RFI_2023_359.pdf

State of New Hampshire

NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

BUREAU OF PURCHASE AND PROPERTY

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE PROCESS OF

FLAGS (State of NH, Veterans and United States)

2023-359

DUE DATE: 6/29/23 at 11:00 AM (EST)

RESPONSE SUBMITTED BY (COMPANY NAME)

AUTHORIZED SIGNER’S SIGNATURE ________ _______________________

AUTHORIZED SIGNER’S TITLE __________ ______________

PRINTED NAME __________ ______________

PREPARED BY: Carrie L. Martin

THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

BUREAU OF PURCHASE AND PROPERTY

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. PURPOSE

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by the New Hampshire Department of

Administrative Services, Bureau of Purchase and Property.

This Request for Information has been issued with the intent of gathering information relative to the process of establishing a contract for Flags for the State of New Hampshire, Veterans and United States.

The State’s objectives are to seek responses from vendors with experience in providing

Flags. It is the Department’s intent to use information obtained through this RFI help decide the next steps for a potential contract. Response to this RFI is not a prerequisite for participation in any subsequent solicitation.

B. TIMELINE

The timeline below is provided as a general guideline and is subject to change. More exact dates will be added to the later processes as the project moves forward.

o 6/16/23 Issue of RFI o 6/22/23 Last day for questions, clarifications, and/or requested changes to RFI o 6/29/23 11:00 AM (EST) RFI Opening

C. BACKGROUND

The Department of Administrative Services is seeking information for a Flag Manufacturer that can produce State of New Hampshire Flags, Veterans flags as well as United States flags of various sizes and specifications.

D. OBJECTIVE

The State is seeking feedback on the information in this RFI and will consider any information, including partial responses, received in response to this RFI. If the State moves forward in the development of an RFP/RFB. The bidding process will be open to all respondents regardless of their decision to participate in this RFI.

The State of New Hampshire current objectives:

• To discover if there are additional suppliers providing the same NH State Flags, Veteran Flags and United States Flags with potential cost savings.

• To gather information on current market and pricing structure for supplying and delivering of flags

E. KNOWN CHALLENGES

• Pricing and delivery availability

F. Specifications:

F.1 CONSTRUCTION:

All flags to be suitable for outdoor use; heavy duty hoist heading with two brass grommets; all seams to be double stitched; fly hem quadruple stitched; stitching thread must match flag background.

F.2 PACKAGING:

Each flag to be individually boxed; each box labeled with size and type of flag, i.e., ‘5x8’ US, etc.

F.3 Flag Materials Nylon100% heavyweight (200 denier) nylon, outdoor use; two brass grommets, quadruple stitched fly hem.

F.4 Polyester (Poly-Max or equivalent) 100% two-ply polyester, outdoor use, double stitched seams with color matching thread.

Open weave construction. Sun and rain fast dyed, heavy canvas heading with strong full size brass grommets. Fly end hems lock stitched with four rows, and then back stitched and bar tacked.

F.5 US FLAGS:

Sewn stripes, embroidered stars, thread to match the background.

F.6 NH STATE FLAGS:

Official State of NH Seal surrounded by wreath of laurel leaves, interspersed with nine stars; seal must be screened or dyed directly onto flag; sewn on seals are not acceptable; NH State flags as manufactured by Annin Flag Co., or Valley Forge Flag Co.

or CF Flag Company are acceptable brands. Other brands must be approved through the Bureau of Purchase and Property prior to being accepted for purchase. Apparent low bidder shall submit a sample flag and a pre-production proof of state seal for approval prior to award.

F.7 POW/MIA FLAGS:

Single construction with reverse emblem(s).

F.8 Made in USA Any state flag, United States flag, or POW-MIA flag purchased with state funds or displayed in a state facility shall be manufactured in the United States.

See http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2012/hb1387.html

G. LIABILITY

This solicitation for information does not commit the State to publish a Request for Proposal or award a contract. The State shall not be held liable for any costs incurred by the Vendor in the preparation of the response. The issuance of a Request for Proposal/Bid as a result of information gathered from responses is solely at the discretion of the State.

H. CONFIDENTIALITY

The State retains the right to promote transparency and to place this RFI into public domain and to make copy of the RFI available as a provision of New Hampshire access to public records laws. Please do not include any information in your RFI response that is confidential or proprietary, as the State assumes no responsibility for excluding information in response to records requests. Any request for information made by a third party will be examined in light of the exemptions provided in the New Hampshire access to public record laws.

I. PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF BID OR PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS:

Generally, the full contents of any proposal (including all materials submitted in connection with it, such as attachments, exhibits, addenda, and vendor presentations) become public information upon completion of final contract or purchase order negotiations with the selected vendor. Certain information concerning proposals, including but not limited to scoring, is generally available to the public even before this time, in accordance with the provisions of NH RSA 21-G:37.

Confidential, commercial or financial information may be exempt from public disclosure under RSA 91-A:5, IV. Any and all information contained in or connected to a bid or proposal that a Bidder considers confidential shall be clearly designated in the following manner:

If the Bidder considers any portion of a submission confidential, they shall provide a separate copy of the full and complete document, fully redacting those portions by blacking them out and shall note on the applicable page or pages of the document that the redacted portion or portions are “confidential.” Use of any other term or method, such as stating that a document or portion thereof is “proprietary”, “not for public use”, or “for client’s use only”, is not acceptable. In addition to providing an additional fully redacted copy of the bid submission to the person listed as the point of contact on Page one (1) of this document, the identified information considered to be confidential must be accompanied by a separate letter stating the rationale for each item designated as confidential. In other words, the letter must specifically state why and under what legal authority each redaction has been made. Submissions which do not conform to these instructions by failing to include a redacted copy (if required), by failing to include a letter specifying the rationale for each redaction, by failing to designate http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2012/hb1387.html redactions in the manner required by these instructions, or by including redactions which are contrary to these instructions or operative law may be rejected by the State as not conforming to the requirements of the bid or proposal. Marking or designating an entire proposal, attachment or section as confidential shall neither be accepted nor honored by the State. Marking an entire bid, proposal, attachment or full sections thereof confidential without taking into consideration the public’s right to know shall neither be accepted nor honored by the State.

Notwithstanding any provision of this request for submission to the contrary, proposed pricing shall be subject to public disclosure REGARDLESS of whether or not marked as confidential.

If a request is made to the State by any person or entity to view or receive copies of any portion of a proposal, the State will assess what information it believes is subject to release; notify the Bidder that the request has been made; indicate what, if any, portions of the proposal or related material shall be released; and notify the Bidder of the date it plans to release the materials. To halt the release of information by the State, a Bidder must initiate and provide to the State, prior to the date specified in the notice, a court action in the Superior Court of the State of New Hampshire, at its sole expense, seeking to enjoin the release of the requested information.

By submitting a proposal, Bidders acknowledge and agree that:

(i) The State may disclose any and all portions of the proposal or related materials which are not marked as confidential and/or which have not been specifically explained in the letter to the person identified as the point of contact for this RFP;

(ii) The State is not obligated to comply with a Bidder’s designations regarding confidentiality and must conduct an independent analysis to assess the confidentiality of the information submitted in your proposal;

and

(iii) The State may, unless otherwise prohibited by court order, release the information on the date specified in the notice described above without any liability to a Bidder.

II. RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

A. RESPONSE PACKAGE, DESTINATION AND DEADLINE

Interested parties may submit a response to the State of New Hampshire Bureau of Purchase and Property by email to NH.Purchasing@das.nh.gov. All responses must be clearly marked with the RFI number, date due and the Purchasing Agent’s name.

Note: We cannot accept files larger than 7 MB.

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES EMAILING YOUR RESPONSE OR YOU WISH TO

VERIFY THAT YOUR RESPONSE HAS BEEN RECEIVED, PLEASE CALL (603) 271-2201 AND ASK A

PURCHASING ASSISTANT FOR ASSISTANCE OR TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF YOUR RESPONSE.

mailto:NH.Purchasing@das.nh.gov

B. INQUIRIES

All questions concerning this RFI must be submitted in writing to Carrie.L.Martin@DAS.NH.Gov by 4:30 PM local time on the date indicated in Section

1.2 TIMELINE. Answers will be posted on the Bureau of Purchase & Property website as an Addendum. Phone calls will not be accepted.

Please be sure your questions are clearly stated and include your name, company name and a phone number. (Only the questions will be published as addenda.)

III. RESPONSE CONTENT

A. Respondents are requested to furnish the following as part of their response:

1. The business name, address, place of business, contact information, including representative name and alternate (if available), telephone number(s), and e-mail address(es).

2. Summary of the respondent’s business and its experience as it relates to the services outlined in the RFI.

3. List of references for which you are currently providing Flags. Include current contact information.

4. Brief description of respondents proposed solutions, and how these would best meet the Department’s objectives. The description should also identify known or potential concerns with, or challenges to, the solutions.

The response to this RFI should address the following:

mailto:Carrie.L.Martin@DAS.NH.Gov

5. Describe your pricing for Flags, in the table provided below.

Nylon Section 1 - 3 Case 4 - 9 Cases 10 or more

3x5' United States 4x6' United States 5x8' United States 6x10' United States 3x5' State of New Hampshire 4x6' State of New Hampshire 5x8' State of New Hampshire 6x10' State of New Hampshire 3x5' POW/MIA 4x6' POW/MIA 5x8' POW/MIA

Spun Polyester Section 1 - 3 Case 4 - 9 Cases 10 or more 3x5' United States 4x6' United States 5x8' United States 6x10' United States 3x5' State of New Hampshire 4x6' State of New Hampshire 5x8' State of New Hampshire 3x5' POW/MIA 4x6' POW/MIA 5x8' POW/MIA

Novelty Section 1 - 3 Case 4 - 9 Cases 10 or more 4 x 6” US Flag on staff w/ball-top

4 x 6” State of NH Flag on staff w/ball-top

4 x 6” POW/MIA Flag on staff w/ball-top Holds 1 flag Miniature flags display bases

Holds 3 flags Miniature flags display bases

TOTAL $

6. What other information would you desire that the Department provide to assist you with your submittal of a proposal if an RFP were to be issued?

IV. CLOSING

The State of New Hampshire, Department of Administrative Services thanks you for your efforts in preparing a response. Although this Request for Information does not require the State to issue a Request for Bid/Proposal or to award contracts, the information gathered in this process will be helpful in determining whether to move forward with Flags for the State of New Hampshire, Veterans and US Flags and if so how we may best structure a contract to reach our goals.

VENDOR CONTACT INFORMATION:

Please provide contact information below for a person knowledgeable of and who can answer questions regarding your response.

Contact Person Telephone Number

E-mail Address Vendor Company Name

Vendor Address

INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR BID INVITATION PREPARATION

Bid Invitation Saved As: Carrie Martin/RFI 2023-359

Bid Invitation Closing: 6/29/23

NIGP CODE: 350-0000

Please also include the following:

Custom@flag-wors.com bids@agasmfg.com flagsoverwinnipesaukee@gmail.com service@libertyflags.com mailto:Custom@flag-wors.com mailto:bids@agasmfg.com mailto:flagsoverwinnipesaukee@gmail.com mailto:service@libertyflags.com