Sources Sought / Request for Information- Please respond to both the Primary and Secondary Points of Contact.
Curtis Landreth @ curtis.r.landreth@usda.gov and Shane Galles Shane.Galles@usda.gov
Action Information
NAICS Code / Size Standard: The primary NAICS code(s) being considered for this requirement are 337126 (Outdoor Furniture Manufacturing) and 332439 (Other Metal Container Manufacturing). The small business size standard is 500 employees. Vendors are encouraged to comment on if these are the most appropriate codes for their manufacturing capabilities.
Description & Objective
The Forest Service is seeking information from potential sources small businesses capable of manufacturing and supplying bear-proof storage boxes/containers and heavy-duty outdoor picnic tables. The purpose of this RFI is to conduct market research to identify capable sources, gain knowledge of potential products available in the commercial marketplace, and assist in determining the optimal procurement and small business set-aside strategy.
Background & Requirements
The agency is looking to procure items and installation services that meet strict durability standards for park and recreational environments. Proposed solutions should address the following general specifications:
- Bear-Proof Boxes/Containers & On-Site Installation: Must be constructed with heavy-gauge materials and meet Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) standards. Requirement includes the excavation, pouring, and setting of a concrete pad for each box, followed by the secure anchoring of the box.
- Picnic Tables: Must feature pre-cast concrete bases with a plank top design (e.g., heavy-duty wood, recycled plastic, or aluminum planks) to be assembled on-site. The tables must be commercial-grade, weather-resistant, vandal-resistant, and suitable for high-traffic public use.
- Terrain & Accessibility: Project sites are located in remote campground environments. Access may be restricted by narrow, unpaved roads, rough terrain, or limited clearances. Heavy equipment and traditional concrete transit mixers may not have direct access to all site locations. Vendors must be capable of logistics planning, transporting heavy pre-cast concrete components, and executing concrete pours in backcountry or remote settings.
Requested Information from Vendors
Interested vendors are requested to provide a capability statement addressing the following:
- Company Information: Company Name, SAM Unique Entity ID (UEI), Business Size, and point of contact.
- Product Offerings & Compliance: Product literature for bear-proof containers (including IGBC certification status) and picnic tables featuring pre-cast concrete bases with plank tops.
- Remote Site Logistics & Assembly: Describe your experience or capability to transport heavy pre-cast concrete table bases and execute concrete pad installation in remote campground locations with limited vehicular access. Please include details on how the picnic tables are shipped and assembled on-site.
- Procurement Structure Feedback: Do you view this requirement primarily as a Supply contract with incidental construction services, or as a Construction contract that includes the supply of equipment? Please specify which NAICS code (Manufacturing vs. Specialty Trade Construction) best fits your business model for this scope of work.
- Installation & Subcontracting: Does your company perform the remote concrete pad pouring and table assembly in-house, or would you require subcontracting localized construction crews?
- Pricing & Lead Times: A rough order of magnitude (ROM) for pricing per unit (boxes and tables separately), including estimated installation and assembly costs factoring in remote logistics. What are your standard lead times?
