M67854-20-I-1728 Combat Boot Sock 200428.pdf

M67854-20-I-1728

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

FOR

MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOT SOCK

1. GENERAL INFORMATION.

This Request for Information (RFI) initiates market research under Federal Acquisition

Regulation Part 10 and is not a Request for Proposal. The information herein only initiates communication with industry in order to assess market potential. No solicitation document exists at this time. This RFI constitutes no Government obligation to procure these items or issue a solicitation. The Government does not have an obligation to pay for information responding to this RFI and will not accept any responses as offers. Vendors should mark any proprietary information clearly and appropriately.

2. PURPOSE.

The Program Manager Infantry Combat Equipment (PM ICE), Marine Corps Systems Command

(MARCORSYSCOM), is seeking industry input that identifies potential sources and best practice information regarding industry manufacturing capabilities for the production of a

Combat Boot Sock (sea bag item). Based on updated technologies within the sock industry, the goal is to identify a sock that will decrease fatigue, blisters, and lower extremity injuries. The

Combat Boot Sock (sea bag item) shall be:

One of the following blends:

o Blend “A,” a blend of U.S.-sourced materials consisting of about 50% Merino wool

(+/- 2%), 45% nylon (+/- 2%), and 5% spandex (+/- 2%), o Blend “B,” a blend of 90% nylon (+/- 5%) and 10% spandex (+/- 5%);

Seamless toe;

Moisture-wicking;

Boot-length in height (~13 to 15 inches);

Rugged and durable; comfortable for full-day wear;

Machine washable and dryable;

Coyote Brown in color shade pantone 476/498.

3. SUBMISSION REQUEST.

This RFI does not have an associated page restriction. However, an executive summary, not to exceed five pages, should accompany each submission. Responses may include any advertising, marketing information and capability summaries directly related to the RFI. Vendors deciding to submit competition-sensitive or proprietary information bear sole responsibility for marking the information for appropriate safeguarding. Please include the following information in the response:

a. Organization Name, Address and Point of Contact information;

b. DUNS & Cage Code;

c. Business size for NAICS 315110 (Sock Manufacturing);

d. Designate whether the company is a large or small business. Should the company be designated as a small business, please also provide the appropriate category/categories, if applicable;

o 8(a) certified o Service-disabled veteran-owned o Veteran-owned o Woman-owned o HUB Zone o Native American o Any other Small Business Administration approved designation

e. Estimated unit price;

f. System for Award Management registration expiration date;

g. Existing contracts (i.e. GSA, other agency contracts, etc.) where the solution to this RFI may be available;

h. Verification from the supplier that the fiber, components, materials, and garment construction are compliant with the Berry Amendment / Buy American Act;

i. The company’s production lead time schedule;

j. The company’s minimum/maximum monthly delivery schedule, anticipating that the total volume of Combat Boot Socks ordered within a one-year period would be a minimum quantity of 2,200 pairs and a maximum quantity of 7,200 pairs. Assume standard lead times and no issues with raw material deliveries;

k. Vendors may submit sock samples, at no cost to the Government, with their written responses. Samples will be returned, at the vendors expense, within 60 days of receipt if requested.

Please submit RFI questions to the Contract Specialist via email at anthony.fennell@usmc.mil with a courtesy copy to the Contracting Officer via email at peggy.l.smith1@usmc.mil no later than 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), 15 May 2020. Responder is advised that the answers to those questions being asked will be based on information that is available at that time.

Any solicitation related to the Combat Boot Sock, if issued, is a separate and distinct effort and the responses provided to the RFI may no longer apply. MARCORSYSCOM will post all questions and answers to the Beta Sam website (https://www.beta.sam.gov/).

Responses shall be submitted electronically via e-mail to the Contract Specialist:

anthony.fennell@usmc.mil with a courtesy copy to the Contracting Officer via email:

peggy.l.smith1@usmc.mil no later than 12:00 p.m. EST, 30 May 2020. All responses shall reference RFI#: M67854-20-I-1728.

Please be advised that there is a seven megabyte size limit on all e-mail traffic to

MARCORSYSCOM. All e-mail larger than this may not be delivered.

file:///C:/Users/anthony.fennell/Documents/anthony.fennell@usmc.mil file:///C:/Users/anthony.fennell/Documents/peggy.l.smith1@usmc.mil https://www.beta.sam.gov/ file:///C:/Users/anthony.fennell/Documents/anthony.fennell@usmc.mil file:///C:/Users/anthony.fennell/Documents/peggy.l.smith1@usmc.mil

If vendors elect to submit samples, they must be sent to the following address no later than 12:00 p.m. EST, 30 May 2020:

MARCORSYSCOM

PM ICE

ATTN: Todd Towles

2200 Lester Street

Quantico, VA 22134

4. PROPRIETARY DATA.

The Government may use information received from this RFI to establish future Marine Corps requirements. Vendors deciding to submit competition-sensitive or proprietary information bear sole responsibility for marking the information for appropriate safeguarding. Proprietary information will be protected from unauthorized disclosure as required by Subsection 27 of the

Office of Procurement Policy Act as amended (41 U.S.C. 423) (hereinafter referred to as "the

Act"), as implemented in the FAR.

Notice

The Government uses support contractor/non-government personnel from GID Solutions, Knowledge Capital Associates, Patricio Enterprises, and their subcontractors as consultants to help collect and review market information. MARCORSYSCOM contractually binds these companies with respect to proprietary information by organizational conflict of interest and non-disclosure clauses. Supporting contractor personnel are procurement officials within the meaning of the Office of Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 423) and as implemented in the

FAR.

Contracting Office Address:

2200 Lester Street, Quantico, VA 22134

Point of Contact(s):

Anthony Fennell 703-432-4964; email: anthony.fennell@usmc.mil