Description
This amendment is issued to incorporate supplemental information regarding first article testing and approval. Contractors, who have never previously furnished the Coast Guard Womens Combination Caps and Cap Covers to the U.S. Coast Guard, will be required to submit first articles for inspection. The U.S. Coast Guard may waive the requirement for first article testing and approval where supplies identical or similar to those called for in the schedule have been previously furnished by the Contractor and have been accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Contractor may request a waiver. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.209-4 First Article Approval – Government Testing, paragraphs (a) and (b) of the clause are hereby included in full text, and the remainder of the clause is incorporated by reference. PARAGRAPH (a): The Contractor shall deliver the items and quantities specified under Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) 0001 (first article) in the pricing schedule, within 20 calendar days from the date the contract is received and accepted. The pricing schedule will be provided electronically. The first articles submitted shall be comprised of the entire contents within a box as called for in section 5.1.1.1 of the specification. The first articles shall be shipped to U.S. Coast Guard Clothing Design and Technical Office, Attention: Mr. Joseph DeBlase, U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center, Warehouse 20-86, 15 Kansas Street, Natick MA 01760 for testing and approval. The shipping documentation shall contain the contract number and the item identification. The first article testing of the Coast Guard Womens Combination Caps and Cap Covers will consist of a visual examination in accordance with section 4.4.2.1 of the specification, and will be examined for defects in design, material, construction, workmanship, dimension and fitting. Size measurements of each hat frame submitted for first article inspection shall be taken for conformance to the finished dimensions and the allowable tolerances as called for in Table III of the specification. The hat covers for each hat frame submitted for first article inspection will also be examined for proper fit as called for in section 4.4.2.3 of the specification. No destructive testing will be performed. The first articles, upon approval, shall be included as part of the production lot. PARAGRAPH (b): Within 7 calendar days after the U.S. Coast Guard receives the first articles, the Contracting Officer shall notify the Contractor, in writing, of the conditional approval, approval, or disapproval of the first article. The notice of conditional approval or approval shall not relieve the Contractor from complying with all requirements of the specification and all other terms and conditions of the contract. A notice of conditional approval shall state any further action required of the Contractor. A notice of disapproval shall cite the reasons for the disapproval. If the first articles are disapproved, the Contractor shall submit additional first articles for testing. After each request, the Contractor shall make any necessary changes, modifications, or repairs to the first articles.