Sources_Sought_Notice_-_USAFA_Contrails_Publication.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)

"Contrails" Pocket Reference Handbook – Volume 73 and Future Editions

1. General Information

• Notice Type: Sources Sought

• Procurement Type: Commercial Products / Supplies

• Contracting Office: 10th Contracting Squadron (10 CONS/PKB), USAF Academy, CO

• Requiring Activity: USAFA Cadet Wing / Curriculum Development (CW/CWX)

• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 323117 – Book

Printing (Small Business Size Standard: 1,250 employees)

• Product Service Code (PSC): 7610 – Books and Pamphlets

• Anticipated Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price Requirements Contract (FAR 16.503)

• Anticipated Ordering Period: 1-Year Base Period plus four (4) consecutive 1-Year

Option Periods (Vol. 73 + 4 option years)

2. Disclaimer & Important Notes

This notice is issued solely for informational, market research, and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or Request for Quotation (RFQ), nor does it guarantee the issuance of a future solicitation.

• The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting information in response to this notice.

• Responses will not be returned. Any proprietary information should be clearly marked as such.

• The information provided will be used by the United States Air Force to determine potential sources, assess market capabilities, and establish acquisition strategies, including potential Small Business Set-Aside determinations.

3. Background & Objective

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) requires an annually updated, durable, pocket-sized reference publication entitled "Contrails". Issued annually to each incoming cadet appointee prior to Basic Cadet Training (BCT), "Contrails" provides foundational military knowledge, customs, courtesies, terminology, standards, procedures, and institutional history.

The publication must withstand rigorous daily carry and frequent handling over each cadet's 47-month development pathway. The requirement calls for high-durability printing, precision custom pocket trimming, and heavy-duty case binding with sewn signatures to prevent page loss or degradation under extreme physical use.

4. Requirement Specifications & Salient Characteristics

The contractor shall provide all management, tools, equipment, materials, and labor necessary to print, bind, package, and deliver finished copies of "Contrails" meeting the following salient characteristics:

Characteristic Specification

Trim Size & Dimensions Pocket-sized, exactly 3.25" width x 5.0" height. Must fit securely into cadet standard uniform pockets.

Page Count Approximately 240 pages per volume (subject to final government layout, typically ±10%).

Interior Paper Stock High-durability, premium gloss paper suitable for high-resolution graphics, text readability, and repeated daily thumbing without tearing.

Printing Process High-resolution interior printing in both black & white and full color. Accurate reproduction of diagrams, emblems, typography, and photographic elements.

Cover Construction Hardcover case-bound with durable exterior covering material capable of resisting moisture, abrasion, and heavy daily transport over 47 months. Cover artwork, text, and stamping design provided by USAFA.

Binding Method Smyth-sewn signatures (or government-approved equal high-durability sewn text block) case-bound into the hardcover shell. Glued-only/perfect binding without sewing is unacceptable due to durability failure risks.

Proofing & Quality Control Contractor must furnish physical and/or electronic press proofs for USAFA review and formal CO/COR acceptance prior to mass production. Finished books must be free from binding flaws, skewed cuts, text blur, or color shifts.

Annual Revision Scope Standard annual content updates (leadership changes, dates, photos, minor text revisions) affect between 5% to 10% of the manuscript.

Estimated Annual Volume Approximately 1,600 copies annually (estimated range: 1,400 to 1,800 copies).

Delivery Timeline Final approved layout delivered to contractor annually on or about 1 December; final delivered product required at USAFA on or before 31 March of each ordering year.

Place of Delivery United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO (FOB Destination).

5. Requested Capability Information

Interested parties are requested to submit a concise Capability Statement (not to exceed 5 pages) detailing their ability to meet or exceed the requirements outlined above.

Submissions must include:

A. Company Information

1. Company Name, Address, and Website.

2. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and CAGE Code.

3. Point of Contact (Name, Title, Phone Number, Email Address).

4. Business Size and Socioeconomic Status under NAICS 323117 (e.g., Small Business, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, or Large Business).

5. Facility location(s) where printing, binding, and packing would be conducted.

B. Technical & Manufacturing Capabilities

6. Binding & Manufacturing Capabilities: Confirm whether your firm possesses in-house Smyth-sewn binding and hardcover case-binding lines, or if binding is subcontracted. If subcontracted, describe how schedule controls are maintained.

7. Dimension Constraints: Confirm your capability to produce the specialized 3.25" x 5.0" pocket trim size without quality defects.

8. Turnaround & Capacity: Describe your standard production schedule from receipt of final digital manuscript (early December) to final proof approval and shipment/delivery by 31 March.

9. Supply Chain & Domestic Sourcing: Confirm that all printing and binding operations will comply with domestic sourcing requirements (FAR Part 25 / Buy American Act / DFARS 225).

C. Relevant Past Performance

Provide up to three (3) examples of similar projects performed within the last three (3) years involving case-bound, sewn-signature books of comparable size, volume, and schedule:

• Contract/Project Name and Customer (Government or Commercial)

• Scope of Work and Quantities Produced

• Period of Performance / Delivery Dates

• Point of Contact for Verification (Name, Email, Telephone)

6. Submission Instructions

• Response Deadline: 23 Oct 2026, by 14:00 Mountain Time.

• Submission Format: Electronic submission via email in searchable PDF format.

• Email Subject Line: Response to Sources Sought: FY27 USAFA Contrails –

[Company Name]

• Submissions To BOTH:

• Contracting Officer: Melinda Lingley, Email: melinda.lingley@us.af.mil

• Contract Specialist: Dawson Hopkins, Email: dawson.hopkinson@us.af.mil

Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing to the points of contact listed above.

6. Submission Instructions