FED-STD-595_RFI.docx

Fed-Std-595 RFI Summary of Requested Effort:

The General Services Administration (GSA) is currently seeking potential sources that can offer a commercial solution whereby the color library previously maintained under Federal Standard 595, “Colors Used in Government Procurement”, continues to be presented in a format suitable for color selection, color matching and for quality control inspection. These colors are primarily used for paints and coatings. References are accessed by commercial paint and coating suppliers to provide colored paint for U.S. Government projects and applications. It is also possible that individuals or U.S. Government customer offices will request to see a visual representation of the respective colors.

For Reference only, Federal Standard 595 can be viewed at the following site:

· http://assistdocs.com/search/search_basic.cfm

· [Under “document number”, search for “595”]

· [Select “Fed-Std-595(C -1)” from search results]

· [Select “Revision C” to view primary document]

Contractor Information:

Company Name: _______________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

County: _______________________________________________

DUNS No.: ____________________________________________

Telephone No.: _________________________________________

FAX No.: _____________________________________________

Contact Point: __________________________________________

E-mail address: ________________________________________

Are you a LARGE ______ or SMALL ______ business?

Are you a MANUFACTURER ____ or a DEALER ______?

Scope/Requested Information:

1. As an initial step, given a set of physical color reference chips, accept and present the entire current library of 650 colors within your system.

1a. Please explain how each respective color would be referenced and identified within your system.

2. Noting that the government currently has in place a 5-digit chip reference numbering system for these 650 color chips, provide a cross-reference matrix identifying what 5-digit chip number corresponds with each of your color references.

2a. Is it possible to retain and use only the 5-digit chip reference numbering system currently in place and being used by the Government?

3. Please provide a recommendation on whether gloss level of the respective color chips is also part of how you define color, or do you just present the absolute color and leave the gloss level designation up to the end user? In either case – how is this done?

4. Please comment on whether your color reference system can also be used for inks, dyes, plastics and textiles.

5. Please explain how government and commercial users would successfully obtain precise color information from you, allowing them to accurately reproduce a given color for paints and coatings over the long term.

5a. Would it be necessary to produce and distribute physical color chip media or could this be accomplished via digital coordinate and spectral data?

5b. If digital coordinate and spectral data is some or all of the solution, please provide information on the color coordinate convention to be used:

· Equipment used to measure color

· Color Scale

· Illuminant

· Observer

· Specular data included/ excluded

· Sample preparation (color on cardstock drawdown sample)

· Sample presentation (full hiding)

5c. Please also provide detail on what capability is needed by the end user to re-create and reproduce the color.

6. Please explain how new colors could periodically be added to your system and how long this process would take.

7. Please comment on how likely it is you would opt to delete or change a color reference within your system for any reason, without stakeholder (U.S. Govt.) consent.

Response Instructions:

Please ensure that your response to the RFI is complete and accurate. Please include contractor information with your response. Your response to the Scope/Requested Information section should be in the number format as prescribed above. You must respond to all questions/statements (1 – 7). You must submit your response via e-mail as a Microsoft Word or PDF attachment. Only responses submitted via e-mail will be accepted.

Questions and responses to the RFI should be emailed to Paula Schulte, Contract Specialist, paula.schulte@gsa.gov with “Fed-Std-595 RFI” in the subject line. Failure to properly identify the email in the subject line may result in the email being overlooked or filtered out. Potential offeror’s response should be received no later than Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 5:00PM CST.