Justificationfor Samples_Att 6.doc

Justification: Requirement for Descriptive Literature and Samples

Descriptive literature and samples are required to establish, for the purposes of submission evaluation, details of the product the prospective bidder proposes to furnish as to materials and salient characteristics. The National Institutes of Health is contemplating award of a requirements type contract for a large amount of paper products. This requirement is for one base year with four one-year option periods possible.

It is important to have available precisely what a prospective bidder may be offering for the following reasons:

1) This will verify that the intentions of the specifications were conveyed and the product will be of the quality as intended.

2) This will commit a prospective bidder to a required level of product quality for initial deliveries and current use.

3) This will commit a prospective bidder to a required level of product quality for future deliveries and anticipated use.

4) If the product delivered is not of materials and quality as described in the prospective bidders descriptive literature or provided as samples, grounds for rejection and replacement with the appropriate product are strengthened.

5) Descriptive literature and samples are a part of the solicitation. It is in the best interests of the National Institutes of Health to have a clear representation of what it intends to spend millions of dollars for.

Descriptive literature and samples are not only useful initially to verify that the National Institutes of Health is contracting for and receiving what has been specified, but also in the future to ensure continued receipt of a product with appropriate quality and performance capabilities.