Playground RFI 26-I-2001.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF WAR

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

COMMANDER, NAVY INSTALLATIONS COMMAND (CNIC)

FLEET AND FAMILY READINESS SERVICE CENTER

HDQMWR-26-I-2001

Playground Equipment, Structures, and Accessories Market Research

Photo provided is generated via AI and does not constitute the NAFI looking for this particular play feature.

I. General Information

Playground Equipment, Structures, and Accessories Market Research Posted: 21 July 2026 Response Deadline: 11 August 2026

II. Contracting Office Address

CNIC, Facilities & Construction Contracting 5720 Integrity Drive, Bldg. 457 Millington, TN 38055

III. Introduction

A. The Department of War (DoW) requires the installation and maintenance of playgrounds for the Child & Youth Program (CYP) Child Development Centers (CDC) on United States Navy bases. CYP is designed to support military families by providing exceptional and safe childcare and youth programs so that Navy and DoW personnel can devote 100% of their attention to their assigned mission. The CNIC Facilities and Construction Contracting Branch is therefore conducting market research to discover new, innovative, and inclusive playground equipment that will allow CYP to continue setting the national standard in childcare for both CONUS and OCONUS Navy regions.

B. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue a RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the NAFI is not, at this time, seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the NAFI will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense.

Responding to this RFI is entirely voluntary, and not responding will not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor SAM.gov for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

IV. Background

The Navy’s Child & Youth Program is a DoW program created in response to the 1989 Military Child Care Act. The DoW also mandated that childcare be officially recognized as a Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) activity. Accordingly, military childcare is now recognized as a national model for high quality childcare and is described as the “gold standard of childcare.” The Navy’s CYP thus provides military and DoW personnel peace of mind in knowing their children are in a safe learning environment. Having this peace of mind therefore allows total devotion and attention to the critical mission of safeguarding the United States.

In compliance with Navy CYP policy, CYP Centers implement a high-quality, developmentally appropriate learning environment that supports children’s physical and mental well-being.

Consistent with instruction mandates for physical and cognitive development, all age groups spend a portion of each day engaged in outdoor play, with CYP viewing the outdoor space as a direct extension of the indoor learning environment. To ensure physical safety, outdoor play yards are strictly divided by age groups and utilize age-appropriate play equipment designed in compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards.

V. Key Details

A. CNIC wants to transition away from the traditional, large-scale composite play structures and is interested in learning more about the current playground trends that offer new, innovative, inclusive, and cost-effective options for children of multiple age groups and various physical capabilities. CNIC is also interested in learning more about vendors who can provide these options while meeting certain industry standards and certification requirements.

B. CNIC is particularly interested in learning more about various materials used, sustainability and quality factors of the various materials, and the ability to allow all children, regardless of physical limitations, to fully utilize the equipment with ease and minimal assistance.

C. CNIC is eager to learn about the natural and modular play features that could be refreshed or rotated without a full replacement of structures and equipment to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability.

D. The Navy defines each age group as:

1. Infant 6 weeks – 1 year

2. Pre-Toddler 1 year – 2 years

3. Toddler 2 years – 3 years

4. Preschool 3 years – 5 years

5. School-Age 5 years – 12 years

E. CNIC requires vendors, contractors, and installers to be a Certified Playground

Safety Inspector with certification from the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA).

1. Foreman/ Lead individuals must have a minimum of five years of experience in playground equipment installation.

F. An independent third-party vendor must perform a comprehensive safety audit inspection of the playground equipment. Additionally, vendors must also perform an impact attenuations testing (drop testing) on all safety play surfacing. These inspections are mandatory to certify final installation prior to CYP usage.

1. Individuals completing the audits must be a Certified Playground Safety Inspector with certification from the NRPA.

2. Individuals completing the audits must have a minimum of five years of experience in conducting playground audit and safety inspections.

VI. Detailed Scope of Work

A. CNIC uses Navy CYP 4-470-14N Facility Criteria Guidance for playground equipment standards.

B. Play equipment and safety surfaces must have International Play Equipment

Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) certifications.

1. Alternatively, play equipment and safety surfaces may be independently certified by a testing lab using the ASTM standards.

2. Acceptable ASTM standards are:

a. F1487 Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use.

b. F2373 Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through 23 Months.

c. F1292 Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment.

d. F2075 Standard Specification for Engineered Wood Fiber for Use as a Playground Safety Surface Under and Around Playground Equipment.

e. F2223 Standard Guide for ASTM Standards on Playground Surfacing.

f. F1951 Standard Specification for Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment.

g. F3313 Standard Test Method for Determining Impact Attenuation of Playground Surfaces Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment as Tested in the Field.

C. All vendors, contractors, and subcontractors must comply with all applicable DoW security and drug regulations to maintain base access privileges.

VII. Requested Information

Interested vendors are required to provide a concise and specific response that addresses the following areas:

A. Corporate Experience

1. Provide a brief company overview including size, history, core competencies, and geographic areas served.

2. Describe your company’s experience in managing large-scale, geographically dispersed programs, provider networks, or support services for military and/or government end users.

3. If applicable, highlight any experience working with other armed forces MWR childcare facilities.

B. Capability & Approach

1. Describe your company’s approach to recruiting, vetting, training, and managing a nationwide network of playground installation vendors.

2. Outline your marketing design framework describing materials, technology, and other applicable items that would assist in providing awareness to the Navy’s Child and Youth Program.

C. Products & Materials

1. Provide a list and brief description of what your company offers for playground equipment, structures, and accessories.

2. Describe, to the best extent possible without disclosing any proprietary or other sensitive information, the materials used for playground equipment, structures, and accessories that end users may select.

3. Describe the quality and sustainability of the materials used in the playground equipment, structures, and accessories.

a. Include climate resilience factors such as UV and corrosion resistance, weather durability, etc.

4. Vendors are encouraged to highlight eco-friendly and climate-resilient materials suitable for both CONUS and OCONUS installations.

D. Price Structure

1. Describe your typical pricing models and/or the pricing setup for equipment and structures of similar size and scope.

2. Describe any discount incentives, if any, used for military and other government end users.

3. Describe any additional warranties provided beyond the standard manufacturer’s warranty, including, but not limited to, any included routine maintenance or emergency repairs, on-site service fees, and old equipment haul away for both initial installation and potential equipment upgrades.

4. Provide any cost figures and/or pricing not to be included.

5. Publicly published price lists may be provided.

E. Age Groups & Inclusiveness for Each Age Group

1. Provide the intended age range, as defined by the Navy under Part V, § (C), for each of the listed playground equipment, structures, and accessories.

2. Indicate which of the playground equipment, play structures, and accessories offered for each of the Navy’s age groups that will allow children with any physical limitations and/or who require the use of any mobility aids, to fully utilize and enjoy with none to minimal assistance.

F. Feedback on Requirements

1. Provide feedback on the feasibility and reasonableness of the requirements outlined in this RFI.

a. Are there any requirements that seem unclear, overly burdensome, or difficult to achieve?

b. Are there any requirements that are missing from this RFI that should be included?

2. Provide any additional feedback and/or recommendations on how CNIC should conduct market research for playground equipment, structures, and accessories in addition to any missed features or factors to consider for if or when a future RFP is published.

Interested vendors are welcome and encouraged to provide photos, cut sheets, and any other specifications not listed above.

VIII. Questions

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing, electronically, via email to the Contracting Officer, A’Keesha Stark, at akeesha.r.stark.naf@us.navy.mil and the Construction Contract Specialist, Jeff Rogers, at jeffrey.c.rogers15.naf@us.navy.mil. QUESTIONS IN ANY OTHER FORMAT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Questions shall not contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 07 August shall be answered. Neither price nor cost will be discussed.

IX. Response Instructions

This RFI closes on 11 August 2026 at 3:00 PM CST. Interested vendors should submit responses in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format, with a maximum of 150 pages, prior to closure.

Responses shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer, A’Keesha Stark, at akeesha.r.stark.naf@us.navy.mil and the Construction Contract Specialist via email at jeffrey.c.rogers15.naf@us.navy.mil. No telephone request or written request for market surveys will be accepted. The Contracting Officer, Construction Contract Specialist, nor CNIC consent to being added to any mailing lists, and this RFI does not constitute as consent to a subscription to any marketing or any other daily, weekly, or monthly company communications.

X. Electronic File Submission Instructions

A. Email Size Limitations: CNIC’s electronic mail server is strictly limited to receiving messages that do not exceed a total size of 25 Megabytes (MB). This size restriction includes the email body text, header, and all attached files. It is the submitter’s responsibility to ensure their submission conforms to this technical limit.

1. Email subject line for a file under the 25 MB threshold shall read as:

[Company Name] – Navy CNIC Playground RFI.

a. Example: Play, Inc. – Navy CNIC Playground RFI

B. Multi-Part Submission: If the submitter’s total file size exceeds the 25 MB threshold, the submission must be partitioned into multiple, separate emails. Submitters shall divide their file logically by volume or section and submit them sequentially.

1. For a file exceeding the 25 MB threshold, each partitioned email’s subject line shall read as: (EMAIL [#] of [#]): [Company Name] – Volume [Rom. Num.] of [Rom. Num.] Navy CNIC Playground RFI.

a. Example: (EMAIL 1 of 3): Play, Inc. – Volume I of III Navy CNIC Playground RFI

b. Example: (EMAIL 2 of 3): Play, Inc. – Volume II of III Navy CNIC

c. Example: (EMAIL 3 of 3): Play, Inc. – Volume III of III Navy CNIC

XI. Summary

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY to identify resources and an opportunity to provide feedback on the feasibility and reasonableness of CNIC’s market research and acquisition planning. The information in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Navy makes no commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

XII. Contact Information

Commander, Navy Installations Command

Facilities & Construction Contracting A’keesha Stark

Contracting Officer akeesha.r.stark.naf@us.navy.mil

Commander, Navy Installations Command Facilities & Construction Contracting

Jeff Rogers Construction Contract Specialist jeffrey.c.rogers15.naf@us.navy.mil