SOLICITATION NOTICE
H -- Quality Control, Testing and Inspection
- Notice Date
- 4/26/2002
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Navy, Naval Supply Systems Command, FISC NORFOLK DETACHMENT WASHINGTON, 1014 N Street SE, Suite 400 Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC, DC, 20374-5014
- ZIP Code
- 20374-5014
- Solicitation Number
- N00600-02-I-1656
- Response Due
- 5/31/2002
- Archive Date
- 6/15/2002
- Point of Contact
- Ayo Johnson, Contract Officer, Phone 202-433-2970, Fax 202-433-1009,
- E-Mail Address
-
Ayo_H_Johnson@fmso.navy.mil
- Description
- OFADD: Fleet Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Detachment Washington, 1014 N Street, SE, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. 20374 SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION -- SCREENING AND MONITIORING EQUIPMENT FOR THE DETECTION OF BIOHAZARDS IN NAVAL POSTAL OPERATIONS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. RFI #: N00600-02-I-1656 DUE: May 31, 2002 POC: Steven Clark, Contract Specialist DESC: This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by the Department of the Navy's Fleet Industrial Supply Center (FISC) Norfolk, Detachment Washington, to solicit information from potential sources of industry on alternative approaches that will assist the FISC Washington Postal Operations Division (POSTOPSDIV) in formulating a smarter, better, and more cost effective method to meet the following requirements in the screening, testing, and monitoring of incoming mail for potential biohazard threats. *This RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a request for proposal (RFP) or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. Additionally, the Government may utilize any information submitted by interested parties to assist in developing a statement of work and/or statement of objectives that could potentially result in a competitive solicitation. We advise offerors not to submit any information that they would not want to be used for this purpose.* FISC Detachment Washington is formulating requirements for the development of a Statement of Objectives to acquire (by purchase or lease) equipment and/or services that will continuously screen, test, and monitor mail and related packages to provide a high level of confidence against a wide variety of pathogens and biohazard threats. Background and Current Mail Evaluation Procedure Before September 11th, mail, packages and other materials were delivered to the Navy's consolidated mail facility, in Washington, D.C., with no screening for pathogen/chemical toxins. Because of the recent mail-borne biohazard attacks, Naval addressees, visitors, and other personnel receiving or handling mail could be unknowingly subjected to hazardous pathogens/chemical toxins from materials introduced into the mail distribution system. Much of the Naval District Washington (NDW) mail comes from the United States Postal Service (USPS) Post Offices that have received and dispatched mail contaminated with biological hazards (i.e., Anthrax). New procedures have been implemented for receipt, screening, testing, and distribution of mail. Mail for all NDW facilities is now only being received at the main postal facility at the Anacostia Annex (Bldg. 94), in Washington, D.C. All incoming mail is x-rayed and tested for the presence of biological toxins (Anthrax) before sorting and distribution. A temporary Mail Evaluation Facility (MEF) has been erected next to the FISC postal facility at Building 94 at the Anacostia Annex to screen and analyze mail for hazardous pathogens/chemical toxins. The MEF contains a x-ray machine, a paint spray booth Evaluation Chamber (EC) for air sampling, and a conveyor belt to agitate the mail within the sampling area. Air and surface samples taken from mail lots are analyzed using a R.A.P.I.D. analyzer, manufactured by Idaho Technology, which is government owned equipment. The use of the R.A.P.I.D equipment does not have to be part of any proposed solution under this RFI. Contractor personnel who process the mail within the MEF are currently clothed in full biohazard suits. However, we are interested in solutions that may not require this level of PPE. The current screening process is a passive testing regime. It is a 2-hour process that involves a 30-minute test of samples by the PCR method to verify that no biohazards are present. Incoming mail from off-base locations is usually delivered to the POSTOPSDIV during the morning hours and it is delivered from several different trucks and locations. As the mail is delivered it is segregated from postal trucks into batches of All-Purpose Containers (APC) for evaluation at the MEF before entering the mail facility in Building 94. Each batch of APC is evaluated and cleared before the next batch being received and evaluated. Operations to date have averaged about 19,000 pieces of mail per day with peak daily loads of 38,000 pieces per day, and we are estimating that the daily average could grow to 25,000 per day based on expanding this process to other local commands. Mail consists of standard letters, flats, magazines, and packages. Requirement The FISC Washington POSTOPSDIV is interested in determining alternatives to its current mail screening, testing, and evaluation process. This division is seeking information from industry to screen, test, and evaluate incoming mail faster, more reliably, and more cost effectively. This RFI seeks solutions that will detect, in more real-time, the presence of bio-contaminant threats as the mail passes through a screening process. If a chemical or biological contaminant is detected, the system should have the capability to immediately stop the flow of mail through the screening process and isolate the suspect mail for further evaluation and proper emergency HAZMAT response. Either purchasing or leasing such monitoring equipment could satisfy this requirement. This RFI also requests that respondents consider and describe the manning and estimated costs associated with the full-time operation and maintenance (O&M) of any proposed screening equipment/process in the existing MEF. This RFI is seeking solutions to address and satisfy the mail evaluation procedure described herein. Respondents should also state whether any PPE is recommended for operators using the proposed solution. While Anthrax is the specific biohazard we are currently concentrating on, the POSTOPSDIV is interested in learning of commercially available equipment/protocols/services that could be set up to test and evaluate a variety of pathogens and other potential biohazards that could be delivered via the mail system. Samples may also be collected during the process to ensure that the mail is not contaminated with pathogens or biohazards, specifically Anthrax, but the POSTOPSDIV is interested in screening/testing solutions that would identify a wide variety of pathogens. Respondents should describe their process, detailing the staffing and procedures to be utilized in accomplishing the requirements of this section. These plans must identify the pathogens it can reliably detect and provide documented evidence of the confidence levels of the testing regime. The Government is interested in understanding what additional supplies are necessary for conducting the screening and analysis during the operation of the proposed mail screening. Responses to this RFI should include estimated prices for purchase, lease, installation, and operation & maintenance of any proposed solution. Potential Available Government Equipment ? Mail Evaluation Facility structure ? One (1) X-ray machine ? One (1) R.A.P.I.D. analyzer unit for sample analysis The Government prefers that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in response to this RFI. All information in response to this RFI, questions/concerns, data packages, suggestions, etc. . . , and requests to be informed of the status of any possible solicitation resulting from this RFI shall be sent, via e-mail to the Attn: Steven Clark, contract specialist @ steven_t_clark@fmso.navy.mil, or by fax: 202-433-5414 (phone: 202-433-6135). We would prefer any attachments you use to be in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and/or Microsoft Power Point. Also, hard copies of your responses to this RFI can be submitted to: Fleet Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Detachment Washington, Attn: Steven Clark, 1014 N Street, SE, Suite 400, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. 20374-5014. Responses should be received here no later than May 31, 2002. Responses should include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with government representatives. All correspondence concerning this RFI should reference and refer to RFI No. N00600-02-I-1656. Lastly, we strongly encourage contractors to use the information provided herein as reference information. We are looking for innovative ways to fulfill this requirement in a more cost effective and efficient manner. A contractor may have an idea that does not fit into the framework of our current way of doing business, but it may open our eyes to a totally new and more effective way to do business. Contractors are encouraged not to feel confined by the current way the Navy is doing business, but to suggest any and all ideas they have that can add value to the way the navy handles this part of its overall mission. We are looking very forward to your ideas and feedback. EMAILADD: EMAILDESC:
- Place of Performance
- Address: Building 49, Anacostia Naval Station, Washington, DC
- Record
- SN00067198-W 20020428/020426213342 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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