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On behalf of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission (Commission), the independent federal agency that administers the AbilityOne Program, National Industries for the Blind (NIB), a designated central nonprofit agency, is pursuing a potential co-brand partnership with a U.S. commercial manufacturer (note: no distributors, manufacturers of component parts only) of scissors with titanium-bonded blades for the purpose of providing employment for people who are blind or severely disabled.

If successful, the result will be a co-brand agreement between the manufacturer and its registered brands and the AbilityOne Program. The ultimate expectation is that the co-branded products will replace or renew the items currently on the AbilityOne Procurement List (PL), and may expand the AbilityOne product offering to include additional scissors, thus creating more jobs for people who are blind or severely disabled.

The scissors with titanium-bonded blades must meet and/or exceed FAR and other Federal Government published standards, Executive Orders and Federal Agency requirements.

At a minimum, the following criteria must be met:

PRODUCT

1. Be able to provide the component parts needed to assemble scissors with silver-colored titanium-bonded, corrosion-resistant blades in various blade lengths and with bent and straight handles.
   
   
   
   1. Please include pictures, commercial SKU #s, component part delivered pricing, and full specs for all products quoted.
   
   
   2. Please state Country of Origin.
   
   
   
   


2. Meet and/or exceed FAR and other Federal Government published standards, Executive Orders and Federal Agency requirements.


3. The product must meet industry performance specifications and standards for construction, performance, sustainability and reliability.


4. Be manufactured and lab tested, certified and customer tested to be effective according to their purpose, have current Material Safety Data sheets if necessary, and meet certifications with corresponding documentation designated by customers.


5. Meet industry performance specifications and standards for construction, performance, sustainability and reliability.

MANUFACTURER

1. Must possess a nationally or industry known brand name that can demonstrate significant appeal through evidence of substantial sales.


2. Demonstrate how it will assist the Commission’s designated nonprofit agency (NPA) to expand sales of its line of scissors with titanium-bonded blades, thus increasing blind work hours, while keeping expansion costs to the NPA at a minimum.


3. Willing to deliver bulk materials to the non-profit agency to assure the agency of on-time deliveries to federal government customer(s).


4. Willing to enter into a multi-year agreement to include:
   
   
   
   1. On-going technical and production assistance.
   
   
   2. The necessary factory trained technical field support
   
   
   3. Enabling the non-profit agency to meet the criteria of the AbilityOne Program to convert material, fill containers, label, assemble and package the products thereby creating employment for people who are blind or severely disabled.
   
   
   
   


5. Demonstrate a commitment to working with the AbilityOne Program to market the product(s) solicited herein to Government customers. Preference is given to manufacturers who have a dedicated team for Federal Government sales and marketing.


6. Be willing to work with the NPA, NIB, and AbilityOne to ensure that the price to the end-users is a fair and reasonable price.

Manufacturers’ submissions must demonstrate that proposed products meet the criteria listed above, as well as indicate what functions the nonprofit agency’s employees would perform.

The deadline for response is October 5, 2023

The written, electronic responses should be directed to the contact listed in this Notice.

Questions should be directed by email to jseymour@nib.org. The subject line should begin with “Question: Sources Sought CP-CP-09-05-23-01 Titanium-bonded Scissors”

Information regarding the Commission can be found at www.abilityone.gov. Specific information regarding co-brand agreements can be found by navigating the top left corner of the website. Mouse over Laws, Regulations, and Policy and select Policy Memoranda. Select Operation Memoranda, then select Memorandum Number 22.

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