Sources Sought Number: SAQMMA-16-FireExtinguishers Market Research and Sources Sought Agency: Department of State Office: Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Location: Arlington, VA 1. GENERAL INFORMATION: This "Market Research and Sources Sought" announcement is issued to determine industry interest, capabilities and qualifications by a small business to provide, package and ship domestically and internationally to US Department of State missions External Cartridge Operated ABC Dry Chemical Portable Fire Extinguishers within a 140 day timeline. The information obtained from this announcement shall be used for preliminary acquisition planning purposes only, and should not be construed as a commitment of any kind to award a contract. NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS MARKET RESEARCH. This announcement is neither a solicitation nor request for proposal and in no way commits the Government to award a contract. Respondents will not be compensated for responding to this announcement, nor will Respondents be notified of the results of this Market Research. The U.S. Department of State reserves the right to terminate this Market Research and/or change its requirements or timeline at any time. Responding to this Market Research does not guarantee participation in future procurements by the Department of State. 2. BACKGROUND: The Department of State is responsible for providing Fire Extinguishers to United States Embassies and Consulates worldwide for the safety of all at the missions. The purpose of this Market Survey is to determine if there are any U. S. owned small businesses that have the resources to provide fire extinguishers that meet the technical requirements and within in the required time. 3. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS: EXTERNAL CARTRIDGTE OPERATED ABC DRY CHEMICAL PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TYPE: Industrial grade external expellant gas cartridge operated portable fire extinguisher in ten ( l0lb) pound (4.54KG) size but not to exceed 10.65LB (4.83KG); and with mono-ammonium phosphate based dry chemical extinguishing agent rated for use on Class A (wood, paper, cloth), Class B (flammable liquids and gases), and Class C (electrical) fires.. The agent must be free-flowing, water repellant, non-abrasive, and produce no toxic effects. CONFIGURATION: A corrosion and impact resistant steel main canister painted with red paint. An external noncombustible gas expellant cartridge with size designation clearly marked on the body of the cartridge and a protective cover attached to the side of the main canister. A stainless steel actuating lever to activate the pressure cartridge and a steel gas tube inside the main canister with two rubber check valves clamped in place to fluidize the dry chemical agent. Cap is corrosive resistant metal with machined grooves perpendicular to the threads to provide for release of internal pressure from the main canister during removal. Discharge Hose is ethylene propylene diamine (rubber) with corrosion resistant metal couplings and discharge nozzle. DIMENSIONS: Extinguishers must not exceed the following maximum dimensions: Height Width Depth 18 ¼" (46.36cm) 9 ½" (24.13cm) 5 ¼" (13.3cm) OPERATION: Extinguisher activation and operation actions limited to (1) removal of safety seal and/or ring pin (2) puncture of the external pressure cartridge to pressurize the main canister and (3) operation of the discharge nozzle. APPROVALS and RATINGS: Extinguishers shall meet or exceed the approvals of Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) 4-A:40-B:C; Underwriters Laboratories Canada (U.L.C.), 3-A:40-B:C; and the United States Coast Guard Classification Type A, Size II Type B:C, Size I. INSPECTION CAPABILITY: Extinguishers shall be designed and constructed so as to allow complete visual inspection of all internal and external components by disassembly without the need for special knowledge or tools. NOTE: The extinguisher unit must have steel internal parts (gas tube) and metal actuating parts that can be disassembled for security inspections and can be reassembled to put the unit back in full service operation in a field environment. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS: Complete and concise extinguisher operating instructions shall be clearly displayed in English with visual pictograms illustrating the symbols for Class A, Class B, and Class C fire ratings on the front of the main canister of the extinguisher. Complete after use maintenance instructions and agent identification shall appear on a placard on the rear of the extinguisher in English. Printed warranty, operating and maintenance information, a wall mounting bracket and an inspection tag shall be provided with each unit. MAINTENANCE: Extinguishers shall be designed to allow for field recharging without the requirement for special tools or servicing equipment. OPERATIONAL READINESS: Extinguishers shall be delivered fully charged with all necessary components to be fully operational with breakaway seals in place. "EXPELLANT GAS CARTRIDGE FOR THE 10 (4.54 KG) ABC DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER" TYPE: A spun steal cylinder that is sealed with a brass seal assembly and utilizing a copper seal that provides visual determination of the cartridge condition charged versus discharged. The cartridge seal shall have a safe rupture pressure range of 4050 to 4500 psi and shall contain a noncombustible gas. CONFIGURATION OF CARTIDGE ON EXTINGUISHER UNIT: The cartridge shall be capable of removal by hand without the need for tools and shall have the appropriate size (weight) designation clearly marked on the body of the cartridge. EXPELLANT CARTRIDGE DIMENSIONS: Cartridges must not exceed the following maximum dimensions: Height Width & Depth 6 1/8" 1 1/2" APPROVALS: Cartridges shall meet or exceed the approvals of Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) or Underwriters Laboratories Canada (U.L.C). "ABC DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHING AGENT'' TYPE: A dry powder chemical that is capable of combating fires in ordinary combustible materials (Class A), as well as fires in flammable liquids and gases (Class B), and fires involving electrical equipment. (Class C). Extinguishing agent shall have particular effectiveness in combating combination fires (Class A and B) together and Class A fires at freezing temperatures. CHEMICAL CONFIGURATION OF EXTINGUISHING AGENT: Agent shall be a mono-ammonium phosphate based dry chemical containing other chemical additives for a free-flowing, water repellant, and non- abrasive fire extinguishing agent that produces no toxic effects. SPECIAL NOTE: Fire extinguishers that utilize this extinguishing agent shall not be mixed with a bicarbonate based dry chemical due to a chemical reaction that is harmful to the unit will take place. APPROVALS: Agent shall meet or exceed the approvals of Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) or Underwriters Laboratories Canada (U.L.C).B. Packaging/Shipping: PACKAGING: Each extinguisher shall be individually packaged in sturdy packaging designed to withstand International shipping and handling without damage. Crates, pallets and packages shall be labeled with appropriate Hazardous Material labels and with a label that states: United States Embassy (or Consulate) "Diplomatic Cargo". SHIPPING: Items shall be shipped by surface means only to the Embassy/Consulate/Mission assigned on each order request form. Shipping shall be performed within the most economic commercial practices unless prior approval is given by the Contracting Officer's Representative or Contracting Officer. Cost of shipment shall vary with destination and number of units required for shipment. Shipments to any domestic location shall be at the contractors own expense. However, the contractor shall be reimbursed for shipments to international locations (e.g. Embassies/Consulates/Missions). The contractor shall be responsible for coordinating all shipments with subcontractors they obtained and with any foreign freight companies that are procured by subcontractors to get the shipment to the designated Embassy/ Consulate/ Mission. DOCUMENTATION: The contractor shall be required to provide a "Certified Hazardous Materials Document Specialist" (CHMDS) with the following training & testing certifications: 1. International Air transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations Training. 2. US Department of Transportation, 49CFR, Part 172, Subpart H and chapter 1.3 3. Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code The CHMDS shall be responsible for preparing and certifying the following documents for each shipment. Material Data Safety Sheets (MSDS) Hazardous Declarations, Multimodal Dangerous Goods Form AMSA 250 (10.0) Commercial Invoice Packing List Certificates of Country of Origin (Southeast Asia, Middle East and the Pacific Rim countries and territories) Bills of Lading Shippers Letter of Instructions for filing with US Customs. 4. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS/CAPABILITY STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS: Interested sources are invited to submit a concise, descriptive and focused capability statement to provide the requirements as described herein. Any submitted brochures and other materials will not be returned. Sketches or pictures of items can be included in the interested sources' capability statement package. Do not submit cost or price information with the statement package. All sources should include in their capability statement package a cover letter expressing interest in providing the goods and services in this announcement. The cover letter should provide the name of the interested source, its address, a point of contact, the contact's title, telephone number, email address and statement of qualifications addressing the Description of Requirements above in Item 3. Responses are due no later than 2:00 PM EST on Monday, April 4, 2016. Capability statement packages should be hand carried or sent by commercial carrier to Linda Dinkel at: U.S. Department of State Office of Acquisitions 1735 N Lynn Street Arlington VA. 22209 Attn: Linda Dinkel (703) 875-6230 For questions regarding this announcement, contact Linda Dinkel via e-mail,
[email protected], no later than 5:00 PM EST on Friday March 25, 2016.