PPI Questions and Answers 15AUG25.docx

W912L7-25-Q-0539 RRB PPI

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Are all pre-award samples required or just certain ones?

Answer: Yes, ALL samples are due on or before solicitation close.

2. Is this solicitation intended to be awarded to a single vendor for all line items Answer: Yes, 1 award, 1 vendor.

3. May samples be sent without printing, for the purpose of verifying material and quality?

Answer: Yes, no printing is required on pre-award samples.

4. If I do not have the exact item that will be provided, would it be acceptable to submit a sample of similar material and quality for evaluation?

Answer: Exact item

5. Are there any specific labeling, packaging, or branding requirements beyond what is already listed in the solicitation?

Answer: The awardee will receive branding requirements.

6. Can we submit more than one sample for a CLIN to show different compliant options?

Answer: You may, read 52.212-2 in the solicitation for the evaluation factors.

7. Besides labeling, should we include any specific documentation with each sample (e.g., spec sheets, compliance statements)?

Answer: You may, read 52.212-2 in the solicitation for the evaluation factors.

8. Are all samples due to arrive by the final proposal deadline, or can they follow after submission if referenced in our quote?

Answer: Refer to question 1 End of questions

Buy American Act DFARS 252.225-7012 and 252.225-7035, may require items to be U.S.-made, particularly apparel and textile products. Could you please clarify:

1. Does the U.S.-made requirement apply to all items in this order, or only to apparel/textile items (e.g., running shorts, boonie hats)? – YES, all items

1. For non-apparel items, would it be acceptable if the products are manufactured overseas (including China) but all printing, embroidery, and customization are performed at our facility in Sacramento, California? – See below, qualifying countries

ANSWER:

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause— “Component” means any item supplied to the Government as part of an end product or of another component.

“End product” means supplies delivered under a line item of this contract.

"Qualifying country" means a country with a reciprocal defense procurement memorandum of understanding or international agreement with the United States in which both countries agree to remove barriers to purchases of supplies produced in the other country or services performed by sources of the other country, and the memorandum or agreement complies, where applicable, with the requirements of section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776) and with 10 U.S.C. 2457. Accordingly, the following are qualifying countries:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

“Structural component of a tent”—

(1) Means a component that contributes to the form and stability of the tent (e.g., poles, frames, flooring, guy ropes, pegs); and

(2) Does not include equipment such as heating, cooling, or lighting.

“United States” means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas.

“U.S.-flag vessel” means a vessel of the United States or belonging to the United States, including any vessel registered or having national status under the laws of the United States.

(b) The Contractor shall deliver under this contract only such of the following items, either as end products or components, that have been grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States:

(1) Food.

(2) Clothing and the materials and components thereof, other than sensors, electronics, or other items added to, and not normally associated with, clothing and the materials and components thereof. Clothing includes items such as outerwear, headwear, underwear, nightwear, footwear, hosiery, handwear, belts, badges, and insignia.

(3)(i) Tents and structural components of tents;

(ii) Tarpaulins; or

(iii) Covers.

(4) Cotton and other natural fiber products.

(5) Woven silk or woven silk blends.

(6) Spun silk yarn for cartridge cloth.

(7) Synthetic fabric, and coated synthetic fabric, including all textile fibers and yarns that are for use in such fabrics.

(8) Canvas products.

(9) Wool (whether in the form of fiber or yarn or contained in fabrics, materials, or manufactured articles).

(10) Any item of individual equipment (Federal Supply Class 8465) manufactured from or containing fibers, yarns, fabrics, or materials listed in this paragraph (b).

(c) This clause does not apply—

(1) To items listed in section 25.104(a) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), or other items for which the Government has determined that a satisfactory quality and sufficient quantity cannot be acquired as and when needed at U.S. market prices;

(2) To incidental amounts of cotton, other natural fibers, or wool incorporated in an end product, for which the estimated value of the cotton, other natural fibers, or wool—

(i) Is not more than 10 percent of the total price of the end product; and

(ii) Does not exceed the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 225.7002-2(a);

(3) To waste and byproducts of cotton or wool fiber for use in the production of propellants and explosives;

(4) To foods, other than fish, shellfish, or seafood, that have been manufactured or processed in the United States, regardless of where the foods (and any component if applicable) were grown or produced. Fish, shellfish, or seafood manufactured or processed in the United States and fish, shellfish, or seafood contained in foods manufactured or processed in the United States shall be provided in accordance with paragraph (d) of this clause;

(5) To chemical warfare protective clothing produced in a qualifying country; or

(6) To fibers and yarns that are for use in synthetic fabric or coated synthetic fabric (but does apply to the synthetic or coated synthetic fabric itself), if—

(i) The fabric is to be used as a component of an end product that is not a textile product. Examples of textile products, made in whole or in part of fabric, include—

(A) Draperies, floor coverings, furnishings, and bedding (Federal Supply Group 72, Household and Commercial Furnishings and Appliances);

(B) Items made in whole or in part of fabric in Federal Supply Group 83, Textile/leather/furs/apparel/findings/tents/flags, or Federal Supply Group 84, Clothing, Individual Equipment and Insignia;

(C) Upholstered seats (whether for household, office, or other use); and

(D) Parachutes (Federal Supply Class 1670); or

(ii) The fibers and yarns are para-aramid fibers and continuous filament para-aramid yarns manufactured in a qualifying country.

(d)(1) Fish, shellfish, and seafood delivered under this contract, or contained in foods delivered under this contract—

(i) Shall be taken from the sea by U.S.-flag vessels; or

(ii) If not taken from the sea, shall be obtained from fishing within the United States; and

(2) Any processing or manufacturing of the fish, shellfish, or seafood shall be performed on a U.S.-flag vessel or in the United States.(End of clause)