Shoulder Boards/Marks

This is a Pre-Solicitation notice only. The actual Solicitation will be posted on or about 7 June 2013  for the manufacturing of Air Force Academy Cadet Hand Embroidered Shoulder Boards IAW USAFA CU 16572, dated 15 August 2008 with USAFA Letter of Exception, dated 14 February 2011 a quantity of 660 sets and Embroidered Shoulder Marks IAW MIL-DTL-14645C dated 22 November 2002 with USAFA Letter of Exception, dated 10 June 2011 a quantity of 2800 sets.  The specifications will be included in the solicitation.

This will be a firm-fixed price contract for a one-time purchase.

The North American Industry Classification System Code is 314999 and the small business size standard is 500 employees.  This acquisition is 100% total small business set-aside.  It is anticipated the solicitation will be issued electronically on or about 7 June 2013 on the Federal Business opportunities (FBO) web page at http://www/fbo.gov.  Due date for receipt of proposal will be indicated in the solicitation document when it is released.  Once the solicitation is posted on FedBizOpps, it is incumbent upon the interested parties to review this site frequently for any updates or amendments.  It should be noted that paper copies of documents will not be provided.  Offerors must be registered with SAM or may not be considered for award.  Registration can be accomplished at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.  As of 1 Jan 2005, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires the use of Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) in Federal solicitation as part of the proposal submission process.  Representation and Certification are to be accomplished in the database at Registration requires applicants to have a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet and can be obtained at www.dnb.com.

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsive responsible Offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government.  The following factors will be used to evaluate proposals:

a. Technically Acceptable

b. Price

5352.201-9101 OMBUDSMAN (NOV 2012)

(a) An ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the ombudsman does not affect the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection official. Further, the ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes. The ombudsman may refer the interested party to another official who can resolve the concern.

(b) Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. Consulting an ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes (e.g., agency level bid protests, GAO bid protests, requests for debriefings, employee-employer actions, contests of OMB Circular A-76 competition performance decisions).

(c) If resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer, the interested party may contact the Center/MAJCOM/DRU or AFISRA ombudsmen,

Kelly S. Snyder

8110 Industrial Drive, Ste 103

USAFA, CO 80840

Telephone number 719-333-2074

FAX 719-333-9018

email:  kelly.snyder@us.af.mil

Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the Center/MAJCOM/DRU or AFISRA level, may be brought by the interested party for further consideration to the Air Force ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (571) 256-2397, facsimile number (571) 256-2431.

(d) The ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency.

(e) Do not contact the ombudsman to request copies of the solicitation, verify offer due date, or clarify technical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the Contracting Officer.

(End of clause)