Request For Information Silver Reclamation and Account Maintenace Services.docx

Request For Information (RFI) for Silver Reclamation and Account Maintenance Services The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) for market research and planning purposes. We are seeking to gather information from industry to inform the acquisition strategy for a future procurement of Silver Reclamation and Account Maintenance Services.

This RFI is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), a Request for Quote (RFQ), or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. The Government is not soliciting, nor will it accept, offers as a result of this notice. The Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI.

BACKGROUND

The Government recently canceled solicitation N0025326Q0003 for this requirement due to changing needs of the Government. This market research is being conducted to inform a future solicitation.

The core requirement involves the refinement of silver-bearing material recovered from batteries, for which the refined silver will be used to manufacture new batteries requiring 99.9% purity. The estimated annual quantities for this service are:

· Silver Reclamation High Silver Content: 328,060 troy ounces

· Silver Reclamation Low Silver Content: 582,421 troy ounces

· Silver Account Maintenance: 439,108 troy ounces

· Transaction Fee: 9 each

· Contract Data Requirements List: 1 Lot (Not Separately Priced) The Government is considering an acquisition strategy utilizing a Firm-Fixed-Price Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a five-year ordering period, using Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection procedures, as a total small business set-aside. A draft Statement of Work (SOW) is attached to this notice for context.

INFORMATION REQUESTED

The Government requests that all interested parties respond to the following questions. Your feedback is critical to helping us understand industry capabilities and best practices.

1. Please provide your company name, address, CAGE code, and UEI number. Please state your business size (e.g., Small Business, Other Than Small Business) under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 331492 (Secondary Smelting and Refining of Nonferrous Metals). This requirement is being considered under Product Service Code (PSC) P999 (Other Salvage Services).

2. Regulatory Requirements:

a. The Government’s requirement under the cancelled solicitation N0025326Q0003 previously included: "The Contractor shall be legally designated as a Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF)."

The Government is considering revision of this requirement to: "The Contractor shall meet all applicable Federal, State, and Local regulatory requirements for receiving, processing, storing, recycling, and disposal of silver-bearing and associated material."

b. Please describe how requirement for TSDF designation impacts your ability to propose and perform silver reclamation services and describe any challenges or barriers this presents.

Do you have any feedback regarding the revised requirement? Does the revised requirement present clarity for the scope of work? Does the revised requirement impact on your firm’s ability to meet and perform the required services?

3. Please identify any specific, mandatory certifications, permits, or legal designations that are essential for a contractor to safely and legally perform silver reclamation services.

4. Please describe the primary cost drivers and variables and scope of work that influence pricing for silver reclamation and account maintenance services.

5. Given the potential for significant fluctuations in the precious metals market during a five-year contract, please describe common or recommended pricing structures used in the industry to mitigate risk for both the contractor and the Government.

6. Are pricing models tied to a published commodity index, a standard or accepted practice for silver reclamation service? If so what index and why is the index applicable? Also, please describe how such a model is typically structured and implemented in contracts.