RFI for Blankets.pdf

Request for Information for Fleece Blankets

RFI Number: RFI-OAA-12-000052

Date Issued: March 8, 2012

Response Deadline: March 16, 2012 @ 12:00 PM EST

Subject: Request for Information (RFI)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking sources and requesting comments with respect to this request for information.

REQUIREMENT: In USAID’s quest to conduct market research to arrive at the most suitable approach to the proposed establishment of a blanket purchase agreement to procure Fleece Blankets. USAID requests that any interested vendors provide comments.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Respondents will not be notified of the result of the review.

Response Deadline: USAID will receive responses through March 16, 2012, @

12:00 PM EST.

ALL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND RESPONSES SHOULD BE EMAILED

TO: Renee Reed, at rreed@usaid.gov. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this request, nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any costs incurred in developing the information provided to the Government.

Thank you in advance for your comments and your interest in USAID’s activity.

USAID REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Title:

Fleece Blankets

Introduction

The U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance

(USAID/OFDA), seeks information from potential vendors as to their interest, priorities and capacities to participate in or undertake a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for

Fleece Blankets.

The purpose of establishing a BPA with one or more firms will allow USAID to contract simply and quickly with these firms for immediate delivery Fleece Blankets. This RFI which may result in the establishment of a BPA will allow Vendors to submit their proposals to

USAID describing how their firm is capable and qualified to provide the commodities and services outlined in this BPA.

Background

The United States’ emergency response to current deteriorating humanitarian conditions due to natural disasters and complex emergencies around the world require

USAID/OFDA to immediately purchase commodities to increase warehouse inventory to levels to both support ongoing responses and field operations and provide lifesaving timely responses to unpredictable future disasters. The capacity of the United States’

Government to quickly respond to international emergencies is dependent on having access to the requested commodities in a timely manner. To accomplish this, USAID/OFDA maintains stockpiles of commonly requested materials. As these commodities are drawn down to fulfill emergency requests, they need to be replenished in preparation for the next emergency situation.

Objectives

The principal objectives of this RFI are to obtain information regarding fleece blankets with respect to the following:

1. Determining potential vendors capable of supplying disaster victims with fleece blankets. The design will be in accordance with the specifications attached in the draft Statement of Work:

2. Ascertain the quality levels available for fleece blanket purchases. Moreover, USAID will seek to determine the levels of aesthetics with regard to packaging;

3. Determine potential manufacturer locations and labeling protocols;

4. Determining fleece blanket color options; and

5. Determining the potential ingredients in fleece blankets.

Information Request

For the technical requirements below, all interested parties are asked to provide the following information:

(i) a vendor capability statement including information regarding the vendor’s ability to carry out the objectives below:

(ii) a statement proposing how the vendor would package the fleece blankets;

(iii) comments regarding the draft statement of work.

(iv) a vendor estimate of the cost per unit.

Technical Requirements and Specifications

Medium Thermal

Material BLANKET, SYNTHETIC, 1.5x2m, medium thermal

Test conditions Specification under the normal textile test conditioning

ISO139, 65% moisture and 20°C for 24h.

Samples for testing purpose

Samples of blankets must be from compressed bales.

All criteria to be passed on the same sample.

(Samples of compressed bales to be prepared with only 5 blankets folded once more than in normal bales, at 40% compression ratio, and to remain compressed for one week minimum before testing).

Make Knitted or woven, dry raised both sides

Content ISO 1833 on dry weight

100% virgin polyester and/or acrylic fibers or polyester/cotton

Colors Other than black, red, or white, dark uniform color.

Size 150 x 200cm +3%/-1%. To be taken on flat stabilized sample, without folds.

Weight 350 to 670g/m2 Weight determined by total weight/total surface.

Thickness ISO 5084 3mm minimum (1KPa on 2000mm²)

Tensile strength ISO13934-1 250N warp and weft minimum

Tensile strength loss after washing ISO13934-1 and ISO

Maximum 5% warp and weft after 3 consecutive machine washing at 30°C and one flat drying.

Shrinkage maxi. ISO 6330 Maximum 5% warp and weft after 3 consecutive machine washing at 30°C and one flat drying.

Weight loss after washing Maximum 5% after 3 consecutive machine washing at

30°C and one flat drying.

Thermal resistance ISO 5085-1

TOG 2.5 (or 0.25m².K/W) minimum, rounded to the nearest 0.1, passed on samples picked from compressed bales after 3 consecutive machine washing at 30°C and one flat drying.

Resistance to air flow

ISO9237 under 100Pa pressure drop

Maximum 1000 L/m²/s

Finish Whipped seam at 10mm from the edge with 10 to 13 stitches/10cm or stitched ribbon or hemmed on 4 sides.

Organoleptic test

No bad smell, not irritating to the skin, no dust. 4<pH<9.

Free from harmful VOC (Volatile Organic Components).

Fit for human use.

Fire resistance ISO12952-1&2 Resistance to cigarette - No ignition

Fire resistance ISO12952-3&4 Resistance to flame - No ignition

High Thermal

Material BLANKET, SYNTHETIC, 1.5x2m, high thermal

Test conditions Specification under the normal textile test conditioning

ISO139, 65% moisture and 20°C for 24h.

Samples for testing purpose

Samples of blankets must be from compressed bales.

All criteria to be passed on the same sample.

(Samples of compressed bales to be prepared with only 5 blankets folded once more than in normal bales, at 40% compression ratio, and to remain compressed for one week minimum before testing).

Make Knitted or woven, dry raised both sides

Content ISO 1833 on dry weight

100% pure polyester and/or acrylic fibers or polyester/cotton

Colors Other than black, red, or white, dark uniform color.

Size 150 x 200cm +3%/-1%. To be taken on flat stabilized sample, without folds.

Weight 500 to 850g/m2 Weight determined by total weight/total surface.

Thickness ISO 5084 5mm minimum (1KPa on 2000mm²)

Tensile strength ISO13934-1 250N warp and weft minimum

Tensile strength loss after washing ISO13934-1 and ISO

Maximum 5% warp and weft after 3 consecutive machine washing at 30°C and one flat drying C

Shrinkage maxi. ISO 6330 Maximum 5% warp and weft after 3 consecutive machine washing at 30°C and one flat drying.

Weight loss after washing Maximum 5% after 3 consecutive machine washing at

30°C and one flat drying.

Thermal resistance ISO 5085-1

TOG 4 (or 0.4m².K/W) minimum, rounded to the nearest

0.1, passed on samples picked from compressed bales after 3 consecutive machine washing at 30°C and one flat drying.

Resistance to air flow

ISO9237 under 100Pa pressure drop

Maximum 1000 L/m²/s

Finish Whipped seam at 10mm from the edge with 10 to 13 stitches/10cm or stitched ribbon or hemmed on 4 sides.

Organoleptic test No bad smell, not irritating to the skin, no dust. 4<pH<9.

Free from harmful VOC (Volatile Organic Components).

Fit for human use.

Fire resistance ISO12952-1&2 Resistance to cigarette - No ignition

Fire resistance ISO12952-3&4 Resistance to flame - No ignition

The following are the minimum Testing Requirements for Medium and High

Thermal Fleece Blankets.

The table below includes the type of tests, the norms, and the specified values for the

4 types of standard blankets (Woolen or synthetic, medium thermal or high thermal). The laboratory is required to issue the detailed report, and a summary report based on the same presentation as per the table below.

All tests to be made after conditioning of the test pieces at (20±2) °C and (65±4) % humidity.

Type and norms Required value

(MT: medium thermal, HT: high thermal)

2.1 Make Wool MT and HT: Woven, dry raised both

sides

Synthetic MT and HT: Knitted or woven, dry raised both sides

2.3 Colors

visual

Wool MT and HT: Grey, brown or other dark colors, preferably not dyed.

Synthetic MT and HT: Other than black, red, or white, dark uniform color

2.4 Size 150 x 200cm +3%/-1%. To be taken on flat

stabilized sample, without folds, without tension.

2.5 Weight

Determined by:

total weight / total surface

Wool MT: 570 to 670g/m²

Wool HT: 670 to 1000g/m²

Synthetic MT: 350 to 670g/m²

Synthetic HT: 500 to 850g/m²

2.6 Thickness

ISO 5084 (1KPa on 2000mm²)

Wool and synthetic MT: 3mm minimum

Wool and synthetic HT: 5mm minimum

2.7 Tensile strength

ISO13934-1

250N minimum warp and weft

2.8 Tensile strength loss after

washing

ISO13934-1 and ISO 6330

Maximum 5% in warp and weft after 3 consecutive machine washing at 30°C and one flat drying, compared to the original value of the same blanket.

2.9 Shrinkage after washing

ISO 6330

Maximum 5% warp and weft after 3 consecutive machine washing at 30°C and one flat drying.

2.10 Weight loss after

washing

Maximum 5% after 3 consecutive machine washing at 30°C and one flat drying.

2.11 Thermal resistance

ISO 5085-1

Wool and synthetic MT: TOG 2.5 (or

0.25m².K/W)

Wool and synthetic HT: TOG 4 (or

0.4m².K/W)

Minimum value rounded to the nearest 0.1

Test after 3 consecutive machine washing at

30°C and one flat drying.

2.12 Resistance to air flow

ISO9237

Maximum 1000 L/m²/s under 100Pa pressure drop

2.13 Finish

Visual

Whipped seam at 10mm from the edge with 10 to 13 stitches/10cm or stitched ribbon or hemmed on 4 sides.

2.14 Organoleptic test No bad smell, not irritating to the skin, no dust.

4<pH<9.

Free from harmful VOC (Volatile Organic

Components).

Fit for human use.

2.15 Fire resistance - cigarette

ISO12952-1&2

Resistance to cigarette - No ignition

Wool MT and HT: Test on non-washed sample.

Synthetic MT and HT: Test on washed sample.

2.16 Fire resistance - flame

ISO12952-3&4

Resistance to flame - No ignition

Wool MT and HT: Test on non-washed sample.

Synthetic MT and HT: Test on washed sample.

Packaging/Dimensions

1. Bales to be wrapped in a water-tight micro perforated plastic film and covered with a polypropylene or jute woven bag.

2. Cost for bale of 25 and 50

3. Quantity per bale: 20 pieces.

4. Compressed and strapped with 5 straps (2 lengthwise, 3 crosswise).

5. Bales dimensions: Length approx. 0.8m, width approx. 0.5m

6. Height of the bales to be compressed by maximum 40% from free state to final compressed and strapped state.

(ex: if the bale is 1m high at free state, it should be compressed to a height of 0.6m at final and strapped state).

Marking on the package –

1. Blanket, Synthetic, 1.5x2m, medium thermal - 20 pieces.

Labeling

The USAID logo and the phrase “FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE” will be printed on one side of both the individual box and the outside Master Container box.

Please see the following web-link for USAID Branding instructions.

White cartons should be used and two color imprints on two panels http://www.usaid.gov/branding/

* The logo should cover at least 50 percent of the carton panel http://www.usaid.gov/branding/