Domestic non-availability determination

This is a Request for Information (RFI) to locate sources of hand or measuring tools that are “produced in the United States”, in accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 225.7002-1. This RFI is issued for acquisition planning purposes only and does not represent a Request for Proposal or obligation on the part of the U.S. Government (USG). The information within this notice is based on the best and most current information available to date. This information is subject to change and does not bind the Government in any way. Updated information will be provided in a subsequent notice or synopsis, if and when necessary.

The purpose of this Sources Sought is to determine if the tool listed in the Sources Sought Tool List (see Attachment 0001) are produced in the United States. As provided in DFARS 225.7002-1, do not acquire hand or measuring tools, unless the tools are produced in the United States. DFARS Procedures, Guidance and Information 225.7002-1(b) provides:

(1) As applied to hand or measuring tools, “produced in the United States” means that the hand or measuring tool was assembled in the United States out of components, or otherwise made from raw materials into the finished product that is to be provided to the Government.

(2) If a hand or measuring tool was assembled in a country other than the United States, then disassembled and reassembled in the United States, the hand or measuring tool was not produced in the United States.

(3) The requirement to buy hand or measuring tools produced in the United States does not impose any restriction on the source of the components of the hand or measuring tools. This is unlike the Berry Amendment restriction on clothing (see 225.7002-1(a)(2)), which explicitly requires domestic source for the materials and components of clothing (other than unusual components such as sensors or electronics), as well as the additional separate restrictions on various types of fibers and fabrics that might be components of the clothing.

Information is needed for the tool listed in the attachment. Please respond by completing columns “E” through “K” of the tool list.

NOTE: NO SOLICITATION IS ISSUED AT THIS TIME. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary with no cost or obligation to be incurred by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government will in no way be obligated to purchase all or any part of the items described in the attached document. The U.S. Government is providing this information as a request for information (RFI) only. Industry responses to this RFI will not represent binding offers, and the U.S. Government cannot accept an industry response to form a binding contract. The deadline for responses is 06 MARCH 2025.

IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT BARBARA ROGOWSKI AT barbara.rogowski2.civ@army.mil. THE PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT RANK OR PROVIDE ANY REPLY TO SUBMITTALS FROM THIS POSTING.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
The U.S. Government appreciates the time and effort taken to respond to this RFI. The U.S. Government acknowledges its obligations under 18 U.S.C. §1905 to protect information qualifying as “confidential” under this statute. [To avoid possible confusion with the meaning of the term “confidential” in the context of Classified Information,” we will use the term “PROPRIETARY.”] Pursuant to this statute, the U.S. Government is willing to accept any trade secret or PROPRIETARY restrictions placed on qualifying data forwarded in response to the survey questions and to protect it from unauthorized disclosure subject to the following:

1. Clearly and conspicuously mark qualifying data with the restrictive legend (all caps) “PROPRIETARY” with any explanatory text, so that the U.S. Government is clearly notified of what data needs to be appropriately protected.

2. In marking such data, please take care to mark only those portions of the data or materials that are truly confidential (over breadth in marking inappropriate data as “PROPRIETARY” may diminish or eliminate the usefulness of your response - see item 6 below). Use circling, underscoring, highlighting or any other appropriate means to indicate those portions of a single page which are to be protected.

3. The U.S. Government is not obligated to protect unmarked data. Additionally, marked data that is already in the public domain or in the possession of the U.S. Government or third parties, or is afterward placed into the public domain by the owner or another party through no fault of the U.S. Government will not be protected once in the public domain. Data already in the possession of the U.S. Government will be protected in accordance with the U.S. Government's rights in the data.

4. Confidential data transmitted electronically, whether by physical media or not, whether by the respondent or by the U.S. Government, shall contain the “PROPRIETARY” legend, with any explanatory text, on both the cover of the transmittal e-mail and at the beginning of the file itself. Where appropriate for only portions of an electronic file, use the restrictive legends ‘PROPRIETARY PORTION BEGINS:” and “PROPRIETARY PORTION ENDS.”

5. In any reproductions of technical data or any portions thereof subject to asserted restrictions, the U.S. Government shall also reproduce the asserted restriction legend and any explanatory text.

6. The U.S. Government sometimes uses support contractors in evaluating responses. Consequently, responses that contain confidential information may receive only limited or no consideration since the Respondent’s marking of data as “PROPRIETARY” will preclude disclosure of same outside the U.S. Government and therefore will preclude disclosure to these support contractors assisting the evaluation effort. The U.S. Government will use its best efforts to evaluate those responses that contain confidential information without using support contractors consistent with the resources available.