The U.S. Department of State is seeking a firm capable of providing High Quality Fine China replacement pieces for U.S. Foreign Service Posts. The contract is to run for a base year, with the possibility of four (4) one-year Options. The contractor will be required to match the color, size and shape of existing chinaware currently used in various U.S. foreign Post locations. Chinaware shall be of the high quality fine china comprised of feldspar as the primary fluxing ingredient. The body is composed of clays, kaolin and flint. Body is translucent, totally non-porous and non-absorbent. Glaze must be a hard borosilicate glaze, smooth and brilliant and a mixture of frits (a fired and re-crushed glass formula), clay and water. Color is ivory. Chinaware shall be true vitrified fine china free of imperfection or blemishes, and conform to the design, tolerances, color and dimensions as specified in the RFP. The contractor will be expected to produce a maximum of 23 different items of Crested chinaware and 22 different items of Uncrested chinaware for each order. Crested chinaware shall have an ornamental gilded border of alternating star and stripe design and seal of the United States of America. The gilded border and seal shall be produced by either acid etching or embossing. The location of the crest on the Teacups and Demitasse cups shall be centered so that when held with the right hand, the crest can be seen by whoever is sitting directly in front of the person holding the cup. Uncrested chinaware shall have a plain flat gold border.Facility Requirement: The contractor must have a warehouse facility to house chinaware for each delivery order for a maximum time of 16 Months and to accommodate all other packing and shipping requirements. All chinaware produced under this contract shall be stored at the Contractors expense until ordered-out by the U.S. Department of State. The Government ordered china must be kept separate from the Contractor's other inventory and must be able to provide sufficient protection against thief, co-mingling or any other lost. Delivery Requirements: The contractor must be able to manufacture and complete a Delivery Order within 60 days after receipt of the order. Draw-down orders must be shipped to any one of five (5) Dispatch points located within the U.S., within 2 weeks after receipt of the order and Emergency orders must be shipped within 48 hours after receipt of the order. All shipping is FOB Destination. Arrangements for viewing samples may be made by contacting either Ms. Dorothy Southern on 703-875-6611 or emailing
[email protected] or Ms. Martha Persinger on 703-875-6253 or emailing
[email protected]. A broken sample will be sent to the prospective offerors with a copy of the request for the proposal. The offerors shall be required to provide a sample product to be received at the same required time and place as that of their proposal. See special note below: Special Note: The cascading preference source selection method will be used in the evaluation of firms for award under the solicitation. The cascading source selection method permits small and large businesses to submit offers. Offers from small businesses will be considered first. In accordance with FAR Subpart 19.5, any award resulting from the solicitation will be made to an eligible small business concern provided that (1) at least two competitive offers are received from two responsible small business concerns, and (2) award will be made at a fair market price. If conditions for award to a small business concern are not met, award will be made on the basis of full and open competition considering all offers submitted by responsible business concerns. The Government plans to issue the solicitation on or about June 1, 2007 and will be sending out the RFP upon request. You can send your request to the following E-mail address:
[email protected].