Request for Information (RFI)

OVERVIEW:

The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM Act) targets several Hydrofluorocarbon gasses for phase down of production as previously occurred with Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).  As many weapons platforms within the Department of Defense moved from ODS to HFCs, the need has arisen to ensure a sustainable supply of these Mission Critical compressed gasses is available.  Projected need extends beyond the year 2060.  To that end, The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) will initiate an acquisition of the gasses listed below.  These items will be placed in a static storage at DLA, Richmond, Virginia until such time as they are needed.

REQUIREMENTS:

HFC: Total

HFC-236fa: 200,000 lbs

HFC-507A: 158,760 lbs

HFC-227ea: 3,366,813 lbs

HFC-125: 390,830 lbs

HFC-134a: 3,303,735 lbs

HFC -410a: 166,163 lbs

HFC-404a: 212,680 lbs

HFC-407c: 29,495 lbs

HFC-407a: 20,000 lbs

Please answer the below questions as thoroughly as possible.  Please provide your CAGE, company name, address, and point of contact information when compiling your response.

A. Business Structure:

1. Please indicate your firm’s status (manufacturer, dealer/distributor, or other.  If other, please describe).
2. If working with subcontractors, how would the work be divided? What percentage of work would the subcontractors be doing?

B. Qualifications:

1. Briefly describe your firm’s experience supporting compressed gases and cylinder customers to include order fulfillment, supplying compressed gases, transportation, shipment tracking. 
2. Describe your firm’s ability to support each of the compressed gases shown in the attached product list.  Please indicate ability to support if procured under both reclaimed/virgin gas, and if you envision the product being sourced from domestic or foreign sources. 
3. Of the products identified, do you envision difficulties in sourcing any of these gases? 

C. Compliance:

1. Describe your firm’s ability to comply with EPA regulations, including requirements for the management and reporting of HFC-containing compressed gases
2. Describe your firm’s ability to comply with all DOT regulations for shipping and storing compressed gases and cylinders.
3. Describe your firm’s ability to comply with all US military product marking requirements (i.e., RFID, commercial, & MILSTD) for compressed gases.
4. Describe the higher-level inspection system your firm utilizes (i.e., applicable ISO standard or other system).

D. Pricing/Contract Terms:

1. Is there a minimum level of requirement for your firm to engage with this solicitation?  Would this represent an overall number of pounds of all gases acquired, or would there be minimum requirements for each individual gas?  Any concerns with an IDIQ construct with a guaranteed minimum amount? 
2. For the HFCs listed, is virgin or reclaimed gas more economical?  For virgin gases, is the price dependent on the availability of MCMEU allowances?  If so, provide a comparison between acquisitions with and without MCMEU allowances.
3. Describe the commercial terms and conditions that your firm utilizes in its commercial compressed gas contracts (i.e., pricing, incentive provisions, risk mitigation, etc.)
4. Based on the price volatility in the compressed gas market, to include tariffs, what level of Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) would your firm envision on this contract?
5. Describe your firm’s ability to provide Certified Cost and Pricing Data(in accordance with FAR Subparts 15.403 and 15.406) should the Government’s requirement exceed the Truth in Negotiations (TINA) threshold.
6. If your firm can provide Certified Cost and Pricing Data, how many days would it take for your firm to provide this data?

E. Other:

1. Describe the major risk areas that your firm envisions in supporting the Government’s requirement and how your firm might mitigate those risks.
2. Describe how the Government could leverage commercial marketplace practices most efficiently?
3. Describe any new technologies in the compressed gas marketplace that could be leveraged in the execution of this requirement.