MODIFICATION
D -- Automated Purchasing System
- Notice Date
- 5/23/2002
- Notice Type
- Modification
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), Office of Procurement, 14th & C Streets, S.W., Washington, DC, 20228
- ZIP Code
- 20228
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-RFI-APS
- Response Due
- 6/14/2002
- Point of Contact
- George Leininger, Procurement Analyst, Phone (202) 874-3246, Fax (202) 874-2200,
- E-Mail Address
-
george.leininger@bep.treas.gov
- Description
- The purpose of this amendment is to provide answers to questions received in response to a Request for Information (RFI), Reference Number RFI-APS for an Automated Purchasing System: Request For Information Automated Purchasing System Amendment 1 Responses to Vendor Questions Received Through May 20, 2002 1. Q: I realize that an RFI is a request for information and not for a quote or proposal. However, when an RFI, such as this one, is released, do you use this information to award a contract? Or is it simply used to decide whether or not the organization needs such a service? Or for some other reasons? A: As indicated by our reference to FAR 52.215-3, we do not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI; your response will be treated as information only, and will not be used as a proposal. What we are trying to do is find out if there are existing systems that will meet our needs. If there are, and we decide to buy one, we would proceed with an acquisition appropriate to the circumstances, in conformance with the FAR. For example, if companies with systems that meet our needs have GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts, then we would use the procedures in FAR 8.4. 2. Q. This is a new opportunity, correct? And thus, there is no incumbent contractor? A. Yes, this is a new opportunity. There is no incumbent contractor. 3. Q. Also, what is the competition type? I noticed there was a mention of GSA schedule; is this open to only GSA schedule holders or is this full and open competition? A. This is not a competition. This is a Request for Information as part of our market research. The acquisition strategy will be determined when the Office of Procurement completes its market research and decides to proceed with the procurement process. 4. Q. Was there outside assistance in defining the requirements for this procurement? A. No. 5. Q. If so, what is the name of the company involved? A. N/A. 6. Q. Is there an expected timeframe for award on this procurement? A. No. This is not a procurement, just a request for information (RFI). 7. Q. Will this be a Small Business Set-Aside? A. This is an RFI, issued as part of the Bureau's market research to support our acquisition planning. 8. Q. Is it possible to get the list of the vendors who participate in this RFI? A. This is a request for information, and not a request for proposals. We're doing market research. 9. Q. Are there any similar systems which this RFI is based on? If so which systems? A. The "system" we describe in the RFI is in reality just a list of the electronic capabilities and functions we are looking for. We don't know whether such a system actually exists. That's why we issued the RFI. 10. Q. Do you require the system to directly connect with CCR? A. A web link in the APS to CCR would be sufficient. 11. Q. The RFI requires procurement functions, but some or all these procurements will result in vendor term contracts, I assume the system needs to manage the contracts established. A. Yes, contract administration needs to be part of the APS. 12. Q. What is the estimated number of vendors? A. As this is an RFI issued as part of the Bureau's market research effort, this information is not presently available. However, if we proceed with an actual procurement, the information you requested would be included in the resulting solicitation. What we can tell you now is that, as of April 15, 2002, the Contract Administration Division of the Office of Procurement was managing a total of 62 contracts. 13. Q. What is the estimated dollar value per annum of all purchases? A. Again, this information is not presently available, but would be included in the resulting solicitation if we proceed with an actual procurement. What we can tell you now is that, as of April 15, 2002, the Contract Administration Division of the Office of Procurement was managing contracts with a total value of about $763 million. These contracts varied widely in type, length, and dollar amount. 14. Q. Instead of buying a system why not contact DOD, suggest the Air Force and use their system. Will save the taxpayers some money and get you a Purchasing System. A. Thank you for your suggestion. The RFI, in fact, invites such an arrangement. It reads ?Interested vendors and other Government agencies are invited to submit information on the system they offer.? At this point in the process, however, we do not know all the systems used by other Government agencies, let alone which systems are available commercially. We're trying to obtain information from both communities. 15. Q. I had read your solicitation on the Automated Purchasing System and was thinking this described the types of web based systems we develop. We are a software company that builds commercial, custom web applications ... [that are] very stable and give the clients exactly what they need for an affordable price. ... I was curious if the requirement for off the shelf means literally "off the shelf." A. By ?off the shelf? we mean a system that fits the description of ?off the shelf item? in paragraph 46.101 of the FAR: ?an item produced and placed in stock by a contractor ? before receiving orders or contracts for its sale.? In other words, we are looking for a system that is already functionally complete and currently in use by commercial firms or Government agencies, that we could use with only ?minor modifications?, as described in paragraph (3)(ii) of ?commercial item? definition in FAR 2.101. The RFI specifies commercial, off-the-shelf systems, because we believe that such systems already used by Federal agencies are available from the marketplace. Additionally, such systems are likely to have achieved commercial market acceptance and thus be less expensive, faster to implement, more stable through proven reliability, and less costly to maintain than custom-built systems. However, the purpose of this RFI is to allow the Government to obtain as much information as possible to determine the availability of automated purchasing systems. We will not categorically reject any information we receive, particularly if the information indicates that custom-built systems may be preferable to commercial off the shelf systems. NOTE: THIS NOTICE MAY HAVE POSTED ON WWW.FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (23-MAY-2002). IT ACTUALLY APPEARED OR REAPPEARED ON THE FEDBIZOPPS SYSTEM ON 14-JUN-2004, BUT REAPPEARED IN THE FTP FEED FOR THIS POSTING DATE. PLEASE CONTACT fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
- Web Link
-
Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/TREAS/BEP/OPDC20220/Reference-Number-RFI-APS/listing.html)
- Record
- SN00603251-F 20040616/040614212753 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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