FBO_Chinaware_FINAL_20140326.docx

SAQMMA-14-R-0218

Department of State 2014 Production & Supply Contract for Fine Chinaware

RFP SAQMMA-14-R-0218

Notice of Solicitation of Submissions for Contractor Pre-Qualification

The U.S. Department of State (DOS), Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) is seeking to prequalify U.S. Small Businesses for an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract(s) to produce and supply high quality fine chinaware. The Department of State anticipates awarding approximately (1) IDIQ contract.

This requirement is a Small Business Set-Aside under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 327110 (Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing). Do not respond to this announcement if your firm is not considered a small business by SBA standards under NAICS code 327110. Current size standard is 750 employees or less, refer to http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/size_table_01222014.pdf.

The Department of State Overseas Buildings Operations’ Operations/Residential Design and Cultural Heritage/Program Management Branch provides representational supplies, including fine chinaware, to United States Embassies and diplomatic posts worldwide. In doing so, the Department of State furthers U.S. Diplomatic interests and helps promote Foreign Service diplomats in his or her role as a representative of the United States.

The United States international relations, national interest and success are, in part, built upon the ability of our ambassadors to entertain host country nationals in our embassies and residences abroad. In this regard, furniture, art and tableware that are provided by the Department of State to our embassies and residencies abroad represent U.S. cultural and manufacturing excellence to our host country guests.

The purpose of this requirement is to obtain high quality fine china for official U. S. Government representational residences overseas. The china must be vitrified and free of imperfections or blemishes. The crested and uncrested china patterns used by the Department of State have been in existence for more than fifty years. The contractor that is awarded the contract shall be required to duplicate the color, size, shape, and decorations of the existing chinaware.

The Contractor is prohibited from selling, supplying, or using any chinaware designed and produced by the resulting contract to any individual, firm, or organization not expressly authorized by the U. S. Department of State.

1. Contract Description & Scope (Security Clearances NOT Required)

The IDIQ contracts will be issued for one base year plus four option years. The contract will have a ceiling amount of $2 million for the base and all option years combined and a guaranteed minimum of $25,000 over the life of the contract. The maximum cumulative amount of the delivery orders issued under each IDIQ contract in a single year will be $400,000. Delivery orders will be firm fixed-price. Specific quantities and the obligation of funds under this contract shall be specified and affected by the issuance of delivery orders.

Scope

The awarded company (also referred to as “Contractor” below) shall provide and duplicate the color, size, shape, and decorations of the existing chinaware, at the highest quality by industry standards. The awarded Contractor will be provided a full set of chinaware to examine for duplication. The crested patterns shall be exclusive to the U.S. Department of State.

The Contractor shall produce 49 fine china items, as listed below and shall include the following specifications/ requirements:

1. The chinaware required under this contract shall be 100% manufactured in the United States of America throughout the duration of the contract.

2. Chinaware shall be true vitrified fine china, free of imperfection or blemishes. The body shall be translucent, totally non-porous and non-absorbent. The glaze shall be smooth and brilliant.

3. The color shall be ivory.

4. Tolerance in measurements of the chinaware shall not exceed 0.079375 cm (or 1/32”) from those specified in this solicitation.

5. Chinaware shall conform to the design, tolerances, color and dimensions of present specifications. Broken pieces of chinaware will be provided as samples.

6. The chinaware shall be gilded with 24-karat gold. The gold decorations shall be burnished so that the decoration cannot be destroyed with normal use and fair wear.

7. Size: the charger plate shall match exactly in shape and cobalt blue colors as the existing charger plate. All the ivory pieces shall match exactly in size, shape and color of the existing chinaware.

8. Chinaware shall be marked as dishwasher safe.

9. Crested Chinaware: Each piece of crested chinaware shall have an ornamental gilded embossed border of an alternating stars and bars design and a crest of The Great Seal of the United States. In addition to the above, the location of the crest for the teacups and demitasse cups shall be centered so that when held with the right hand, the crest can be seen by whoever is sitting directly in front of the person holding the cup.

10. Uncrested Chinaware: The uncrested chinaware shall be of the same size, shape and quality as specified above for the crested chinaware. Each piece of uncrested chinaware shall have a plain flat 24-karat gold border, not less than 1/8 of an inch wide.

11. Optional Kosher Chinaware: Both crested and uncrested kosher chinaware shall be manufactured separately from non-Kosher and be distinguished by blue dots and red dots glazed on the bottom of each piece. The blue dot and red dot kosher chinaware shall be packaged separately and not come in contact with other orders or with each other at any time.

Patterns Required under IDIQ contract The Contractor shall manufacture and produce all chinaware in the USA in the following patterns:

Crested China with Gold stars and bars border

UnCrested China with Gold border

· Charger Plate 11 3/4 Ivory with wide cobalt blue border

· Dinner Plate Ivory 10 3/4"

· Accent Plate 9 1/4 Ivory with cobalt blue border and stars

· Entrée Plate Ivory 9 1/4"

· Salad Serving Bowl Ivory Round 5" x 9 5/8"

· Salad Dessert Plate Ivory 8 1/4"

· Dinner Plate Ivory 10 3/4"

· Bread and Butter Plate Ivory 6 1/2"

· Entrée Plate Ivory 9 1/4"

· Teacup Ivory 3 1/2"

· Salad Dessert Plate Ivory 8 1/4"

· Saucer Teacup Ivory 6"

· Bread and Butter Plate Ivory 6 1/2"

· Demitasse cup Ivory 3 1/2 oz

· Teacup Ivory 3 1/2"

· Saucer Demitasse Cup Ivory 4 5/8"

· Saucer Teacup Ivory 6"

· Cream Soup Cup Ivory 4 3/4" 9 3/4 oz

· Demitasse cup Ivory 3 1/2 oz

· Cream Soup Saucer Ivory 6 11/32"

· Saucer Demitasse Cup Ivory 4 5/8"

· Cereal/Fruit Dish Ivory

· Cream Soup Cup Ivory 4 3/4" 9 3/4 oz

· Platter Oval Ivory 15 1/4"

· Cream Soup Saucer Ivory 6 11/32"

· Soup/Pasta Plate

· Cereal/Fruit Dish Ivory

· Chop Dish Round Ivory 13"

· Platter Oval Ivory 15 1/4"

· Vegetable Bowl Round Ivory

· Soup/Pasta Plate

· Sauce Boat Ivory 9 1/4"

· Chop Dish Round Ivory 13"

· Vegetable Bowl Oval 9 1/2"

· Vegetable Bowl Round Ivory

· Sugar Bowl Ivory 4 1/3 " 6 1/2 oz

· Sauce Boat Ivory 9 1/4"

· Sugar Bowl Cover Ivory 3 1/2"

· Vegetable Bowl Oval 9 1/2"

· Creamer Ivory 5 1/2"

· Sugar Bowl Ivory 4 1/3 " 6 1/2 oz

· Beverage Server Ivory 30 oz

· Sugar Bowl Cover Ivory 3 1/2"

· Beverage Server Cover 3 1/2"

· Creamer Ivory 5 1/2"

· Salad Serving Bowl Ivory Round 5" x 9 5/8"

· Beverage Server Ivory 30 oz

· Salad Serving Bowl Ivory Round 5" x 9 5/8"

· Beverage Server Cover 3 1/2”

· Salt and pepper set 3” high with rubber stopper

2. Project Solicitation The project solicitation will consist of two phases.

Phase I – Pre-Qualification of Offerors This announcement of solicitation of pre-qualification submissions is Phase I. DOS will evaluate and rate the pre-qualification submissions based on the procedure and evaluation criteria set forth below. DOS may refuse to pre-qualify any Offeror receiving less than a satisfactory rating on any evaluation factor or sub-factor.

The Government may conduct an information session for interested Offerors prior to the receipt of pre-qualification submissions. A separate announcement will be issued on the Federal Business Opportunities webpage (www.FBO.gov) to specify the location, date, and time.

The Government may conduct on-site manufacturing plant visits during Phase I prior to pre-qualification determinations. Offerors will be sent a visit request at least seven (7) days prior to visit. Rejection of plant visit request could result in failure to pre-qualify and proceed to Phase II of solicitation.

Phase II – Requests for Proposals from Pre-Qualified Offerors Those Offerors determined to be pre-qualified in accordance with this notice will be issued a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) and invited to submit mockup of DOS chinaware item(s) and proposed pricing in Phase II. The RFP will include a statement of work, standards, and criteria for tableware, pre/post-award activities, terms, and conditions. Technical and pricing proposal submission requirements will be identified in the RFP and will include identification of the proposed unit rates to be utilized during delivery order solicitation pricing during the base and each option year of the IDIQ contract.

Firms submitting proposals in Phase II may be required to make oral presentations and product demonstrations to DOS. Offerors may be invited to present their products and technical submission in response to the RFP in person at the offices of OBO in Arlington (Rosslyn), VA in an interview following the proposal submission date. Interview times and details will be published by the Contracting Officer at least 1.5 weeks prior to the first interview. The presentation should emphasize the notable aspects of the Offeror’s chinaware products. Offerors are cautioned: DO NOT INCLUDE ANY PRICE INFORMATION IN THE PRESENTATION.

DOS anticipates that a tradeoff process may be in the best interest of the Government to consider award to other than the lowest priced Offeror or other than the highest technically rated Offeror. DOS anticipates that evaluation of technical and product quality considerations may play a significant role in the selection process. Evaluations to determine the best value to the Government will be made strictly on materials submitted. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, will be considered significantly more important than cost or price.

3. Prior Pre-Qualification of Certain Offerors – NOT APPLICABLE This solicitation requires a complete prequalification package submission.

4. Prequalification Submission Requirements

4.C. CONTENT OF SUBMISSIONS AND FACTORS FOR EVALUATION:

4.C.1 FACTOR 1: SMALL BUSINESS REQUIREMENT AND VERIFICATION

The Offeror must meet the requirements and be registered with SBA as a U.S. small business. The small business size standard under NAICS code 327110 (Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing) is currently 750 employees or less, refer to http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/size_table_01222014.pdf.

For prequalification, Offerors shall submit a copy of their Representation and Certifications from the System of Award Management (www.sam.gov) (SAM) with full detail of the Offeror’s response to FAR 52.219-1 Small Business Program Representations. Offeror shall also submit a print out of the Offeror’s Entity Record from SAM.

4.C.2.1 FACILITIES & MANAGEMENT

Offeror is required to have an established manufacturing facility in the United States currently producing high quality fine china. Offeror shall submit a narrative about the company’s history, management, and the address of their manufacturing facility. Offeror shall submit a narrative on their methods of warehousing and shipping. The offeror shall also describe the average time to manufacture and deliver product after receipt of order.

4.C.2.2 REFERENCES

Offeror is required to provide information on where their product is currently being sold, including retail stores and wholesale customers, including point of contact information.

4.C.3 FACTOR 3: PROCESS & CAPABILITIES

Page Limit: 10

4.C.3.1 PROCESS & QUALITY

The Offeror shall submit a narrative on their processes and materials used to produce high quality fine chinaware in the United States. Offeror shall include a description of their quality assurance measures, quality controls, and special shipment precautions utilized to ensure product excellence throughout the process.

4.C.3.2 METAL BORDER & MONOGRAM

The selected contractor will be required to duplicate the Department of State’s chinaware which includes a gold rim and the Department seal. Therefore, the Offeror shall describe its capabilities to produce gold or other similar metal borders and monogram on high quality chinaware.

4.C.3.3 KOSHER CHINAWARE

The selected contractor may be required to provide Kosher chinaware. Therefore, the Offeror shall submit capabilities to produce or acquire Kosher chinaware separate and apart from other orders in accordance with the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards.

4.C.4 FACTOR 4: PRODUCT SAMPLES

Page Limit: n/a

4.C.4.1 The Offeror shall submit one (1) monogrammed gold or metal rimmed dinner plate, one (1) gold or metal rimmed tea cup with saucer, and one (1) gold or metal rimmed soup/pasta plate from their existing U.S. manufactured off-the-shelf chinaware. The samples shall meet the following criteria:

1. The chinaware shall be 100% manufactured in the United States of America.

2. Chinaware shall be true vitrified fine china, free of imperfection or blemishes. The body shall be translucent, totally non-porous and non-absorbent. The glaze shall be smooth and brilliant.

3. Chinaware shall be true vitrified fine china, free of imperfection or blemishes.

4. Tolerance in measurements of the chinaware shall not exceed 0.079375 cm (or 1/32”)

5. The chinaware shall be gilded with gold or other metal. The metal rim shall be free of imperfections such as bumps, wavy border lines, or chips/breaks in color. The metal decorations shall be burnished so that the decoration cannot be destroyed with normal use and fair wear.

6. At least one of the samples submitted shall have a monogram or a crest. The monogram shall not have smudges or imperfections and shall be burnished so that the decoration cannot be destroyed with normal use and fair wear.

7. Chinaware shall be marked as dishwasher safe and have an insignia on the bottom of each chinaware piece indicating it is safe to put in the dishwasher.

Offerors may submit as many samples as deemed appropriate. Product samples will NOT be returned to Offeror.

Upon request, broken pieces of current DOS chinaware will be provided as samples to Offerors seeking prequalification.

5. Evaluations

Offerors that meet the requirements described in this announcement are invited to submit a qualification package for evaluation and consideration for Phase I qualification as described above and below:

FACTOR 1: SMALL BUSINESS REQUIREMENT AND VERIFICATION

The Department will evaluate whether the offeror meets the requirement of being a registered Small Business with the SBA based on the information provided by the offeror and by the SBA.

FACTOR 2: FACILITIES, MANAGEMENT, & REFERENCES

The Department will evaluate whether the offeror’s facilities and management are adequate to demonstrate an established capacity to meet the Department’s requirements for U.S. produced high-quality representational chinaware.

FACTOR 3: PROCESS & CAPABILITIES

The Department will evaluate whether the offeror’s process and capabilities are adequate to demonstrate established methods for high quality chinaware production; including Kosher production (or acquisition) capabilities; quality measures; and whether the offeror has the current capability to apply metal borders and monograms to chinaware in order to meet the qualities needed to reproduce the current representational chinaware patterns.

FACTOR 4: PRODUCT SAMPLES

The Department will evaluate whether the offeror can produce true vitrified fine ivory chinaware free of imperfection or blemish within the United States that meets certain tolerance measures and demonstrate capability to produce fine chinaware with quality metal gilding, monogram, which is dishwasher safe to meet the requirements for U.S. produced high-quality representational chinaware.

Offerors qualifications will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation factors on a Pass/Fail basis. Failure in any of the evaluation factors may result in failure of the entire submittal. At its discretion, the Government may request or permit an Offeror to submit clarifications or correct deficiencies in its qualification package. It is the intent of the Government to issue Phase II solicitations to the Offeror(s) determined pre-qualified based on qualification packages received in response to this notice, and information concerning past performance obtained from available sources.

6. Closing Deadline for Submissions

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time on April 29, 2014.

TRANSMISSION OF PROPOSALS: Offerors shall hand deliver or submit proposals by courier (FedEx, UPS Express Mail, DHL, ETC.) to the following address:

U.S. Department of State A/LM/AQM/FDCD, SA-6a 1735 N. Lynn Street Suite 400 Arlington, VA 22209

For package pickup please reference telephone numbers 703-875-6282 and 703-875-4566

(DO NOT USE THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE (PO Box) ADDRESS) Include the project title and solicitation number on the face of the package.

REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATIONS must be submitted in writing to Jillian Savage at SavageJM@state.gov by 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time on April 15, 2014.

REQUESTS FOR BROKEN PLATE SAMPLE must be submitted in writing to Jillian Savage at SavageJM@state.gov by 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time on April 15, 2014.