RFI for office furniture group metals

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: OFG-RFI0017-26 RFI - STEEL

RFI DISCLAIMER

This Request for Information (RFI) does not create any representation, either express or implied, that if a tender or procurement process does proceed, that the participant’s tender or other form of application (if any) will be given any preference or special consideration.

Participants are still required to follow any tender or procurement process that may take place in the future.  If a solicitation is released, it will be advertised under “Contracting Opportunities” in SAM.gov.  It is the responsibility of potential offerors/bidders to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation.

This RFI does not indicate a commitment to any course of action.

Respondees are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will solely be at the interested party’s expense

OVERVIEW:  RFI

Federal Prison Industries (FPI) would like to enter into (1) base plus (4) option years if exercised for various types of coil steel, sheet steel, angle steel, expanded metal and other steel and aluminum products.   The purchase of these materials is based on the production demand of products based on customer orders from the federal government.

Products that will utilize the materials as part of this RFP are as follows:

• Pallet racking
• Lockers
• Storage Cabinets
• Bookcases
• Various Metals Products for the Correctional Setting such as Bed Frames and Desks

Objective of this RFI is to collaborate with Industry on how best to structure the Request for Proposal (RFP) to ensure:

1. Greater Market Awareness/Participation by Relevant and Capable Suppliers
2. Address Quality
3. Address Assurance of Supply: Ensure Parts are Available When Needed
4. Address Availability of Domestic Small Business Suppliers
5. Lock in Price:  How Best to “Lock in Price” While Minimizing Price Risk for Both FPI and Potential Supplier

To enable this, we are launching this RFI as a catalyst to this collaborative process in development and participation in eventual RFP by qualified suppliers.

BACKGROUND

Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI), operating under the trade name UNICOR, was established by statute and Executive Order 6917 in 1934 with a mission to rebuild the lives of individuals who have taken wrong turns in life. FPI’s program provides federal inmates with valuable job and life skills, which, upon release from prison, will enhance their prospects for employment and success within their communities, and doing so without spending American tax dollars.  FPI is unique in that it is a manufacturing organization operating within the U.S. Federal Government. 

Currently, FPI is comprised of seven (7) business sectors: Agribusiness, Electronics, Clothing and Textiles, Fleet Services, Recycling, Office Furniture, and Services.  Throughout the 85-year history of FPI, these business groups have changed based on market opportunity and demand patterns.  Combined, these business groups provide hundreds of products and services to multiple departments and agencies of the Federal Government such as the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and Defense Logistics Agency.  While FPI has a private sector customer base, the majority of its customers are Federal Government agencies.

This RFI, and eventual RFP, pertains to the Office Furniture Group.   The following are some key issues this RFI will address:

RFI OBJECTIVES:

As stated in the “Overview” section of this document, the following are the RFI Objectives in more detail:

1. Greater Market Awareness/Participation by Relevant and Capable Suppliers

Through this RFI, and eventual RFP process, we want to have greater engagement and market awareness by potential suppliers who qualify and meet the specifications to fulfill our requirements.

RFI Question #1:  What is your interest in participating in this RFI/RFP process through the undersigned?  Please provide company background information.

     2.  Address quality: 

RFI Question #2: What quality standards/certifications does your company, or your supplier's company, adhere to?   What type of relationship do you have with your suppliers to ensure that quality issues are quickly resolved?

       3. Address Assurance of Supply: Ensure Parts are Available when Needed

To ensure material is available within the contract lead time, UNICOR is looking at multiple awards to maximize options to acquire materials.

RFI Question #3:  What is the best method to ensure there is no disruption in supply?  How would this be structured in RFP as part of proposal response?  What financial penalties could be applied which would ensure suppliers meet their commitments?  What potential non-financial penalties, to include being listing as “non-performer” on CPARS?  What is the minimum lead time that could be met based on current market conditions?

     4.  Lock in Price:  How Best to “Lock in Price” While Minimizing Price Risk for Both FPI and Potential Supplier

By entering into one (1) base year agreement with four (4) option years, we are asking the supplier to “lock in” their price.  However, we want to do this in a manner which minimizes risk for both parties.  Therefore, we will be offering an Economic Price Adjustment throughout the contract term to mitigate risk.   We are also interested in combining requirements to take advantage of any volume discount.

RFI Question #4:  What is the best way to structure pricing arrangements which allow some measure of minimizing price risk for both parties?  How would it be structured and administered? 

RFI Question #5: How frequently do Economic Price Adjustments need to be offered?  

RFI Question #6: UNICOR would like to combine requirements for volume pricing discounts.   At what volume would a vendor be able to offer discounted pricing for larger quantities?

• Coil Steel-__________lbs
• Angle Steel, Sheet Steel, Tube Steel, etc-___________ea
• Expanded Metal-___________ea

RFI GUIDELINES

Please reference above “RFI Question #” in structuring your responses.  For example, for Objective 1: Greater Market Awareness/Participation by Relevant and Capable Suppliers, please reference your response as “RFI Question #1: …..”.

Information from this RFI may lead to one-on-one market research discussions and other recommended approaches to industry engagement.

Although all comments received will be carefully reviewed, considered for inclusion in future RFP, and any possible later action, the initiators of this request make no commitment including any particular recommendations.

Your response to this RFI is requested on or before 2:00pm EST on Friday, May 8, 2026.  Responses must be submitted electronically addressed to Babs McMaster at Barbara.McMaster@usdoj.gov with the subject line “RFI RESPONSE OFG-RFI0017-26-RFI– Steel_(Your Organization name)”.