RFI – USMS, TD Body Armor Industry Day

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE, PROPOSAL, OR BID. This notice is not a solicitation as defined by FAR 2.101; therefore, it shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to any acquisition approach.

Any and all information contained in this announcement, its attachments, and subsequent presentations are preliminary and subject to amendment. Additionally, this announcement, its attachments, and subsequent presentations are in no way binding on the Government.

Information submitted in response to this notice is voluntary. The Government will not pay for the information requested, nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred for travel, attendance, or developing/submission of information provided to the Government. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor SAM.gov for additional information pertaining to this event.

Participating in this Industry Day is highly encouraged. However, the inability to participate in this Industry Day DOES NOT preclude any entity from participating in any future solicitation. Moreover, participating or not participating in this Industry Day will not be considered in any future solicitation.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Office of Procurement and Training Division invites your firm to participate in the USMS Body Armor Industry Day during the week of 5 February 2024 from 9:00 a.m. (EST) to 3:30 p.m. (EST). The Body Armor Industry will be held at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) at 1131 Chapel Crossing, Glynco, GA 31524. Additional information about the exact meeting location and actual dates will be provided later.

The purpose of the USMS Body Armor Industry Day is to obtain information on the recent technological improvements of body armor and body armor components (i.e., closure system). As such, we invite your firm to have an opportunity to illustrate your firm’s body armor products’ features/capabilities, developments, etc.

During the USMS Body Armor Industry Day, all firms shall furnish a body armor sample(s)/prototype(s). Sample/prototype requirements are as follows:

– Meet or exceed the DRAFT USMS Body Armor Specification Objectives (See attached)

– Draft Statement of Work (See attached)

– Samples/prototypes provided shall include body armor offered on the GSA schedule (if applicable) and/or body armor offered on the Open Market.

– All samples/prototypes must be considered Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) items

– Samples/prototypes themselves can have identifying marks as to manufacturer or distributor.

– Equipment Condition- Samples/prototypes shall only be brand new items, no remanufactured or gray market items will be accepted.

The manufacturers’ warranty shall cover these items.

Though body armor and/or body armor component (i.e., closure system) prototypes will be acceptable for this event, if and when solicited, prototypes will not be accepted as part of a vendor’s quote/proposal.

Firms have the option to provide certain non-pricing information as part of an attachment with the sample/prototype. Please ensure that attachments total at most three (3) pages per sample/prototype.

Mailing of samples/prototypes/prototypes will not be permitted. As such, firms shall bring all samples/prototypes/prototypes to the predetermined meeting location at the specified time/date.

During the USMS Body Armor Industry Day, all firms will be required to showcase their sampled/prototyped products or the products that they are authorized to distribute in a group setting. USMS personnel will be present during this time to review the samples/prototypes presented and ask questions related to your sample/prototype products. This group setting will also allow all firms to ask questions as it pertains to the USMS Body Armor needs.

All samples/prototypes provided shall be submitted at no expense to the Government and shall be returned to the vendor at the vendor’s expense. All samples/prototypes shall accompany FEDEX billing information for the return of the submitted samples/prototypes. All samples/prototypes or products exceeding a monetary value of $20.00 will be returned no later than twenty (20) working days from the time that they arrive at the FLETC facility. Liability for the sample/prototype body armor and/or body armor components shall rest solely with the applicable vendor the entire time, including when in the hands of the USMS. The USMS will use the utmost care when viewing the samples/prototypes.

All vendors wishing to attend the USMS Body Armor Industry Day shall RSVP in writing to the Contracting Officer, Mikelle Everett, [email protected], on/before 5 December 2023. Please provide the firm’s business name, point of contact, email addresses, and product type (i.e., vests, ballistic inserts plates, pouches, etc.) Also, please indicate if the week of 5 February 2024 works for your firm. Failure to RSVP within the time specified may result in your firm’s inability to attend this event.