Market Survey-1091.doc

MARKET SURVEY

This is a market survey to determine current industry conditions. This is NOT a request for quote. This survey includes Item Purchase Descriptions (IPDs) for 7350-01-256-1091. Please reply to the questions below and return by close of business Friday, 8/24/2012. Please return pages 1 -3 only. The destinations and quantities will be determined by on demand requisitions from various agencies.

Please Respond BY 8/24/2012 by either email or Ebuy to:

GSA, FSA, Southwest Supply Operations Center

ATTN: Jodyann Blagrove, Contract Specialist (QSDLAB-J3)

E-mail: jodyann.blagrove@gsa.gov Telephone No. 817-850-8330 Date:

Firm Name:

Contact:

Telephone:

Fax:

E-Mail:

If you have a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, please enter your MAS contract number here - Contract Number: ___________________________________________

1. What is the quickest delivery time you can offer?

Comments on delivery

2. Inspection will be destination.

3. Are these items on your MAS as F.O.B. Destination or FOB Origin? ________

4. Pricing will be F.O.B. Destination. Can you meet this? ____Yes or ______ No

5. If no, please explain ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Is your company a large or small business? _________________________________________

7. Are you a manufacture or a dealer for these items? ___________________

8. If you are a dealer for these items, will you be using a small or large manufacture? ________________

9. Will these items be manufacture in the USA? ______________________ If not, please list the country. _____________________________

10. If you are not providing a domestic products will the end product meet the requirement in FAR 19.102 (f)(1)? _____

11. Can you provide a commitment letter from the manufacturer of these items? ___________

12. Can you deliver these items to our depots in 30 days?____ If not, what is your delivery time frame for delivering these items to our New Jersey and California depots? _______

13. If providing foreign products, how long does it take to get the products from that country? __________ Adding the days to your delivery time, what is the total number of days it will take for these products to be delivered to our depots? ________

14. Are you a qualified 8(a) small business concern? _____

15. Are you a qualified HUBZone small business concern? _____

16. Are you Service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern? _____

17. Not applicable

18. Not applicable

19. Can you supply the below items according to the Item Purchase Description listed below? _____

20. Do you have commercial customers for these items? _____

21. What is your commercial minimum order for these items, please list for each NSN? ____________________

22. What is your commercial maximum order for these items, please list for each NSN? _____________________

23. GSA customarily receives a price for the GSA Stock Depot Program that is equal to or better than your commercial price. Do you comply? _______

24. For those items going to GSA’s depots, palletization is required, will this be a problem? __________

25. Do you have a copy of Federal Standard 123 and MIL Standard 129? _________

26. Do you have a copy of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)? _____

27. Not applicable

28. Are the products packaged in accordance with the below IPDs? ______

29. Are you able to provide proof of conformance if the Government requested such proof? _____

30. What, if any, are the differences between our IPDs and your commercial items? (i.e., marking, packaging. standard unit pack). _______________________________________________________________

31. Do you see anything listed in the IPD that might cause a problem for you in quoting on these NSNs? If yes, please list those concerns _____________________________________________________

32. The NAICS Code (PPI Code) for this procurement is 327112. Do you agree with the code? If you do not agree, please provide the code that is most appropriate. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Please note, this is the code we will use to grant a price increase/decrease for these items.

Please provide all information requested in the table following:

NSN

7350-01-256-1091, Bowl

FORMCHECKBOX

Yes FORMCHECKBOX No

FORMCHECKBOX

N/A

PLEASE READ ITEM DESCRIPTION (MUST MEET ITEM DESCRIPTION)

ITEM PURCHASE DESCRIPTION

Dated: 3/29/2011

NSN: 7350-01-256-1091

BOWL, EATING (SOUP OR CEREAL): Shall have the following characteristics:

Unit of Issue – BX (box of 36)

Color sample required.

Design and construction. The base materials shall consist of clay, feldspar, flint, nepheline syenite, and metallic oxide of a quality customarily used for the manufacture of commercial china. The dinnerware shall be a non‑porous, fully‑vitrified china. The dinnerware shall have a maximum water absorption of 0.4 percent when tested in accordance with ASTM C 373 (except the test specimens shall be glazed ware). The dinnerware shall conform to the design and dimensional requirements shown on the drawing below. Each piece of dinnerware shall sit securely on a flat surface without rocking.

Dimensional variances. The out of roundness of the dinnerware items shall not exceed 1/8 inch while remaining within the overall diameter tolerance limits.

Bowl, eating (soup or cereal)

Dimensions:

Outside diameter

(A) – 5-5/8 inches, + 5/16 inch, - 1/16 inch

Height

(B) – 2 inches, + 5/16 inch, - 0

Bottom thickness

(C) – 1/8 inch minimum

Performance requirements. The dinnerware items shall meet the impact strength and chipping resistance requirements indicated when tested in accordance with Testing paragraph. The dinnerware shall show no crazing or thermal shock of the body after testing for three cycles at 300 degrees Fahrenheit in accordance with Testing paragraph. The release of heavy metals from the dinnerware shall comply with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

IMPACT STRENGTH AND CHIPPING RESISTANCE

Impact Chipping

Article ft-lb. (Joule)

Bowl, eating

0.25 (0.34) rim

Finish. The entire surface of the china dinnerware items shall be covered by a uniform and continuous hard impervious glaze which is cleanable and retains this quality except for the following exceptions. Three pin marks no larger than 1/4 inch in diameter from the refractory used to support the ware during firing, four spindle marks no larger than 3/32 inch wide and 3/32 inch up each side of the foot if the foot is glazed, or a dry foot ring shall be allowable on the bottom surface of the ware. If the refractory leaves a mark on the ware, any protrusion will be dulled in such a manner that the skin can not be cut when rubbed across the protrusion. If the refractory support has removed a piece of ware at the support point, the resultant depression in the surface shall be no larger than 1/4 inch in diameter and 1/32 inch deep. The color of the dinnerware shall approximately match one of the following color numbers of FED-STD-595: 17886, 27780, or 27778. If specified, the color shall be judged against a standard sample by the procuring office or agency. The color shall be considered a "close match" provided it is closest in appearance to the required color number than any other color number.

Workmanship. The dinnerware shall be constructed uniformly within the tolerances specified and free from defects as defined in referenced table.

Classification of defects Classification

Inspection

Defect

Major Minor

Appearance

Kiln dirt (unground) 0.03 inch or larger

X

Kiln dirt (unground) less than 0.03 inch or glaze

Grinding mark:

Four or more on face

Five or more on back

Workmanship

Cracks; one or more

Chips, gouges, or creases; one or more (a glazed over chip from any surface less than 1/16 inch in diameter is not a defect. A glazed over or unglazed chip from the foot less than 1/8 inch in length is not a defect.)

Lack of uniformity in texture and finish (includes speckles and bulges)

One spot 1/16 inch diameter or larger on face or two spots larger than 1/16 inch on back

Four or more spots less than 1/16 inch in diameter on the face

Five or more spots less than 1/16 inch on the back

Pinhole or pimple larger than 0.02 inch

Four or more pinholes or pimples smaller than 0.02 inch in diameter on the face

Five or more pinholes or pimples smaller than 0.02 inch in diameter on the back

Any unglazed area on the face greater than 0.03 inch in diameter

Any unglazed area on the back greater than 0.03 inch in diameter except:

Pin and spindle marks per Finish paragraph

Mold mark on face

Sharp edge on rim

Blister; one or more

Heavy glaze resulting in open air bubbles or greenish

Glaze

Construction Warpage, piece rocks on its foot

Misplaced handle on hollowware, one that detracts from the appearance and/or function of the cup

Design not as specified

Dimensions not as specified

Marking

Not as specified

Water absorption test. The sample dinnerware items shall be tested for water absorption in accordance with ASTM C 373 except the test shall be performed on glazed dinnerware. Water absorption values greater than 0.4 percent shall be justification for rejection.

Testing. Testing of china samples shall be conducted at the beginning of each new contract or every five (5) years, whichever comes first.

Impact strength and chipping resistance test. The sample dinnerware items shall be tested in accordance with ASTM C 368. The test items shall be visually inspected for damage. If the dinnerware cracks or chips at an average value for the sample lot less than that specified, the lot shall be rejected.

Thermal shock test. The sample dinnerware items shall be tested in accordance with the procedure defined in ASTM C 554. The sample(s) shall be tested for three cycles using a test temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The sample pieces shall be examined after completion of the test and any indication of glaze or thermal shock shall constitute failure.

PRODUCT CONFORMANCE. The products provided shall meet the salient characteristics of this description, conform to the producer's own drawings, specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and be the same product offered for sale in the commercial market. The Government reserves the right to require proof of such conformance.

MARKING. Shipments to GSA and other civilian agencies shall be marked in accordance with FED-STD-123. Shipments to the Department of Defense (DoD) shall be marked in accordance with MIL-STD-129.

PREPARATION FOR DELIVERY. The item(s) shall be packaged and packed in accordance with the latest revision of ASTM D 3951, Standard Practice for Commercial Packaging. Copies of ASTM standards are available from the American Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. Phone: 610-832-9585, Fax: 610-832-9555, Web site: www.astm.org, e-mail: service@astm.org.

Palletization: The shipping (transport) containers shall be palletized. The pallets shall be 48-inch length x 40-inch width, general purpose, four-way entry, flush stringer, and double-face non-reversible pallets. The palletized load shall not exceed 2500 pounds in weight for shipments to the Eastern Distribution Center (Burlington). The palletized load shall not exceed 2000 pounds in weight for shipments to the Western Distribution Center (French Camp and Stockton locations). The palletized load shall not overhang the pallet deck board edge by more than 1 inch and shall not exceed 53 inches in overall height (including pallet). Less than half pallet loads or loads shipped by small package carrier in acceptable transport packing need not be palletized. When less than full but more than a half pallet is used, the palletized load shall utilize proper bracing and/or reinforcement to ensure that the load can withstand two additional loads placed on it.

Stacking. A load-stacking test shall be performed once, at the beginning of the contract, for each different unitized or palletized load configuration. A fully palletized load shall be tested utilizing a total stack of three palletized loads, with all the proper bracing and/or reinforcement necessary to perform the test. There shall be no evidence of damage to the pallets, shipping containers or products when stack is tested on the rigid surface for a minimum of 24 hours, in compliance with all the National and Local Safety Regulations. The pre-tested palletized load configuration shall be duplicated using the same packaging materials, pattern, number of shipping (transport) containers, and procedures consistent throughout the duration of the contract. Palletized loads shall be stable and safe when handled with mechanical equipment by qualified personnel.

Materials. All lumber used inside or outside a shipment shall be bark free. No used wood pallets with repaired components or stringers will be acceptable. All wood pallet stringers shall be manufactured from hardwoods. Pallets manufactured of materials other than wood, shall conform to all the requirements specified herein.

Unitization. For the purpose of this requirement, the assembled group of containers or items in a single load that can be handled as a unit throughout the distribution system. Unitization encompasses, but is not limited to, consolidation in a container, placement on a pallet or load base having forklift capability, or securely binding together. Shipments should be considered for unitization where appropriate or specified.

Unitization of pallet load. The palletized load shall be unitized and secured to the pallet to insure that the load arrives intact without product damage. The containers or items shall be placed in a suitable pattern to form a stable and balanced load. Vertical, horizontal or filler reinforcement shall be added as necessary to meet the stacking strength requirements. A palletized load shall be secured to the pallet by shrink or stretch wrapping, and/or, by steel or nonmetallic strapping. When steel or nonmetallic strapping is used, edge protectors shall be provided to prevent damage to the cartons when tensioning the strapping. As a minimum, two straps shall run lengthwise, two straps shall run widthwise, and two straps shall run around the girth of the palletized load. A palletized load shall be capable of protecting the products against damage in a multiple handling, transportation, and storage environment having distribution warehouses with rack systems that support the load/s overhead of warehouse personnel.

Notice of special requirements for shipment to all countries that have endorsed the IPPC Guidelines for treatment of non-manufactured wood packaging: The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) has approved and published on March 15, 2002, “Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade”. Countries endorsing the IPPC Guidelines are found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/swp/. Additionally, shipments delivered to DOD distribution facilities or freight consolidation points for eventual delivery to or through EU/IPPC countries shall comply with applicable DLA Regulations and Procurement Letter PROCLTR 02-17.

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