Sources Sought for Co-Brand Agreement for Floor Stripper, Floor Cleaner, Floor Buffer and Floor Polish

On behalf of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission (Commission) the independent federal agency that administers the AbilityOne Program, National Industries for the Blind (NIB), a designated central nonprofit agency, is pursuing potential partnerships with U.S. commercial manufacturers of Floor Stripper, Floor Cleaner, Floor Buffer, and Floor Polish for the purpose of providing employment for people who are blind or severely disabled. If successful, the result will be the addition of the product(s) to the AbilityOne Procurement List (PL) under a co-brand agreement between the manufacturer and the AbilityOne Program, and its registered brands.

The Floor Stripper, Floor Cleaner, Floor Buffer, and Floor Polish must meet and/or exceed FAR, and other Federal Government published standards, Executive Orders and Federal Agency requirements.

At a minimum, the following criteria must be met: 

PRODUCTs

1.  Must Conform to the following product assortment.

      A. Floor Stripper
      B. Floor Cleaner
      C. Floor Buffer
      D. Floor Polish and Gloss
      E. List of NSNs and Descriptions

NSN#'s                     Description
7930-01-380-8469    BRAVO, FLOOR WAX STRIPPER, 1 GALLON
7930-01-436-7991    GP FORWARD, FLOOR CLEANER GALLONS
7930-01-380-8381    BRAVO, FLOOR WAX STRIPPER, 5 GALLON
7930-01-436-8039    GP FORWARD, FLOOR CLEANER 5 GALLON
7930-01-380-8365    SNAPBACK, FLOOR GLOSS RESTORER GALLON
7930-01-486-4062    PRO STRIP, FLOOR POLISH REMOVER GALLON
7930-01-380-8447    COMPLETE, FLOOR FINISH NON-BUFF GALLON
7930-01-380-8387    COMPLETE, FLOOR FINISH NON-BUFF 5 GALLON
7930-01-486-5067    CAREFREE, FLOOR FINISH SEALER GALLON
7930-01-486-4063    PRO STRIP, FLOOR POLISH REMOVER 5 GALLONS
7930-01-380-8450    AMPLIFY, FLOOR FINISH SPRAY BUFF GALLON
7930-01-410-8562    CAREFREE, FLOOR FINISH SEALER 5 GALLON
7930-01-380-8406    AMPLIFY, FLOOR FINISH SPRAY BUFF 5 GALLON
7930-01-380-8341    BRAVO, FLOOR WAX STRIPPER 55 GALLON
7930-01-380-8363    COMPLETE, FLOOR FINISH NON-BUFF 55 GALLON
7930-01-486-5066    PRO STRIP, FLOOR POLISH REMOVER 55 GALLONS

2.  The proposed product must meet the salient characteristics of Item Purchase Descriptions (IPDs) for the above-listed National Stock Numbers. (IPDs attached)

3.  Meet and/or exceed FAR and other Federal Government published standards, Executive Orders and Federal Agency requirements.

4.  Sustainable Product Requirements

• Must be USDA BioPreferred® certified where applicable.
• Where applicable, must be certified to one of the following ecolabels in order to ensure they contain not intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):
  1. EPA Safer Choice
  2. Green Seal® GS-37
  3. Green Seal® GS-41
  4. Green Seal® GS-53

5.  The product must meet industry performance specifications and standards for construction, performance, sustainability, and reliability.

6.  Be manufactured and lab tested, certified and customer tested to be effective according to their purpose, have current Material Safety Data sheets if necessary, and meet certifications with corresponding documentation designated by customers.

MANUFACTURER

1. Must possess a nationally or industry known brand name that can demonstrate significant appeal through evidence of substantial sales.
2. Demonstrate how it will assist the Commission’s designated nonprofit agency (NPA) to expand its line of Floor Cleaner, Polish and Finish, thus increasing blind work hours, while keeping expansion costs to the NPA at a minimum.
3. Willing to deliver bulk materials to the non-profit agency to assure the agency of on-time deliveries to federal government customer(s).
4. Willing to enter into a multi-year agreement to include:
   a. On-going technical and production assistance.
   b. The necessary factory trained technical field support.
   c. Enabling the non-profit agency to meet the criteria of the AbilityOne Program to convert material, fill containers, label, assemble and package the products thereby creating employment for people who are blind or severely disabled.
5. Demonstrate a commitment to working with the AbilityOne Program to market the product(s) solicited herein to Government customers. Preference is given to manufacturers who have a dedicated team for Federal Government sales and marketing.
6. Be willing to work with the NPA, NIB, and AbilityOne to ensure that the price to the end-users is a fair and reasonable price.

Manufacturers’ submissions must demonstrate that proposed products meet the criteria listed above, as well as indicate what functions the nonprofit agency’s employees would perform.

The deadline for response is (30 days from date of publication)

The written, electronic responses should be directed to the contact listed in this Notice.

Questions should be directed by email to address@nib.org. The subject line should begin with ‘Question: Sources Sought CP-08-14-24-01 Product Name.’

Information regarding the Commission can be found at www.abilityone.gov. Specific information regarding co-brand agreements can be found by navigating the top left corner of the website. Mouse over Laws, Regulations, and Policy and select Policy Memoranda. Select Operation Memoranda, then select Memorandum Number 22.