Request for Information Security Containers Program Instructions.pdf

47QSHA-24-R-3040

Request for Information

GSA Security Container Program

NOTICE

In accordance with 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes, this solicitation is clearly marked for information or planning purposes only.

As prescribed in 15.209(c):

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR SOLICITATION FOR PLANNING PURPOSES (OCT 1997)

(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs*, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(b) Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

(c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of requesting information or soliciting information for planning purposes.

(End of provision)

* Bid and proposal (B&P) costs means the costs incurred in preparing, submitting, and supporting bids and proposals (whether or not solicited) on potential Government or non-Government contracts. The term does not include the costs of effort sponsored by a grant or cooperative agreement, or required in the performance of a contract.

NOTE: This Request for Information (RFI) should not be confused with other acquisitions, procurements, agreements, and/or solicitations that GSA may: (A) be concurrently soliciting quotations for or (B) have with qualifying vendors listed on the QPLs.

SCOPE

The U.S. General Service Administration (GSA), Facilities and Hardware Supply Chain Management Contracting Division, General Supplies and Services (GSS) is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) as defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e) to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for Security Containers for the Department of Defense (DoD) and civilian agencies. Any information submitted by respondents to this request is strictly voluntary. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Request for Quote (RFQ), nor does its issuance obligate or restrict the Government to an eventual acquisition approach. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses from this RFI or pay for the preparation or use of any https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.215-3#FAR_52_215_3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/15.209#FAR_15_209 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/31.205-18#FAR_31_205_18 information submitted. All information received from this RFI will be used for planning and market research purposes only. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in a future solicitation, if any is issued. The RFI will be posted to the Government-wide Point of Entry (GPE) via SAM.gov to gather the maximum amount of market research and information gained will be utilized within GSA to facilitate the decision-making process and to make appropriate acquisition decisions. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is NAICS 332999, All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing, which includes Metal Safes and Vault Door Manufacturing. Submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. At this time, telephone submissions will not be accepted or acknowledged and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

BACKGROUND

GSA is one of eight sponsoring agencies for the Department of Defense (DoD) Lock Program which was established under the authority of the Assistant Secretary of Defense and prescribed in the Department of Defense Manual (DoDM 5200.01), Information Security Program. This Program provides management, operation, and logistics support functions for physical security equipment. The DoD Lock Program is designated as the DoD technical authority for locks, safes, vaults, seals, and containers used to protect national security information (NSI) and arms, ammunition, and explosives (AA&E).

The Defense Security Service (DSS) under the DoD administers and implements the defense portion of the National Industrial Security Program (NISPOM) pursuant to Executive Order 12829. They provide oversight and assistance to adjudicated vendor facilities and ensure the protection of national security information. DSS has responsibility for approximately 13,300 adjudicated vendor facilities and 24 non-Department of Defense agencies that have entered into agreements for industrial security services with the Secretary of Defense.

GSA is soliciting information for planning purposes to assess the feasibility of competing a requirements contract for all National Stock Numbers (NSNs) in support of the GSA Security Container Program Federal Stock Class (FSC) 7110 and two locks with an FSC of 5340. GSA currently categorizes the Security Container NSNs into groupings, identified as Groups 1-15 & 20-21. Each grouping of NSNs is associated with a unique and different Qualified Products List (QPL), as further explained in the next paragraph.

Under the program there are two classes of containers, Class 5 and Class 6 security containers. GSA maintains the Federal Specifications and the QPLs covering Security Filing Cabinets for storage of classified documents. Per FAR 9.203, qualification and listings in a QPL is a process by which products are examined and tested for compliance with the Government’s specification requirements. The manufacturers listed on the QPL have demonstrated that their products meet the standards specified in the Government’s specifications. Generally, qualifications are approved in advance and independently of any specific acquisition action. After qualification, the products, manufacturers, or potential offerors are included in a Federal or Military QPL (See 9.202(a)(2) with regard to any product, manufacturer, and/or potential offeror not yet included on an applicable list).

Class 5 containers:

Class 5 containers are typically used for storage of weapons and sensitive items such as funds, jewels, precious metals, etc. Class 5 containers may also be used for storage of classified documents, components, materials, and equipment. They provide the same protection as Class 6 containers plus ten minutes against forced entry attack. Class 5 containers come in several types: file cabinets, map and plan, weapon storage, and Information Processing System (IPS) containers. There are Class 5-W containers used solely for weapons storage. These containers are not intended to store classified materials.

See the catalog pages below for the product details for Class 5 containers, including NSNs, color options, and dimensions:

● Class 5 Filing Cabinets [PDF - 134 KB] (for legal size 2 and 4-drawer)

● Class 5 Map and Plan General Purpose [PDF - 148 KB]

● Class 5-W Weapons Containers [PDF - 106 KB]

Class 6 Containers:

Class 6 containers are typically used for storage of classified information such as documents, maps, drawings and plans. They come in file cabinets and map and plan styles. There are Class 6-S containers which are specifically designed for installation and use aboard DoD ships to protect classified information.

See the catalog pages below for product details for Class 6 containers, including NSNs, color options, and dimensions:

● Class 6 Filing Cabinets [PDF - 164 KB] (for legal and letter size 2, 4, or 5 drawer and special size 1 drawer)

● Class 6 General Purpose [PDF - 135 KB]

● Class 6-S Shipboard Containers [PDF - 111 KB] (for legal and Letter Size 2, 4, and

5 drawer filing cabinets)

All of the above, both classes 5 & 6, security containers meet one of the following relevant specifications:

● AA-F-358J – Filing Cabinet, Legal and Letter Size, Uninsulated, Security

● AA-F-363D – Filing Cabinet, Security, Maps and Plans, General Filing and Storage

● AA-C-2859A – Cabinet, Security, Weapons Storage

● AA-D-600D – Door, Vault, Security

See the DoD Lock Program’s Federal Specifications and Qualified Products List for the latest version of the specifications which includes a link to ASSIST to view the QPLs.

https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/Class_5_Filing_Cabinets.pdf https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/Class_5_Map_and_Plan_and_General_Purpose.pdf https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/CLASS%205W%20Weapons.pdf https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/Class_6_Filing_Cabinets.pdf https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/Class_6_General_Purpose.pdf https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/Class_6S_Shipboard_Containers.pdf https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=49630 https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=49635 https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=118496 https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=49651 https://exwc.navfac.navy.mil/Products-and-Services/Shore-Technical-Department/DoD-Lock-Program/Documents/Federal-Specifications/

ANTICIPATED PROCUREMENT STRATEGY:

We are strategizing on the next acquisition for the GSA Security Containers Program (a.k.a.

Locks and Safes Program). A Requirements contract for 5-years (1-year base period and 4-year option periods) is anticipated. The scope of this contract will include all the Container Groups (Groups 1-15 & 20-21), Vault Doors (Group 3), as well as two Lock NSNs. This Supply contact will be for brand name products. New brand name NSNs will be established as identified on GSA’s approved, Federal Qualified Product Lists (QPLs) and will be reflected in newly established Item Purchase Descriptions (IPDs). The contract scope will not include ancillary parts or services (i.e., accessory part numbers, inside delivery, installation, or repairs). These new contact awards will be successor contracts to the existing Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs).

Under FAR Parts 15 and 16, it is anticipated the Government will make awards for negotiated procurements. Requirements contracts identified in FAR 16.503 using Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract type vehicles best fulfill the Government’s anticipated, recurring requirements to purchase our GSA Security Container NSNs (including Vaults and Locks). Since the Government cannot predetermine the precise quantities that our GSA Government Customers will need during the contact. It is anticipated that a single Request for Proposals (RFPs) will be used to award contracts on an item-by-item basis (per CLIN/NSN) to the contractor offering the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) on the specified Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) part number or brand name product qualified under the Federal Specifications identified on the GSA authorized QPL’s. In short, each manufacturer under each QPL will be assigned a unique NSN with their brand name and part number designation. The Government’s decision to award LPTA on an item-by-item basis by no means precludes the Government from negotiating the best value to the Government based on price analysis and other allowable techniques. GSA customer requisitions will determine demand for the brand name NSNs and they will be filled on an individual delivery order basis under these contracts.

The Government expressly states the following on each of the QPLs and will make no exceptions during the anticipated award of our successor contracts:

“The General Services Administration authorized this list to identify products eligible for consideration in Federal Government procurement under the subject specification. The Government has qualified each product as meeting applicable requirements under the latest effective issue of the subject specification and has identified the source of each qualified by the name, address, and plant location of the manufacturer. The listing of a product is not an endorsement by the Federal Government and does not release the supplier from compliance with specification requirements. The Government will revise, amend, or cancel this list as necessary, without prior notice, to reflect actions by the Government or the manufacturer requiring modification or discontinuance of any or all the information. The brand name designation under which the product is offered for sale to the general public is capitalized and enclosed in quotation marks in the Manufacturer's Designation or "BRAND NAME" column on the QPLs, provided the manufacturer or, when approved, the authorized distributor has certified that the product submitted for qualification is the same product, except for packaging and marking, and is the only product available on the public market by that brand name. This information may be referred to for advertising or publicity only to state that the product or a particular manufacturing facility is listed and identified here, or that such product meets the requirements of the subject specification, provided that test results are publicly available to verify the statement, and provide further that such advertising or publicity does not claim or imply Government preference or endorsement or that the product is the only one of its type that has passed the prescribed tests.”

The ability to procure security equipment by brand name was an original GSA/Interagency Advisory Committee on Security Equipment (IACSE) requirement at the time of the GSA procurement change to Global Supply and it remains a requirement for United States Government organizations purchasing the GSA Approved Security equipment.

It is estimated that there will be approximately 1,000+ new brand name NSNs established or created to the GSA Security Container Program, including Security Containers, Vault Doors, and Locks; to replace the current 256 Specification “Spec” NSNs. A brand name NSN will be created for each of the “brand-name” products qualified under federal specifications listed on the Federal Qualified Products Lists. GSA has authorized these lists to identify products eligible for consideration in Federal Government procurement under the subject specification.

The Government has qualified each brand name product as meeting applicable requirements under the latest effective issue of the subject specification.

It is not feasible for the contract awards for this prospective procurement to state the Government’s obligation to order. Per FAR 16.503(b), a Requirements contract is appropriate for acquiring any supplies when the Government anticipates recurring requirements but cannot predetermine the precise quantities of supplies that designated Government activities will need during a definite period.

However, as required by FAR 16.503(a)(1), the contract solicitation will contain estimated total quantities for information of offerors and contractors. However, the solicitation will expressly state that these estimated quantities are not the Government’s representation to an offeror or contractor that the estimated quantity will be required or ordered, or that conditions affecting requirements will be stable or normal. This estimate will be obtained from records of previous, current customer demand of individual NSNs, to the extent that such data is available.

INSTRUCTIONS

GSA requests feedback and questions with regard to this RFI. Written responses and questions must be provided no later than 5:00 pm CST on Friday, January 24, 2025 and must be submitted to theresa.cox@gsa.gov AND amanda.foley@gsa.gov. Verbal feedback and questionsWILL NOT be accepted. All emails must include the following for the subject line: 47QSHA-24-R-3040, RFI. Insert Company Name.

Please ensure that you answer every question listed below in the RFI Spreadsheet and Questionnaire to the best of your ability. If the question is not applicable to your company mailto:thersa.cox@gsa.gov mailto:amanda.foley@gsa.gov please indicate N/A for that question. If you do not know the answer, please indicate as such in response to the question. We ask that you provide more than just a “Yes” or “No” answer, if possible. Your detailed response to this questionnaire will help shape this acquisition and make it more thorough and concise. It is essential that your company insert the applicable manufacturer part number for each NSN on the attached spreadsheet.

Please add all responses typed in blue ink to the attached RFI Questionnaire. Please return the following:

● RFI Questionnaire

● RFI spreadsheet

● Any other applicable documents you have created to answer the questions.

Your comments are important to us as they assist us throughout the acquisition process. You are encouraged to submit any concerns, discrepancies, or comments to help enhance the quality and effectiveness of this procurement. We look forward to reviewing your responses, as they are used in an effort to improve and expand the competitive procurement process.

Contracting Office Address:

US General Services Administration (GSA) Supply Chain Management (SCM) Contracting Division, SCM Facilities and Hardware Branch - QSCCCB 2300 Main Street, Floor 7 Kansas City, Missouri 64108

Primary Points of Contact:

Amanda Foley- QSCCBB, Lead, Contracting Officer amanda.foley@gsa.gov

Theresa Cox - QSCCBB, Contract Specialist theresa.cox@gsa.gov