Fountain Soda RFI.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Defense Logistics Agency DLA Troop Support Europe & Africa

OBJECTIVE

The DLA Troop Support Europe and Africa, Subsistence Contracting Unit, is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) seeking solutions for vendors to provide fountain soda syrup via Bag in Box or canisters in addition to furnishing and installing vendor owned beverage dispensing machines at US Government Dining Facilities (DFACs) located throughout Germany. The beverage dispensing machines installed at the DFACs shall be the property of the vendor and shall be maintained by the vendor to insure uninterrupted service. The vendor shall recover all costs through the sale of syrup containers or Bag in Box (BIB) products.

Attachment 1, Delivery Locations shows a listing of the DFACs including specific data pertaining to the individual sites. Overall the estimated annual demand is 2535 BIBs total. DLA Troop Support Europe and Africa's objective for this RFI is to conduct Market Research on different methodologies available to support the fountain soda requirements for our DoD customers. The information submitted in response to this RFI may be used to help the Government further define its requirements and understand the interest of potential companies.

OVERVIEW

DLA Troop Support Europe and Africa is a component of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). DLA provides supply support and logistics services to the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and other federal agencies. The Government is requesting input from industry, to determine the potential for a Blanket Purchase Agreement in support of the DOD's potential Fountain Soda needs in Germany.

PROJECTED SCOPE OF WORK

Period of Performance:

Three years.

Contract Type:

Blanket Purchase Agreement.

Distribution:

Utilize transportation infrastructure to support the locations provided via Attachment 1.

Deliveries of soda syrup items will be FOB Destination.

Quality Control:

Ensure all products tendered meet the appropriate recognized national and industry standards originated from the US Army Public Health Command Approved and meet all other good commercial practices regarding inspection, testing, grading, marking, packaging and general quality.

Customer Direct Support:

Ensure all products delivered to ordering activities comply with the description of products requested by the customer as well as comply with quality and approved sourcing standards.

Data Management:

Utilize an information management system that is compatible with industry and government systems.

Item Selection:

Supply vendor owned soda dispensing machines and soda syrup products as required by the ordering activities to support direct delivery to the customer.

SAM Registration:

Vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov

GENERAL QUESTIONS

If you are currently doing business or have previous experience with a fountain soda beverage program within Germany and/or provide similar customer support, please provide information in response to the following:

Fountain Soda Dispensing Machines:

The customers are interested in brand new soda dispensing machines capable of dispensing a variety of different soda flavors, to include at least two caffeine free sodas, one dark and one light, and one low-calorie soda.

What type of fountain soda dispensing machines are suitable for this Beverage Program?

Can you provide soda dispensing machines that are presently being used in the current commercial market?

Please describe in detail or provide a specification diagram of the proposed soda dispensing machine.

Are the fountain soda machines capable of producing and/or dispensing ice ? Please explain.

Machine Sanitation:

What is the proposed sanitation cycle/routine and how are the sanitations conducted?

How frequently is the sanitation taking place?

Machine Maintenance:

What is the proposed maintenance cycle/routine and how is the maintenance conducted?

How frequently is the maintenance taking place?

Machine Outages/Malfunctions/Non-operational Machines:

How are the above handled? What are the response times?

Demand and product usage:

At times there is unpredictability in determining demand and product usage.

Could you support any customers within 7 days of an order? If not, how long would it take and are there any areas that may require a longer order lead time?

How long would it take to initiate support to a new customer within the area after being provided their estimated demand and location?

Some of our customers have a need to order small amounts of syrup BIBs/Containers, due to storage limitations and other reasons.

On your opinion, is the minimum ordering requirement per order of one (1) Syrup Container/BIB feasible? The one (1) container/BIB ordering minimum is requested for all our delivery points within Germany.

CO2 Availability:

Are CO2 canisters provided with the soda dispensing machines and/or the syrup?

Besides the questions asked above, what other challenges do foresee? Please elaborate.

If you have any questions, concerns or comments about this RFI, please include it in your response package.

INSTRUCTIONS

Responses to this RFI are due to the contracting office identified below by 9:00 AM US Eastern Time/15:00 PM Central European Time, December 6, 2019. Responders shall provide one (1) electronic copy of their response. Electronic submissions are to be submitted in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat formats. All files are to be labeled with the responder's name, contact information, and submission date. All RFI responses must be unclassified. Existing commercial documentation and product literature can also be submitted.

Please submit your responses by email to Christine Morgan, Contract Specialist at christine.morgan.deu@dla.mil

DISCLAIMER

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only, as defined in FAR 15.201(e), to obtain information about delivery, capabilities, and other market information for planning purposes. There is no solicitation available at this time. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this RFI, nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing the information provided to the Government. This RFI does not constitute a commitment by the Government. Any information provided in response to this market survey will be used for informational purposes only and will not be released. Any proprietary information submitted will be protected if appropriately marked. Vendor participation is not a promise of future business with the Government. The purpose of this RFI is to conduct Market Research to determine Industry capabilities for the supply of vendor owned soda dispensers and the sale of syrup to US Dining Facilities in Germany.

All responsible sources may submit information that shall be considered by the agency. If late information is received, it may be considered, depending on agency time constraints. Any projects developed from the RFI responses may be the subject of a subsequent acquisition; any such subsequent acquisition will be posted in FedBizOpps.gov. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. The Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received, or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. No requests for a bid package or solicitation will be accepted; no bid package or solicitation exists at this time. In order to protect the integrity of any possible future acquisition, no additional information will be provided and no appointments for presentations will be made in reference to this RFI.