Department of the Treasury (DY), Bureau of Engraving and Printing Office of Procurement, 14th & C Sts., SW, Room 708-A, Washington, DC 20228

93 -- AEROGRAMME PAPER SOL BEP-98-06(TN) DUE 051898 POC Jesse Robertson, Contract Specialist, (202) 874-3145, Jennifer Sellers, Contracting Officer, (202) 874-3148 E-MAIL: jennifer.sellers@bep.treas.gov, jesse.robertson@bep.treas.gov. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested, however, a written solicitation will not be issued. This Request for Proposals (RFP) is identified by No. BEP-98-06 (TN). This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-04. This acquisition is unrestricted. The contract type will be fixed price, requirements. The period of performance will be for a base period of twelve months with (4) option periods of twelve months each. The estimated quantity for each year is 7,000,000 feet. The paper shall be suitable for printing of Aerogrammes used for international airmail letters by the offset process on web presses in use at the BEP. The BEP intends to procure, by negotiation, Aerogramme Paper, BEP Stock No. 1LP00729, suitable for the printing with commercially available heat-set web offset inks. The quality of print obtainable shall equal or exceed the BEP's reference press sheets. The Aerogramme paper shall not exhibit fiber picking or coating picks, piling, or linting during printing. There shall be approximately 10.973 meters (36,000 linear feet) per roll. In order to minimize the number of splices per roll, suppliers will be allowed to submit rolls with a minimum of 9,754 meters (32,000 linear feet), and up to a maximum number of feet, which shall not exceed an outer roll diameter of 102 centimeters (40 inches). The web shall have clean-cut linear edges. The paper shall be pasted on the core at the start and wound solidly and concentrically so that the roll will not telescope. Rolls shall be wound evenly and shall not have baggy or slack areas, ridges or rope marks. The width of the roll shall be within a minimum of 63.5 centimeters (25.0 inches), and a maximum of 63.7 centimeters (25.1 inches). The outside diameter of the roll shall be within a maximum of 102 centimeters or 40 inches. The inside diameter of the core shall be a minimum of 98 millimeters or 3 and 7/8 inches. Splices in any roll shall not exceed a maximum of 3 splices. Each roll shall have wooden, metal, or plastic plugs inserted in each end of the core prior to shipment to prevent collapse of the core during handling and shipping. Each roll of paper shall have a waterproof header placed over each end to completely cover the ends and edges. Each roll shall then be well wrapped in moisture proof paper or plastic film to prevent damage and exposure to dirt and physical damage and prevent transfer of moisture to or from the paper under ambient storage conditions. Glue shall not be affixed to the roll of paper in such a manner to cause damage to the web edges or fiber cores. The contractor shall deliver all rolls on four way entry pallets. There shall be two rolls per pallet. The end pallet of a shipment may contain one roll. The rolls shall be stacked on their ends and topped with a wooden cover. The load shall be secured with two steel straps, or it's equivalent, which shall extend under the skid and over the top, one strap on each side of the skid load. Each pallet shall bear barcode labels in accordance with the "Specification for Vendor Affixed Barcode Labels for the BEP, L: VAB-1A", which is available upon request. The cost of pallets shall be included in the price of the Aerogramme. The earliest delivery shall be required is within 30 calendar days after issuance of the respective contract delivery order. Delivery shall be FOB Destination within consignees' premises to the BEP-Lorton Warehouse Facility, 9610 Gunston Cove Road, Lorton, VA 22079. Contractors are required to contact the Receiving Section at least 24 hours in advance of delivery of production deliverables at (703) 550-7717. FAR 52.212-1, "Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items," applies to this acquisition and includes the following addenda: subparagraph (b) is deleted; subparagraph (c) ismodified to extend the acceptance period of an offer to 90 days. FAR 52.212-2, "Evaluation-Commercial Items" is applicable. The following technical factors shall be used to evaluate offers: 1) Safety and Health in Handling, Printing and Processing (Pass/Fail) paper shall not emit hazardous substances, or cause adverse effects. 2) Performance in printing and processing (12 points), the paper shall print, sheet and die cut in conformance with specification requirements. 3) Labeling, Packaging and Marking of Rolls (8 points), paper rolls shall be labeled, packaged and marked in conformance with specification requirements. 4) Roll Construction (6 points), rolls of paper shall adhere to various dimensions. 5) Physical Properties (34 points) the paper shall conform to the following physical properties: Property (a): using the CIE 1976 L*a*b* Uniform Color Space, L* shall be a minimum of 83.6 and shall not exceed a maximum of 85.6; a* shall be a minimum of -4.3 and shall not exceed a maximum of -5.7; and b* shall be a minimum of -3.8 and shall not exceed a maximum of -5.2. Property (b): the paper grammage shall be a minimum of 62 grams/square meter and shall not exceed a maximum of 70 grams/square meter. Property (c): the thickness of the finished sheet shall be a minimum of 70 micrometers and shall not exceed a maximum of 86 micrometers. Property (d): the ash content of the paper shall not exceed 20%. Property (e): in the machine direction and in the cross direction, the tear resistance of the paper shall be at a minimum of 294 millinewtons or 30 grams, and shall not exceed 785 millinewtons or 80 grams. Property (f): the opacity of the paper shall be at a minimum of 94%. Property (g): the tensile strength in the machine direction shall be at a minimum of 3.0 kilonewtons/meter. Property (h): the tensile strength in the cross direction shall be at a minimum of 1.8 kilonewtons/meter. Property (i): the luminescence or optical brightener content of the paper, with brightness (blue) filter shall be at a minimum of 2.0%. Property (j): the fold endurance of the paper in the machine and cross direction shall be at a minimum of 20 double folds. Property (k): the sizing, Cobb, of the paper shall be at a minimum of 21g/m2 and shall not exceed 25g/m2. Property (l): the wax pick resistance of the print surface of the paper shall be at a minimum of 16. Property (m): the stiffness of the paper in the machine direction shall be at a minimum of 95 and in the cross direction at a minimum of 55. Property (n): the paper surface defects shall be at a maximum of 1 defect no larger than 0.30 mm per mm2, or a maximum of 2 defects no larger than 0.30 mm per mm2. 6) Past Performance (40 points), an offeror, whose past performance demonstrates the highest level of customer satisfaction will receive the most points. In determining which proposal offers the greatest value or advantage to the Government, overall technical merit will be considered more important than price or cost. For proposals with a significant difference in technical rating, a determination will be made as to whether the additional technical merit or benefits reflected by a higher prices proposal warrants payment of the additional price or cost. Between substantially equal technical proposals, price will become the major factor in selection for award. Offerors are advised to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, "Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items," with its offer. FAR 52.212-4, "Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items," will be corporated into the resulting contract with the following addenda: 1) paragraph (a) is hereby modified to identify the constructive acceptance period of 30 calendar days; and (2) the following FAR clauses are incorporated by reference: (i) 52.211-16-insert in subpara (b), "5% increase and 5% decrease". (ii) 52.211-17; (iii) 52.216-19 insert in subpara (a), "50 rolls", (b)(1)and(2), 200 rolls, (b)(c) (5 days). (iv) 52.217-9 insert in subpara (c) "60 months). (v) 52.216-18 -- insert in subpara (a), "date of award through 12 months thereafter" for Base Period, "Month 13 through 24 months" for Option Period I, "Month 25 through 36 month" for Option Period II, "Month 37 through 48 months" for Option Period III, and "Month 49 through 60 months" for Option Period IV; (iv) 52.216-21-insert in subpara (f) "90 days after contract expiration"; and (v) 52.223-3 with Alt I. FAR 52.215-5, "Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders-Commercial Items" will be incorporated into the resulting contract and following clauses cited in the clause are applicable: 52.203-6 with Alt I, 52.203-10, 52.219-8, 52.219-9 (if the offeror is a Large Business and the price proposed is over $500,000), 52.219-16, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.22-37, and 52.225-9. Subcontracting Program for Small, Small Disadvantaged Business and Woman-Owned Small Business (submit with proposal). Offers may be submitted on letter head stationary and, at a minimum, provide: (1) the solicitation number (BEP-98-06 (TN); (2) the name, address, point of contact and telephone number of the offeror; (3) terms of any express warranty; (4) price and discount terms; (5) "remit to address, if different from mailing address; (6) a completed copy of the representations and certifications (FAR 52.212-3); (7) a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions and provisions of this solicitation; and (8) a list of at least 3 contracts completed during the last three years providing the name of the contracting office or company name, point of contact and telephone number. Offers shall be mailed to: Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Office of Procurement, Room 708-A 14th and C streets, SW, Washington, D.C. 20228-0001, Attn: Jesse Robertson. Material samples are a part of the offer but shall be submitted separately to BEP, Shipping & Receiving, D Street between 13th & 14th Streets, SW, Washington, D.C. 20228. The samples shall be marked for the Manager, Materials Technical Support Division. All offerors shall submit a sample of (4) rolls of Aerogramme paper, which is identical to Aerogramme paper to be furnished if the offeror is awarded the contract. Offerors that fail to submit a complete offer or take exception to the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. All responsible sources may submit an offer, which shall be considered by the agency. OFFERS ARE DUE BY MAY 18, 1998, 2 PM LOCAL TIME. (0107)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0406 19980421\93-0001.SOL)