne products in the retail locations.

c. Describe how Federal customers’ attention would be drawn to the AbilityOne and products, including any use of educational/marketing literature, signage, customer service, or other promotional materials.

d. Describe how commercial products that are equivalent to AbilityOne products and thus not appropriate for sale under the GSA contract will be identified (e.g., flagged in inventory system, noted in purchasing records, etc.). Describe how such products can be identified in the vendor’s system in order to track the sales of such products to Government purchase cardholders. If the inventory system and/or point of sale system lack the capability to flag or track the sale of specific products, please recommend an alternative approach to quantifying the sale of such items, such as estimates based on replenishment orders or based on the percentage of total sales such commercial items are normally responsible for providing.

e. Describe availability of sales data for Government use, segmented by Government purchase cardholder and/or store location, and/or by individual stock number (SKU). Is such sales data by account holder or other customer-unique identifier available? Is sales data by store location or individual stock number available? Is there another sales metric that would be appropriate? Please recommend some meaningful type of sales data for review if the above are not available.

f. Describe other recommendations/efforts to promote the sale of AbilityOne products to Federal as well as other customers.

Offerors must eliminate any commercial items deemed by the Committee to be similar to their respective mandatory source products and in lieu of those items, will offer and distribute the comparable AbilityOne product. Purchases by Federal customers of commercial items that are identical to or “essentially the same” (ETS) as AbilityOne products are in violation of the JWOD Act, 41 U.S.C. 46-48c. Thus, Government agencies are prohibited from acquiring ETS items. A complete listing of AbilityOne items can be downloaded at http://www.abilityone.com or http://www.AbilityOne.gov.

If it is determined that an offeror has commercial items essentially the same as any of the AbilityOne product but does not agree to participate by selling AbilityOne products, unless a waiver is granted by the Committee, the offer will be rejected in its entirety.

Offerors will provide the Committee with a copy of their product line catalog(s) to be sold under this contract. The offeror and the Committee staff (with assistance from NIB and NISH) will mutually identify any overlap with the Procurement List, resulting in the Committee’s determination as to which AbilityOne products must be provided and which commercial products must be eliminated. The Committee may grant a written one-year waiver if there is no overlap with the AbilityOne product line or if the overlap is deemed to be insignificant based on potential to impact AbilityOne sales. This waiver would be renewed annually pending review of additions to the product line.

Additional AbilityOne Information:

You may also download and review the most recent Criteria and Application for AbilityOne Program products distributors at http://www.abilityone.gov/distributors/potential.html. These documents should be completed and returned to the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, at the contact and address above.

During the term of the contract, additional items may be added to or deleted from the Procurement List, which is the official list of AbilityOne Program products and services, maintained by the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. The AbilityOne Program shall normally provide 90 days notice of product additions and deletions. Efforts will be made to coordinate the timing of these with vendor catalog production.

Potential awardees and/or contractors must show all new items designated by the Committee in their next printed catalog and must show the same items in their electronic catalog within 90 days of being notified of the AbilityOne products’ availability. Items similar to these and any other new AbilityOne items will be blocked and/or deleted from the Contractor’s catalogs for Government use. In the event that a Government contract already exists for the items added to the AbilityOne programs, the new items will not be shown as AbilityOne in catalogs until after the previous contract expires. If the items are currently on GSA Schedule, they will not be shown as AbilityOne until the end of the first five-year period; or for schedule contracts beyond their first five-year period, items will not be shown as AbilityOne for 90 days, to give the current contractor a chance to deplete its stock. Similarly, ETS commercial items need not be eliminated from the catalogs until the requirement to show the new products as AbilityOne items takes effect.

Offerors should address how AbilityOne items will be shown and marketed to Federal Customers in their proposals, but at a minimum, the AbilityOne items should be included in marketing materials in a manner consistent with the commercial items.

1. If the contractor distributes a print catalog to government customers, the AbilityOne Program encourages, but does not require a fully integrated, Government-unique print catalog. A commercial print catalog with a AbilityOne insert in lieu of an integrated catalog would be acceptable, but must have appropriate blocking of ETS items, and should integrate AbilityOne items into the index (unless otherwise negotiated with the AbilityOne staff).

2. If electronic catalogs are used, all items, terms and conditions not accepted by the Government (including the items ETS as AbilityOne products) must be deleted on the Government site/area. At the same time, the AbilityOne product line must be fully integrated in a manner consistent with commercial items. Electronic or on-line catalogs integrate AbilityOne items into all search features as well as other pages where applicable. A separate button for Government customers and/or AbilityOne items is welcome, but not in lieu of integration into the remaining areas of the catalog. Removal of ETS items is required.

If authorized to distribute AbilityOne items, the Offeror will order such products through the channel(s) designated by those programs, including:

1. AbilityOne Wholesalers (if applicable)

2. Designated VAN (Value-Added Network) for direct EDI orders to AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies. Details are available from the Committee staff, NIB and/or NISH staff.

3. Central fax number for orders – this method is considerably less efficient and will be considered only as an interim measure while EDI connections are developed.

The offeror must agree to the terms and conditions for the designated channel(s) with respect to ordering procedures and timely payments. The AbilityOne Program’s terms and conditions for commercial distributors are attached (Attachment 1). In the event of late payments by authorized distributors, interest may be assessed at rates consistent with the Prompt Payment Act. Offerors are advised that AbilityOne supplies will be shipped F.O.B. Destination (delivered prices), effective January 1, 2004. In the interim and/or in some exception cases, some AbilityOne items may ship F.O.B. Origin, meaning freight charges are to be paid by the distributor and the distributor assumes title for the goods once placed on the initial carrier.

Warranty/returned goods policy – The Contractor’s standard commercial warranty as stated in the Contractor’s commercial price list will apply to AbilityOne items. The Contractor’s stated return policy for the AbilityOne items will be identical to their offered commercial return goods policy. The AbilityOne Program’s current return policy for commercial distributors is attached (Attachment 2).

The Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, an independent agency of the Federal Government, is responsible for establishing prices for AbilityOne items. Normally, the Committee revises prices (upward or downward) for these items once a year, but occasionally market conditions require more frequent revisions. Certain AbilityOne items are on Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) quarterly schedules; a list of such items is available from the Committee. The Committee will advise the distributor of price changes and their effective dates with approximately 30 days’ notice. After the effective date of a price change, any subsequent orders will be at the new price. The distributor will adjust its selling price, based upon its awarded mark-up for those items offered.

NIB/NISH Prime-Ordering/Invoice Payment:

NIB/NISH, their authorized agent(s), or authorized nonprofit agencies, will receive the AbilityOne orders and handle related order processing, administrative, and financial matters (Invoicing/Payment). The Contractor shall make invoice payments to NIB/NISH, their authorized agent, and/or authorized nonprofit agencies as noted on the invoice within 30 days after the distributor receives the date the invoice.

Resultant contracts awarded under this solicitation will be Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (Multiple Award Schedule) contracts providing our customers the ability to obtain a broad selection of supplies and services on a walk-in/walk-out storefront or catalog program. Government Purchase Cards are the preferred method of payment. In those instances where use of the Government Purchase Card is not feasible, contractors may accept delivery orders issued by authorized users. This offers another supply choice of Federal customers while providing a discount for the brand name, quality products and services available in the commercial market.

For purposes of this contract, references to "order(s)" placed under the contract means transactions utilizing a Government Purchase Card by a Government employee or any authorized user. In those instances where a Government Purchase Card cannot be used, references to "order(s)" placed under the contract means transactions utilizing a delivery order issued by a Government employee or any authorized user.

AbilityOne (NIB/NISH) Distributor(s):

Offerors are strongly encouraged to participate with Government mandatory source programs. Under these programs offerors would become certified distributors of AbilityOne (NIB/NISH) products. This would require the stocking, distribution and delivery of AbilityOne (NIB/NISH) core items (listing of core items to be provided by AbilityOne (formerly AbilityOne. For non-core AbilityOne items, stocking will not be mandatory. Offerors are encouraged to stock non-core items if they have customer demand for those items. If non-core items are not stocked, successful offerors will be required to track sales of similar commercial items and report them to AbilityOne Program semi-annually. If significant demand is demonstrated, items may be moved from the non-core list to the AbilityOne list.

Vendors interested in participating in the AbilityOne (NIB/NISH) Distributor program will be forwarded an Application for Distributors upon request.

AbilityOne Program: APPLICABLE ONLY TO MANDATORY SOURCE AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR PROGRAM: Based on Congressional statutes, there are two socioeconomic procurement programs that furnish products and/or services to support Federal Government requirements. These programs have mandatory source status and preference over the products and services of other vendors, as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 8.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Javits-Wagner-O’Day, production facilities associated with National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH (serving people with a wide range of disabilities) are mandatory sources for certain items. This listing of all AbilityOne items can be downloaded from www.abilityone.gov. The contractor will be required to stock and distribute these items to Federal customers under the Catalog SIN, unless no product overlap is mutually determined with the AbilityOne Program management team. Commercial items similar to AbilityOne products will be excluded from the catalog. These programs have mandatory source status and preference over products and services of other vendors, as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 8.

This contract is designed to fulfill the mandatory provisions of the JWOD Act. Offerors must coordinate with the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (the Committee), which oversees the AbilityOne Program, prior to submitting their offers. The contact for this organization is:

Eric Beale, Program Marketing Specialist and Commercial Distribution Coordinator, will represent the Committee.

1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 10800 Arlington, VA 22202-3259 Tel. (703) 603-2119 Fax (703) 603-0030 Email:ebeale@abilityone.gov

Offeror’s point of contact is:

Email __________________________________