RFI_NdFeB Block.docx

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Strategic Materials Request for Information (RFI) Request for Information

1.0 Description

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Strategic Materials Contracting Directorate is seeking information on how an interested contractor could provide product for the NdFeB Magnet Block acquisition.

1.1 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, DLA Strategic Materials is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that DLA Strategic Materials will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with response to this RFI will be the sole responsibility of the interested party. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, the contract opportunity will be synopsized on the SAM.gov website. The potential offeror is responsible for monitoring this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

2.0 Background

DLA Strategic Materials is the operational agent of the Stockpile Manager, Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition & Sustainment (USD-A&S), charged with implementation of the provisions of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. Section 98 et seq., hereafter referred to as the “Act”). Section 2(b) of the Act requires the Stockpile Manager to “…provide for the acquisition and retention of stocks of certain strategic and critical materials…, to decrease and to preclude, when possible, a dangerous and costly dependence by the United States upon foreign or single sources of supplies for such materials in times of national emergency”.

2.1 Proposed Buy: 150 metric tons of NdFeB Magnet Block

2.2 Proposed Delivery Period: five years from the date of contract award

2.3 Limitations: none

2.4 Security Requirements: N/A

3.0 Requested Information

DLA Strategic Materials Directorate is seeking information for a potential acquisition of NdFeB Magnet Block.

3.1 NdFeB Magnet Block Information

· Where are your magnet blocks sourced from?

· What is your annual overall production/throughput/consumption of magnet block?

· How much raw material for magnet block is stockpiled, if any, and how often is the inventory replenished?

· How does the time of year effect the availability of the material?

· Which grades of magnet block from the following types do you provide?

· N, M, H, SH, UH, EH, TH/AH

· What sizes of magnet block do you provide?

· Please include any comparable Safety Data Sheet (SDS), or Certificate of Analyses (COA) for magnet block products your company provides.

· Can you provide pricing information for the various grades and sizes?

· Does your company offer a discount for either long-term supply orders or large volume orders?

· What grades and sizes are commonly demanded? For what applications?

· Are coatings and/or additives typically added?

· Are there any crucial impurities that have adverse effects on performance and what are the limits of those impurities in products that are specified?

· How are these impurities tested (frequency, location, and test method)? Please specify which method for which element or compound.

· Do you have your own laboratory perform the material testing? What analyses are performed?

· If you send samples to an external laboratory, which laboratory do you use? What testing is performed?

· Is there an expected percentage of block to be lost during testing?

3.2 Delivery Information

· What is your typical turnaround time for magnet block from the date of receiving a contract/award to delivery?

· Do you typically use subcontractors to produce/provide this material or service?

· Where would the deliveries originate from?

· About how long would it take to complete deliveries of 150 metric tons?

· Approximately how many metric tons would constitute a lot/batch?

· Do you provide spot deliveries? If so, typically how much could you provide and in what timeframe could you deliver?

· What is the preferred method delivery?

· What is the preferred method of packaging? Please describe any requirements (crates for handling, boxes, padding, wrapping, stacking, etc.) or any industry standards that relate to how magnet block is packaged.

· Do you package your magnets within any inert gas? If so, specify how and which gas.

· How are chipped/damaged magnets typically handled?

· Is there an expected percentage of block to be lost during delivery? Storage?

· Any restrictions or other information you deem pertinent to deliveries?

3.3 Market Information

· In the next two to five years, are there any anticipated manufacturing process changes, mature technology development programs, or shifts in end-user requirements that are likely to result in a change in the material? If so, what are they?

· In the next two to five years, are there any anticipated material substitutions that may drive a transition towards or away from the use of NdFeB magnet block, that will affect the demand of the material? If so, what are they?

· Are there frequent changes in the market price for this material? If yes, how do you address those changes?

· What customer market sector(s) (i.e., military-aerospace, commercial-automotive) purchases your material?

· What additional amount of material per year could you deliver without disrupting deliveries to your current customers, hiring additional personnel, or expanding output capacity?

3.4 General Information

· Please provide a copy of a redacted commercial contract that includes your standard terms and conditions.

· Do you have provisions for agreements longer than one year? If so, how long term is tolerable?

· What are the common storage conditions for NdFeB Magnet Block? The material will be delivery to and stored at a Government depot. It is not uncommon for NDS inventory to be stored for periods of time exceeding twenty-five years, so please include information on the following:

· Shelf life

· Environmental impact

· Regulations

· Material Rotation Requirements

· Do you have an active iRAPT account for submitting electronic invoices in the Wide Area Workflow System?

· If you were requested to provide sales data identifying the percentage of material sold to the Government and the percentage of material sold to the general public, would you comply?

· Would you agree to a contract that contains Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) clause 52.216-2-Economic Price Adjustment—Standard Supplies? (Economic Price Adjustment provides for upward and downward revision of stated contract price upon the occurrence of specified contingencies).

· Is your company registered in the System for Award Management (SAM)? (https://www.sam.gov/).

· Does your company have a cage code? If so, what is it?

· Please submit lessons learned from current or previous contract awards.

4.0 Responses

4.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper.

4.2 White papers in Microsoft Word or Office 2010 compatible format are due no later than 03JAN25, 5:00 EST. Responses shall be submitted via e-mail; only to SMContracting@dla.mil. Proprietary information, if any, MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

4.3 Section 1 of the white paper shall provide administrative information and shall include the following as a minimum:

· Name, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, and email of designated point of contact.

· Recommended contract strategy.

· Either, (1) copies of executed non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the contractors supporting DLA Strategic Materials in technical evaluations or (2) a statement that the responders will not allow the Government to release its proprietary data to the Government support contractors. In the absence of either of the foregoing, the Government will assume that the responder does NOT agree to the release of its submission to Government support contractors.

· Business type (large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a)-certified small disadvantaged business, HUBZone small business, woman-owned small business, very small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business) based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 327110 “Magnets, permanent, ceramic or ferrite, manufacturing”. “Small business concern” means a concern, including its affiliates that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size standards in 13 CFR part 121. A small business concern for the purposes of this procurement is generally defined as a business, including its affiliates, averaging no more than 1,000 employees. Responders are cautioned, however, that this is a general description only. Additional standards and conditions apply. Please refer to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19 for additional detailed information on Small Business Size Standards. The FAR is available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

· The facility security clearance of the offeror.

5.0 Industry Discussions

DLA Strategic Materials representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential offerors. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, especially any development and certification risks.

6.0 Questions

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by email to the Contracting office, email address above. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions will be answered by posting answers to the SAM.gov website; accordingly, questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 03JAN25 will be answered.

7.0 Summary

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY to identify sources that can provide NdFeB Magnet Block for a potential future acquisition. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. DLA Strategic Materials has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should NOT be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.