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

68 -- 50% SODIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTION SOL BEP-98-15(TN) DUE 052798 POC Jesse L. Robertson, Contract Specialist, (202)874-3145 E-MAIL: click here to contact the Contract Specialist via e-mail}, jesse.robertson@bep.treas.gov. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) intends to procure, by negotiations, 50% Sodium Hydroxide Solution, BEP Stock No.'s 2A000580 (bulk) and 2A00580A (drums), for use as an ingredient in water base alkaline wiping solution for currency and postage printing presses. 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 . Offers are being requested, however, a written solicitation will not be issued. This Request for Proposal (RFP) is identified by No. BEP-98-15(TN). This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-04. This acquisition is a 100% Small Business Set-aside procurement, the size standard is 1000 employees. This commodity is waived from the nonmanufacturing rule in accordance with the SBA. The contract type will be a fixed price, requirements. The period of performance will be for a base period of twelve months with four (4) option periods of twelve months each. Order quantities will be 75% in bulk and 25% in 55-gallon drums. Pricing should be proposed for (a) bulk and (b) drums respectfully. The estimated quantity for the Base Year, Line Item 001, is 220,000 Gallons in bulk. The estimated quantity for the Base Year, Line Item 002, is 20,000 Gallons in drums. The estimated quantity for Option Period I, Line Item 003, is 233,200 Gallons in bulk. The estimated quantity for Option Period I, Line Item 004, is 21,200 Gallons in drums. The estimated quantity for Option Period II, Line Item 005, is 248,000 Gallons in bulk. The estimated quantity for Option Period II, Line Item 006, is 22,500 Gallons in drums. The estimated quantity for Option Period III, Line Item 007, is 263,000 Gallons in bulk. The estimated quantity for Option Period III, Line Item 008, is 23,900 Gallons in drums. The estimated quantity for Option Period IV, Line Item 009, is 279,000 Gallons in bulk. The estimated quantity for Option Period IV, Line Item 010, is 25,400 Gallons in drums. BEP reserves the right to reject any material which has an adverse effect on its employees or end users. Adverse effects include, but are not limited to, headache, eye, dermal, nasal or throat irritation and/or sensitization, nausea, and dizziness. Offerors shall prepare a material safety data sheet (MSDS) that complies with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements as listed in 29 CFR 1910, Part 1200, paragraph (g) and (i). No materials which are defined as "hazardous chemical" under the HAZCOM standard shall be used without an approved MSDS. The material shall not contain contaminants in excess of those concentrations listed in Table I, 40 CFR Part 261.24 for Toxic Characteristics Leaching Procedure(LCLP). If the material contains as an ingredient, any of the chemicals that are regulated as air toxics by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, Section 112, the Offeror shall prepare a list of the names and concentrations of any such chemicals. The material shall not contain as an ingredient, any of the toxic organic chemicals listed in Title 21, DCMR, Chapter 15, section 1501.4. The material shall not contain Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) in excess of 2 parts per million. The material shall meet the requirements of 40 CFR 761. The offeror shall comply with the regulations set forth in 40 CFR Part 720 Premanufacture Notification, 40 CFR Part 720 establishes premanufacture notification requirements under Section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The sodium hydroxide solution delivered to the BEP either in bulk quantity or in drums shall not contain any detectable levels of mercury greater than 1.0 parts per billion. The offeror shall certify that each shipment of sodium hydroxide delivered to the Bureau is manufactured by a method that does not employ a mercury amalgam electrode system and shall not contain mercury greater than 1.0 parts per billion. The offeror shall certify that he is in compliance with the regulation set forth in CFR 720, Pre-manufacture Notification. The Offeror shall submit a copy of this certification to the Contracting Officer with the MSDS. The material shall not contain any of the chemicals listed by California'a "Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986" (Proposition 65), nor shall it contain any ingredient known to cause cancer or known to be a reproductive toxicant as recongnized by the US Enviromental Protection Agency, OSHA, or any of the other individual states. Fifty percent Sodium Hydroxide Solution ordered as stock no. 2A000580 and 2A00580A shall be delivered as bulk in tank trucks and 55 gallon drums respectfully. The quantity will be as specified in each order. Typically, individual orders for bulk Sodium Hydroxide Solution range from 3,500 to 4,500 gallons. The tank truck shall display all DOT hazard and identification marking as required. The drums of 50% Sodium Hydroxide Solution, BEP Stock item number 2A00580A shall be delivered in clean, tight, 208 liters (55-gallons) polypropylene containers, with 318 kilograms (701 pounds) net per drum (+1%). Each drum shall be plainly marked on two opposite sides "50% Sodium Hydroxide Solution, BEP Stock Number 2A00580A", with net and gross weights, the contents in gallons, the manufacturer's lot number, and the name of the contractor. The product identification markings shall be legible and of a color contrasting to that of their background. Each drum shall be labeled in accordance with applicable Department of Transportation Rules and Regulations, applicable HMIS labeling and with the information required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Hazard Communications Standard. The item name and BEP Stock number shall be not less than 25 millimeters (one inch) high. Each pallet shall bear Barcode Labels in accordance with "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 Sodium Hydroxide. The earliest that delivery may be required is 14 calendar days after issuance of the individual delivery order. Delivery of bulk shipment shall be FOB Destination within consignees' premises to the BEP, 15th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20228. Delivery of drum shipment shall be FOB Destination within consignees' premises to the BEP-Lorton Warehouse Facility, 9610 Gunston Cover 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, "Instruction to Offeror-Commercial Items," applies to this acquisition and is modified as follows: subparagraph (b) is deleted; subparagraph (c) is modified 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 the samples: (1) Mercury Content: The 50% sodium solution shall not contain any detectablelevels of mercury greater than 1.0 parts per billion; (2) Specific Gravity: The 50% sodium hydroxide solution shall have a specific gravity of 1.520 to 1.540 (49.6 to 50.8 Baume at a temperature of 15.5 C (60 F) when tested in accordance with ASTM method D891. (3) Sodium Hydroxide Concentration: The concentration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the sodium hydroxide solution shall be within the range of 49% and 51% by weight when tested in accordance with ASTM method E 291. (4) Sodium Oxide Concentration: The concentration of sodium oxide (Na2O) in the 50% sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) shall be within the range of 38.0% and 39.6% by weight when tested in accordance with ASTM method E291. All technical criteria will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis. BEP's source selection decision will be based on low price -- technically acceptable, assuming an acceptable past performance rating. Past performance will be determined to be acceptable if all reference checks are positive. Offerors are advised to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, "Offeror Representation and Certification -- -Commercial Item," with its offer. 52.212-4, "Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items," will be incorporated 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), "4,500 gallons", (b)(1)and(2), 40,000 gallons, (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, 52.219-6, 52.219-8, 52.219-14, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.22-37, and 52.225-9. Offers may be submitted on letter head stationary and, at a minimum, provide: (1) the solicitation number (BEP-98-15(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 three similar contracts completed during the last 3 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, S.W., 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, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20228. The samples shall be marked for the Manager, Materials Technical Support Division. All offerors shall submit a sample of 2 liters (approximately one half gallon), which is identical to 50% Sodium Hydroxide Solution 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 20, 1998, 2 PM LOCAL TIME. (0114)

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