FX Marking Cartridges

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Simulation Marking Cartridges

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection

DESCRIPTION:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a requirement for the procurement of simulation marking and non-marking cartridges, blank cartridges, weapon conversion kits, and magazines for use in scenario-based use of force training.  This effort is integral to providing effective Use of Force equipment to officers and agents.

This contract shall be awarded and administered by CBP; however, it will be awarded as a DHS Strategic Source contract that will allow DHS agencies, as well as, other Federal Law Enforcement Agencies to issue delivery orders against this contract. 

This announcement constitutes an official Request for Information (RFI).  This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quote (RFQ), or a promise to issue an RFP or RFQ in the future.  This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever.  Further, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is not at this time seeking proposals or quotes and will not accept unsolicited proposals/quotes.  Responders 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 be solely at the interested party’s expense.  Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.  If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the SAM.gov website.  It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

INFORMATION REQUESTED:

1. Company Name, Company Address, Point of Contact, Telephone Number, and e-mail Address.

2. Are you a manufacturer or distributor? 

3. If you aren’t the manufacturer, are you an authorized distributor?  Would you be able to provide a letter of authorization from the manufacturer?

4. Are you under NAICS code 332992 Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing? If not, what NAICS code do you use? What size business are you registered as with this code? If you are a distributor or reseller, what size business are your manufacturer(s) based on the same NAICS code you use?

5. What is your organization’s experience with, and capability for, manufacturing and distributing simulation marking and non-marking cartridges, blank cartridges, weapon conversion kits, and magazines for military or law enforcement agencies?

6. Where are your simulation marking and non-marking cartridges, blank cartridges, weapon conversion kits, and magazines, to include the contents, manufactured and/or assembled?  If parts/components are manufactured in a different location from final assembly, please identify all subcontractors’ names and locations. 

7. Is your organization capable of manufacturing simulation marking and non-marking cartridges, blank cartridges, weapon conversion kits, and magazines that meet the technical requirements included in the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW)?

8. Is your organization capable of providing a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) covering all contents of the primers and marking cartridges? 

9. Are all ingredients in your primers and marking cartridges non-hazardous, non-toxic, non-flammable, and environmentally safe?

10. Do all weapon conversion kits, magazines, and cartridges come with a warranty?  If yes, please provide warranty length, and coverage of warranty.

11. If you are a manufacturer, do you have a quality control plan in place related to simulation marking and non-marking cartridges, blank cartridges, weapon conversion kits, and magazines?  If you are a distributor, does the manufacturer you are representing have such a plan in place?  

12. Is your organization ISO certified? If you are a distributor, is your manufacturer ISO Certified? If so, what level of ISO certification is it?    

13. Provide your total manufacturing capacity for simulation marking and non-marking cartridges, blank cartridges, weapon conversion kits, and magazines on a quarterly basis.

14. What is the normal lead-time for delivery of simulation marking and non-marking cartridges, blank cartridges, weapon conversion kits, and magazines once an order is received?

15. Can the marking, non-marking, and blank cartridges be packaged and labeled according to the specifications listed in the Statement of Work? 

16. Do you have any concerns regarding the requirements set forth in the attached draft Statement of Work?

RESPONSES

Responses shall be the minimum length necessary to accommodate all requested information and submitted via e-mail only.  Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED.  To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information.  

SUMMARY

This Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only and should not be construed as an RFP, RFQ, or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any services or supplies.  Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only.  No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or Government use of such information.  No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort.  The information provided may be used by CBP in developing and refining its Acquisition Strategy, Statement of Work, and Performance Specifications.  Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response.  The Government does not intend to award a contract solely on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to same.  The information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to pursue any course of action described herein.  The U.S. Government is not obligated to notify respondents of the results of this survey.

 The purpose of this RFI is to conduct market research for potential CBP contract for simulation marking and non-marking cartridges, blank cartridges, weapon conversion kits, and magazines.  All RFI submissions become Government property and will not be returned.