RFI_-_Rubber_Materials_2023.doc

Market Survey for Rubber Strip Stock, Unvulcanized Ground Side & Wheel Side Rubber Materials GENERAL INFORMATION: The U.S. Government appreciates the time and effort taken to respond to this survey. The U.S. Government acknowledges its obligations under 18 U.S.C. §1905 to protect information qualifying as “CONFIDENTIAL” under this statute. Pursuant to this statute, the U.S. Government is willing to accept any trade secret or confidential restrictions placed on qualifying data forwarded in response to the survey questions and to protect it from unauthorized disclosure subject to the following:

1. Clearly and conspicuously mark qualifying data as trade secret or confidential with the restrictive legend (all caps) “CONFIDENTIAL” with any explanatory text, so that the U.S. Government is clearly notified of what data needs to be appropriately protected.

2. In marking such data, please take care to mark only those portions of the data or materials that are truly trade secret or confidential (over breadth in marking inappropriate data as “CONFIDENTIAL” may diminish or eliminate the usefulness of your response - see item 6 below). Use circling, underscoring, highlighting or any other appropriate means to indicate those portions of a single page which are to be protected.

3. The U.S. Government is not obligated to protect unmarked data. Additionally, marked data that is already in the public domain or in the possession of the U.S. Government or third parties, or is afterward placed into the public domain by the owner or another party through no fault of the U.S. Government will not be protected once in the public domain. Data already in the possession of the U.S. Government will be protected in accordance with the U.S. Government’s rights in the data.

4. Confidential data transmitted electronically, whether by physical media or not, whether by the respondent or by the U.S. Government, shall contain any restrictive legend, with any explanatory text, on both the cover of the transmittal e-mail and at the beginning of the file itself. Where appropriate for portions only of an electronic file, use the restrictive legends “CONFIDENTIAL DATA BEGINS:” and “CONFIDENTIAL PORTION ENDS.”

5. In any reproductions of technical data or any portions thereof subject to asserted restrictions, the U.S. Government shall also reproduce the asserted restriction legend and any explanatory text.

6. The U.S. Government sometimes uses support contractors in evaluating responses. Consequently, responses that contain confidential information may receive only limited or no consideration since the Respondent’s marking of data as “Confidential” will preclude disclosure of same outside the U.S. Government and therefore will preclude disclosure to these support contractors assisting the evaluation effort.

DESCRIPTION OF INTENT:

THIS IS A MARKET SURVEY REQUESTING INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). Also, it is not a request seeking contractors interested in being placed on a solicitation mailing list. Response to this questionnaire is voluntary and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this market survey and any follow-on information requests. Data submitted in response to this market survey will not be returned. No solicitation document exists at this time, and calls requesting a solicitation will not be answered.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT:

The purpose of this questionnaire is to obtain information on commercial industry capability to satisfy U.S. Army requirements for the supply of unvulcanized Strip Stock Rubber Materials and unvulcanized Ground Side and Wheel Side Rubber Materials.

The Strip Stock Rubber Material is used in injecting molding presses to adhere rubber to used track shoes and road wheels. The process is part of the rebuild program that restores used track and road wheel components from military track vehicles to a like new condition. This program supports the Abrams Battle Tank, Bradley Fighting vehicle, M88 Hercules Retriever, MLRS & HIMARS Launch Platforms, M113 Armored Personnel Carrier, M109 Paladin, and many other vehicles that use a track type propulsion system.

The Wheel Side Rubber is a surface that contacts the rubber on the road wheels. Without the rubber on both the road wheels and track shoes, there would be a metal-on metal condition which would promote wear, vibration, and noise.

The Ground Side Rubber is the surface that supports the weight of the vehicle. The rubber dampens vibration and provides a soft surface that is less damaging to asphalt and concrete surfaces upon which the vehicle travels.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. Number each response with the appropriate question number.

2. You do not have to repeat the question in your response.

3. If you cannot answer a question, please indicate “No Response.”

4. If a response will satisfy another question, state: “See response to question XX.”

5. Include relevant sales media and product manuals. If providing an ACROBAT formatted manual, annotate the manual to indicate which material is applicable to the questions. If preferred, include Internet Web links to locations where animations/videos may be viewed.

6. If your sales media and/or manuals contain a restricted distribution statement, issue a release statement indicating that the restricted material may be distributed to Army personnel involved with this Market Survey.

7. Spell out any acronyms in their first instance.

8. Clearly mark any proprietary information. If applicable, the front page of your response package should state: “Proprietary Information Contained.” Provide a release statement indicating that the proprietary information may be distributed to Army personnel involved with this Market Survey.

Request for Information (RFI) ― Questionnaire

1. Company Name:

2. Cage Code/DUNS No.:

3. Are you a large or small business for North American Industry Classification System?

If small business, are you:

Small Disadvantaged – or – 8(a)

In a Hubzone

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned

Women Owned

4. Mailing Address:

5. E-Mail Address:

6. Point of Contact (POC)/Title:

7. Telephone No:

8. How long has your company been in business and what is you experience in working with Rubber material?

9. Is your company currently capable of producing all of the material listed in the Purchase Description (PD) for the Strip Stock Rubber Material and Ground Side/Wheel Side Rubber? If not, which of the materials of the Strip Stock would you be able to provide? Do you have any plans to develop any of the missing material in the future? If so, when would they be in production?

10. Are you able to meet all of the Requirements listed in the PD? If not, please list which areas you are unable to meet.

11. If a Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued and samples are required to be submitted with a proposal, would you have any issues with submitting those samples with the proposal? Would the samples be submitted and received by the testing official before the closure of the RFP?

12. If you submit samples with your proposal for testing, do you believe it will pass the test protocol listed in the SOW?

13. Are there any hazardous materials being used in any of the material?

14. If you are currently producing any of the Strip Stock Rubber Materials or the Ground Side and Wheel Side Rubber Materials, has any testing been performed on the material? If so, please provide what standard the tests were performed.

15. Are you able to provide either commercial or military packaging if either are asked for as a requirement?

16. Have you procured a Strip Stock Rubber Material or any Ground Side and Wheel Side Rubber Material for any U.S. Government agency in the past? If so, which agency?

17. If you are capable of producing the Strip Stock Rubber Material and the Ground Side and Wheel Side Rubber Material, what is the expected lead time for delivery of the material from the date of contract award?

18. What types of Rubber Material have you produced in the past?

19. In order to fulfill contract requirements, would you have to increase your workforce or facilities?

20. Currently, how much Rubber Material are you producing monthly? If any material is still in design, do you have an anticipation of the volume you will be able to produce?

21. If you were awarded a contract for the Strip Stock Rubber Material or the Ground Side and Wheel Side Rubber Material, where would production take place?

22. What is your experience in supporting customers internationally?

23. Any other pertinent information you care to enclose?

Responses to this market investigation questionnaire should be sent via e-mail to Travis Peterson – travis.n.peterson2.civ@army.mil. You are requested to put “STRIP STOCK RUBBER MATERIAL AND GROUND SIDE AND WHEEL SIDE RUBBER MARKET SURVEY RESPONSE” in the subject line of the e-mail. You may respond in total or to any part of this questionnaire. Any requests for clarifications of this Survey shall also be addressed to Travis Peterson, and will be published with the appropriate answers at the same web location as this Questionnaire.

Replies to this questionnaire must be received by close of business, 24 May 2023. Please mark your information “Proprietary”, as you believe appropriate. Your input is voluntary and no compensation will be made for your participation in this survey. We appreciate your cooperation in answering these questions and thank you in advance for your participation.

BE ADVISED that updates to the Strip Stock Rubber Material or non-proprietary questions from interested parties and responses by the Government will be posted as addenda to the questionnaire.