RFI Document 2-03-2026.pdf

RFI Request For Information Only

US Department of State

Global Acquisitions

Charlotte Cameron

February 3, 2026

The United States Government, Department of State

Worldwide Residential Furniture Program

The United States Government (USG), Department of State (DoS), has a wide range of customers that use the WorldWide Residential Furniture BPAs. Customers include FAP

(Furniture and Appliance Pool,) OBO-RDF (Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Office of

Residential Design & Furnishings), and OBO-ID (Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Office of Interior Design.) OBO-ID manages the design, construction, acquisition, maintenance, use and sale of real estate properties for a worldwide portfolio of commercial and residential buildings. To support its wide-ranging global residential portfolio, GA Global Acquisitions has a

Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) requirement to facilitate the purchasing and procurement of high-quality residential furnishings – from American manufacturers.

DoS objective for this RFI is to identify vendors who can meet all of our requirements. The

Department would like to establish a contract to make repetitive purchases of household furniture and furnishings and related supplies in a streamlined, pre-negotiated manner to facilitate successful mission performance. The products/deliverables, delivery order requirements, specific packaging/packing instructions, delivery schedule, invoicing, place of delivery, will be determined on the order level.

The Department is looking at vendors who can source commercial residential furniture off the shelf that can meet the government’s requirements for scope, feasibility, and manufacturing under Product Service Code 7105 Household Furniture. Product Service Code (PSC) 7105 encompasses household furniture procurement for federal government agencies. This category includes a wide range of furniture items such as beds, chairs, tables, wardrobes, desks, mattresses, and other residential and institutional furnishings. The designated NIACS code for this effort is 337121. Furniture dealers are also encouraged to submit responses.

OBO is looking for respondents who provide high-quality or commercial & contract grade residential furniture. High-quality products are well-crafted and durable, built from high-performing materials and easy to maintain. Commercial-grade products are expected to be

BIFMA compliant, tested for use in commercial settings and have the ability to withstand high use over a long period of time. The intent is for the US Department of State to find an awardee that can provide furniture that meets ALL of the descriptions below

Vendors will need to be able to provide all requested products for both House A and House B as well as accessory items outlined in Attachment A Product Specification Chart. Vendors will need to be able to provide styles of furniture to include Transitional, Contemporary, and Modern for

House A and Minimalist style for House B.

Transitional: Furniture that balance characteristics between traditional and contemporary design. Pieces can be inspired by traditional styles such as Baroque, Romantic, and Neoclassical and 19th century modernism. Furniture groupings shall be medium in scale and paired with straight lines, rounded curves, soft edges, and some decorative flourishes to create a layered look. Palettes shall consist of solids and textures with accents of color or pattern. Materials may include wood, polished stone, glass, fabrics, and metals.

Contemporary: Furniture with a simple and modern aesthetic. Pieces can incorporate a blend of styles and eras including but not limited to art deco, post modernism, and modernism.

Furniture groupings shall be medium in scale and pair straight lines with the occasional curve.

Palettes shall consist of solids and textures with accents of color or pattern. Materials may include wood, polished stone, glass, fabrics, and metals.

Modern: Furniture designed for function with simple lines, low profiles, and smooth surfaces.

Pieces can be designed during or inspired by the mid-20th century design, most notably Bauhaus and Arts and Crafts. Furniture groupings shall be medium in scale and purposeful. Palettes shall consist of solids and textures with accents of color and pattern. Materials may include wood, plastics, polished stone, glass, fabrics, and polished metals.

Minimalist: Furniture that balance characteristics between contemporary and modern design, refer to definitions above. Furniture groupings shall be small in scale appropriate for small apartments and compact living spaces and have uncomplicated forms, clean lines, and simple finishes. Palettes shall consist of solids and textures with accents of color or subtle and simple patterns. Materials may include wood, polished stone, glass, fabrics, and metals.

A quantity of three-color schemes are to be available across all furniture styles:

1) Warm

2) Neutral

3) Cool

Wood finishes should include White Oak, Walnut, and Ebonized (or similar). Specialty finishes including but not limited to painted, brushed, and patterned are not allowed. Solid wood furniture is expected to be constructed from hard wood species such as Oak, Maple, Walnut, Ash or similar.

Metals should be silver (stainless, chrome, or nickel, both polished and brushed), steel, and brass

(antique, bronze, both polished and brushed). The use of glass, solid surface, and stone (marble, quartz, and granite) are allowed.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Furniture Standards

There are volumes of technical specifications that the incumbent must comply with a small sample provided below:

a. The standards below define specific tests, laboratory equipment to be used, the condition of test and the minimum acceptance levels to be used in evaluating these products.

A. American National Standards Institute (ANSI)*

B. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)*

C. Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association

(BIFMA)*

D. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)*

E. Underwriters Laboratories (UL)*

b. Sample listing of statutes pertaining to home furnishing standards:

A. Consumer Products Safety Act*

B. Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA)

C. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

D. Toxic Substances Control Act

E. Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act

F. Textile Fiber Products Identification Act

G. Organic foods Production act of 1990 (OFPA)

H. Food, Conservation & Energy Act of 2008 (Preventing Illegal Logging

Practices)

I. California Air Resources Board (CARB) – Formaldehyde Emissions

J. 16 CFR 1303, Lead Paint on Certain Furniture Articles

K. 16 CFR Parts 1213 and 1513, Safety Standards for Entrapment

Hazards in Bunk Beds

L. 16 CFR 1219 and 1220, Safety Standards for Full-Size Baby Cribs*

M. 16 CFR 1500, Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)

N. 17 CCR 93120 – ATCM to Reduce Formaldehyde Emissions from

Composite Wood Products

Furniture Requirements

Furniture shall be representative in overall quality of the type available in the middle to upper bracket of the furniture industry, which is characterized as furniture manufactured with mortise and tenon construction methods, using a combination of solid wood and real wood veneer panels, assembled with screws instead of staples,maintaining uniform tolerances for correct door and drawer functions, with a multi-step finish applied. Furniture meeting middle to upper bracket quality standards do not include ready-to-assemble or knockdown construction, pressed wood or particle board construction, printed high pressure laminates, construction utilizing plastics, PVC or foil edge banding.

ALL furniture is fully assembled – no furniture will be accepted as “KD” knock down.

Warranty Requirements: ALL items must be warranted to be free from material defects in workmanship, materials, and construction from the date of delivery for a twelve (12) year period when used for normal, residential use.

The following descriptions outline the Government’s minimum requirements for acceptable material and construction quality levels:

A. Occasional and Fully Upholstered Seating

a. All upholstered seating pieces shall meet or exceed all federal and safety regulations in the United States. All upholstered furniture must pass test method FNAE-80-214A for heavy duty rates. Product must meet or exceed all government flammability guidelines. Upholstery fabrics must feature stain-resistant characteristics.

b. Unexposed wood/structural material. All frames shall be constructed utilizing hardwood materials. All plywood is to be hardwood plywood in frame construction.

c. Upholstery fill material. Padding and cushions shall be polyurethane foam. Foam shall be designated for “heavy” usage utilizing:

d. Seat cushions: 2.2 lb./cu.ft. minimum polymer density.

e. Backs and arms: 1.51b./cu.ft. minimum polymer density.

f. All sofas, loveseat, lounge chairs, ottomans, occasional chairs, should include removable feet

g. Upholstered seating (couches, occasional chairs, etc.) should feature removable seat cushions with cushion covers that can be removed from the fill material.

h. Upholstery shall be easily washable

i. Upholstery colors and designs should avoid large, busy prints and bright colors.

B. Case Pieces, Occasional Tables, Dining Chairs

a. Case Pieces

i. Framing.

1. Mortise and tenon construction with members glued and screwed for reinforcement.

2. Cases pieces with drawers shall have plywood or hardboard dust barriers.

3. Case pieces with doors shall come equipped with levelers.

4. All hardware shall be attached to remain securely in place.

ii. Tops and panels.

1. All veneered panels shall be construction with veneered face and back.

2. Solid wood panels shall be designed and constructed as “floating” panels.

iii. Drawers, doors, and other moving parts.

1. Drawer sides and backs shall be constructed of solid hardwood or hardwood plywood.

2. Drawer bottoms shall be grooved into drawer body of four sides and reinforced. Drawer joinery shall be machined, glued, fitted, and sanded so drawer body has no gaps or rattle.

3. All drawers shall have smoothly operating drawer glides with drawer stops.

4. Doors shall not rub, rattle, or be warped. Hinges shall operate smoothly and quietly with no binding, or other defect to affect performance.

b. Dining Tables.

i. Table Pads.

1. All dining tables shall be furnished with table pads. These pads shall fit the dining table without leaves installed and have matching pads provided for each leaf furnished. Table pads shall be compact folding design for easy storage and easy use.

c. Dining Chair.

i. Chair legs.

1. Chair legs shall be reinforced with front to back and side to side stretchers.

ii. Finish.

1. Lacquer runs, checks, orange peel, peeling, blushing finish is not acceptable.

2. Interior of case goods with wood finishes shall be uniformly stained and sealed.

C. Other Product Requirements

a. All furniture shall be constructed with hardwood veneers and solid woods. Solid woods shall be used in areas vulnerable to impact, such as edges of tops, and corners.

Printed and/or engraved finishes are not acceptable. High pressure laminates or printed laminates are not acceptable.

b. ALL tabletop surfaces on dining tables, end tables, cocktail tables, plasma credenzas, accessory tables, sideboard/buffets, etc. will have a high-performance topcoat which would include PreCat or a more durable formulated finish than regular NC Lacquer.

c. Lamp options should include consideration for durable materials that are less prone to breakage in shipment and during household use.

d. All mattresses hould be wrapped in protective plastic and placed in cardboard boxes for transportation

The product specifications that must be met can be found in Attachment A: Product

Specification Chart There are two categories of specifications House A and House B.

1. House A: Standard size house. Vendor should be able to outfit a 3-bedroom house to include living room, dining room, family room/den, master bedroom, guest bedroom 1 and guest bedroom 2.

2. House B: This house is intended to represent small, high-density, compact urban family housing. An example of this would be Hong Kong, Tokyo, or Brussels compact apartment-style residence. A focus on traditional style of design where families feel comfortable is desired. Vendor should be able to outfit a small-scale apartment or compact living space to include living room, dining room, family room/den, master bedroom, guest bedroom 1 and guest bedroom 2 shared or individual room.

The following types of rooms are examples of rooms that need to be furnished:

• Living Room

• Family Room/Den

• Dining Room

• Library and Office

• Primary Bedroom

• Medium Bedroom (secondary)

• Small Bedroom (child or student)

Specific product requirements are defined under the following six purchase descriptions, each of which has been assigned a special item number. The descriptions stipulate the Government’s minimum requirements for acceptable material and construction quality levels.

3FNE 04-601 dated January 5, 2005: Aluminum Patio Furniture

FCNE 89490B dated January 4, 2005: Occasional and Fully Upholstered Seating

FCNE 89-491B dated January 4, 2005: Household Case Pieces, Occasional Tables, Dining

Chairs, Bunk Beds and Accessories

FCNE 89-492B dated April 20, 2005: Mattresses, Matching Foundations, Mattress Covers, Bedspreads, Pillows and Lamps

FCNE 89-493B dated April 20, 2005: Rugs, Cut and Bound, Tufted, Cut Pile, Plush

FCNE 89-494B dated January 4, 2005: Cushion for Cut and Bound Rugs, Synthetic Needle

Punched Fiber

In Accordance with, FAR Part 52.225-5 Trade Agreements DOS requires the following:

1. Articles that are entirely the growth, product, or manufacture of the United States or a designated country.

2. Articles “substantially transformed” in the United States or a designated country into a new and distinct article of commerce. This article should have a name, character, or use different from the articles you transformed it into.

For the purposes of this RFI, respondents shall include information about manufacturing locations and percentages of where products are made or assembled, listed by country.

Logistics The respondents must have a well-established logistics system and infrastructure to sustain the requirements and demands of the Worldwide Residential Furniture Program (WRFP).

Respondents must meet and maintain packaging, delivery coordination and warehousing, transportation, and consolidation operations assets required to support the WRFP. Logistics support includes but is not limited to the packing of residential furnishings for containerized overseas shipping, the ability to receive and process extremely high-volume orders, and effectively manage and track orders (i.e., purchase order(s) receipt, manufacturing, packaging, loading, transportation, and delivery assurance) until acceptance by a DOS dispatch.

Interested vendors must have the ability to handle logistics support and infrastructure that is necessary to sustain the Program and ensure that there are no delivery issues. This includes establishing assets and relationships for warehousing, trucking, and consolidation operations.

Additionally, interested vendors must have one to two dedicated representatives to process BPA request for quotes, purchase orders and provide on-going support with tracking, logistics and coordination. Said representative(s) should be knowledgeable of manufacturer’s timelines, possible issues, and available products and finishes.

Rush Order Protocol Frequently, the Department of State has an urgent need to support additional personnel at post in a nation where diplomatic relations have been initiated, resumed, or expanded; cultural exchange programs or aid/assistance programs have been instituted; or natural disaster, war, or civil disturbances have given rise to emergency conditions.

In cases such as these, it is essential that personnel be able to establish residence as quickly as possible. Prompt response defers high costs associated with temporary housing and excessive per diem rates, and the additional stresses associated with family separations.

Agreement rush order protocols include:

Component parts of homes shall be maintained in the following sizes and styles, with color schemes to be mutually agreed upon by the Department and the Contractor, within thirty (30) days after receipt of order. Ten complete homes shall be stocked for each BPA in their respective style. Each of the inventoried homes shall be assigned a rush order house number.

These orders shall be designated as rush orders and shall be shipped in accordance with the procedures outlined in Section entitled Deliveries or Performance. Component parts of homes must be consolidated so as to meet the specified delivery requirement (i.e., containerized – pier delivery; etc.) within six weeks of notification of the order. A written confirming order must be received by the Contractor within ten days of electronic notification. The Contractor shall replace the components of each depleted home as soon as possible, and in no event later than ninety (90) days after notification.

Catalogs and Maintenance Guides. Contractor shall be able to create and maintain an online catalog. The catalog shall contain colored photographs of all offered products, accessories, associated model number and pricing of all items currently offered on the contract. In addition, Rug and upholstery fabric swatches shall be included in the catalog. The Contractor will be required to submit proofs to the Contracting Officer for approval prior to publishing.

The Contractor shall deliver catalog updates/supplements or new catalogs within sixty (60) days after:

(1) The Government selects a new line.

(2) It is mutually agreed to change or modify a line.

(3) It is mutually agreed to change fabrics or color schemes.

RFI SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS

Interested vendors that meet ALL technical requirements, including meeting all required product specifications located in Attachment A shall submit a full packet to the requesting Contracting

Officer Charlotte Cameron CameronCR@state.gov to include the items below.

1. Cover Letter – The cover letter should include the name of the vendor, Company Point of Contact (Name, phone number, and email address), size of company (Large, Small) any socioeconomic category vendor falls under, GS contract number, IEU number, and

NAICS code company is registered under. Vendors should also indicate if they are a manufacturer or reseller of furniture and include a link to their company’s website

2. Company Background – Provide a background of the company history, similar projects related to the scope of work and projects with other agencies. Vendor should include a summary of related past experience with logistics. Write up Should be at least one page long.

3. Review of Attachment A – Product Specification Chart. Vendors should review the product specification chart to review what products the Department requires. Please take note of the different styles and color schemes required. Respondents shall enter product data into each applicable data cell in Attachment A indicating what product (brand name, model number, on GSA or open market etc) the respondent suggests meeting such requirements. Respondents may notate proposed exceptions to specific product requirements.

All pricing data shall be omitted during this RFI stage.

4. Respondents are encouraged to include in their response any questions or additional information that they would require prior to submitting a quote in the event a solicitation is issued.

At this time we do not need any pricing. This is not a RFQ/RFP. This is for market research purposes ONLY.

mailto:CameronCR@state.gov

RESPONSE FORMAT

Responses must be submitted electronically in PDF format. Margins must be 1” on all sides, to print on 8 ½” x 11” paper. Typeface must be Times New Roman, 12 pt. font.

Respondents are advised to limit non-relevant marketing materials and non-specific information.

RFI responses will be accepted via email to the addresses below. No responses shall be accepted via US Mail or Fax.

NOTE: Respondents are requested to title the subject line of the email transmitting their response as follows: WorldWide Residential Furniture Program Insert Respondent Name-

RESPONSES ARE DUE TO THE CONTRACTING TEAM NO LATER THAN 5PM EST

February 20, 2026.

Direct all questions regarding this RFP to the Contracting Officer listed below. Contact information follows:

Contracting Officer, Charlotte Cameron

Email: cameroncr@state.gov

THIS NOTICE IS A REQUEST FORINFORMATION ONLY NOT AN INVITATIONS FOR

BID OR REQUESTS FOR QUOTES.

mailto:cameroncr@state.gov