Description
On behalf of the AbilityOne Program, (National Industries for the Blind (NIB), a designated central nonprofit agency, is pursuing potential partnerships with a U.S. commercial manufacturers of 7-hole sheet protectors (otherwise known as document protectors) and project sleeves (otherwise known as file jackets, project jackets, project pockets, or organizers) for the purpose of providing employment for people who are blind or severely disabled. If successful, the result will be a co-brand agreement between the manufacturer and the AbilityOne Program, and its registered brands. The ultimate expectation is that the co-branded product will be placed on the AbilityOne Procurement List (PL). The Sheet Protectors and Project Sleeves must meet and/or exceed FAR and other Federal Government published standards, Executive Orders and Federal Agency requirements. At a minimum, the 7-hole sheet protectors described must: 1. Be manufactured from environmentally preferred material meanwhile maintaining performance and durability. Please specify specific environmental characteristics and identify percentages of materials used in the manufacturing process. 2. Maintain clarity for ease of viewing inserted documents 3. Offer multiple product thicknesses to reach different price points. Please provide details on product thicknesses 4. Be acid free and archival safe to protect inserted documents 5. Fit a standard 7-ring 8.5"/11 binder" configuration 6. Contain one opening on the top for ease of loading important papers At a minimum, the project sleeves described must: 1. Be manufactured from environmentally preferred material meanwhile maintaining performance and durability. Please specify specific environmental characteristics and identify percentages of materials used in the manufacturing process. 2. Maintain clarity for ease of viewing inserted documents 3. Offer multiple product thicknesses to reach different price points. Provide details on product thickness 4. Be acid free and archival safe to protect inserted documents 5. Fit 8.5"/11" documents 6. Open on the top and to the right for ease of loading and retrieving documents To be considered for the commercial partner opportunity, the following criteria at a minimum must be met: 1. Possession of a nationally known brand name that can be demonstrated to have significant appeal through evidence of substantial sales. 2. The ability to offer a complete line of protective document products. 3. This product must meet industry performance specifications and standards for construction, performance, sustainability and reliability. 4. The chosen manufacturer must be willing to set a high priority for quickly and consistently delivering bulk materials to the non-profit agency in order to assure the agency of on-time deliveries to the federal government customer(s). 5. All products must 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. 6. A willingness to enter into a multi-year agreement which includes on-going technical and production assistance and the necessary factory trained technical field support while 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. 7. Commitment to working independently with the AbilityOne to market products to the Government customers under the AbilityOne Program. It is preferred that the chosen manufacturer has a dedicated team for Federal Government sales and marketing. 8. Willingness to work with the non-profit agency, NIB and AbilityOne to ensure that the price to the end-users is a fair and reasonable price. 9. Manufacturers' submissions must demonstrate that proposed products meet the various criteria, as well as indicate what functions the nonprofit agency's employees would perform. 10. Submit a plan for supporting AbilityOne sales with vendor sales and marketing resources The deadline for response is October 3, 2011. Responses should be directed to the contact listed in this Notice. Questions should be directed to Richard Hill at 703-310-0370.