**ATTENTION -- ALL NEW OFFERORS -- MUST READ**

**The information provided below has been developed to assist you in the
preparation of a quality offer in response to The Hardware SuperStore
solicitation.**

**Your attention is directed to the checklist provided, which should be
used to ensure all required information is provided with your initial
offer.**

**In order for a full evaluation of your offer, all elements of the
solicitation MUST be completed and submitted. Be advised that failure to
provide any element of the required documentation will result in the
rejection of your offer as substantially incomplete or insufficient to
evaluate.**

**[www.acquisition.gov](http://www.acquisition.gov/) \-- this site links
to e-GOV websites that may help prospective vendors with offer
preparation (CCR, ORCA, e-SRS, FedBizOpps, etc)**

1\. You must provide **2 copies of your current, dated Commercial
Pricelist** with your offer. You must also provide a copy of the dated
Commercial Pricelist in effect during the period for which you reported
commercial sales on the CSP-1 form.

2\. A complete offer package is comprised of a Basic Solicitation
document, all applicable product/service Attachments, and associated
submissions. **If any type of services are offered along with your
products, all services must be identified and a pricing proposal for
each is required. Services offered without a pricing proposal will not
be evaluated nor considered for award.**

3\. You must complete any applicable product attachments to the Basic
Solicitation document and provide the country of origin for all products
offered. In addition you should provide the Price Discount Relationship
of your offer to GSA with pricing granted to the MFC category proposed
in the offer.

4\. You must provide the required Open Ratings report with the initial
submission of your offer, send the original colored copy. You may go on
line at [www.ppereports.com](http://www.ppereports.com/) to obtain your
Open Ratings report. Any offer received without an Open Ratings report
will be rejected as non-responsive. An Open Ratings report is considered
current for 1 (one) year from the date of issuance.

5\. A minimum of 6 customer, not vendor, references must be submitted
with your offer.

6\. Offers received after March 2, 2007 may be rejected if the Online
Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) has not been
completed prior to submitting your offer. You are also required to
maintain current information in the Online Representations and
Certifications Application (ORCA) at
[http://orca.bpn.gov](http://orca.bpn.gov/), in accordance with clause
52.212-3(j)(1) & (2). You must update your representations and
certifications as necessary, but at least annually. The Government will
not exercise an option if your ORCA information is not current.\
\
7. Please ensure that your firm is registered with the Department of
Defense Central Contract Database (CCR) by registering at
[www.ccr.gov](http://www.ccr.gov/). Offers cannot be logged in to GSA's
offer registration system unless the contractor has an active
registration in CCR. The CCR must be active and be submitted with your
offer or it will be rejected.

8\. If you are a Dealer or Supplier (Excluding the Hardware Store
Department), you must submit a Letter of Commitment from the
manufacturer, for each new brand offered. This letter must be on the
manufacturer's original letterhead, with an original signature from an
officer (CEO, President, Vice President) of the company. It must contain
a statement similar to the following: "[Manufacturer's
Name"]{.underline} guarantees "[Your Company Name"]{.underline} a source
of supply sufficient to meet the Government's requirements for the term
of the contract. The manufacturer must also include a statement
certifying that the products comply with the requirements of Clause
52.225-5, Trade Agreements Act. See Clause I-FSS-644 -- Dealers and
Suppliers, in the Basic Solicitation.

9\. If the offeror is a large business (or is owned or affiliated with a
large business), a **Small Business Subcontracting Plan** MUST be
submitted with your offer. The Contracting Officer will make a
determination of contract value at the time of negotiations. A
subcontracting plan template is included as an Attachment to the
Solicitation. Annual and Semi-Annual Subcontracting reports must be
submitted online via the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System
(eSRS) at [www.esrs.gov](http://www.esrs.gov/).

10\. You must complete the **CSP-1 -- Commercial Sales Practices
Format** in accordance with the instructions provided with the clause.
Any offer received without the CSP-1, completed in its entirety, will be
rejected as non-responsive.\
\
11. In accordance with FAR 4.102(e), you must provide an Agent
Authorization Letter if the company has authorized an Agent to act on
its behalf.

Solicitation Number **6FEC-E6-070173-B** for the Hardware SuperStore,
includes a Standard Form (SF) 1449, the Basic Solicitation, and any
other required documents and attachments as noted in the Checklist
below.

-   Guidelines for Preparing your Marketing Plan

-   Subcontracting Plan Sample Format

-   Department 3 - Hardware Store Department

-   Department 4 - Commercial Coatings Department

-   Department 5 Appliances Department

-   Department 6 - Tool Department

-   Department 7 - Lawn and Garden Department

-   Department 8 -- Industrial Machinery Department

-   Department 9 - Leasing and Rental Department

-   Commercial Sales Practice (CSP-1)

-   **Clauses Incorporated by Reference -- DO NOT RETURN THESE WITH YOUR
    OFFER**

-   

**[When submitting your offer please follow these steps:]{.underline}**

-   Download and print the basic solicitation file. This file must be
    completed, signed, dated, and returned.

-   Download and print the product attachment applicable to the
    product/services you intend to offer. For example, if you are
    offering products under Tools, download Department 6. Complete and
    return [all pages]{.underline} of the applicable Department,
    including the CSP-1. Only offers for products and services that fall
    within scope of Schedule 51 V, The Hardware SuperStore and the
    Product/Service Attachments (defined above) will be evaluated for
    award.

-   **The attachment for clauses Incorporated-by-Reference, contains
    full text of clauses incorporated by reference under this
    solicitation, which apply to any resultant contract. You are
    encouraged to download and print this attachment to keep with your
    files. DO NOT submit this attachment with your offer.**

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-   If you are offering Leasing or Rental services, you must download
    and print Department 9, Leasing and Rental. Follow the instructions,
    complete and return the attachment.

-   Offers shall be submitted on the SF 1449 and shall include all pages
    of the Basic Solicitation, including all applicable attachments for
    the product(s) and/or service(s) being offered. **Please sign and
    date your offer (SF 1449).** Please keep a copy of the completed
    offer for your files. Once an offer is received by this office they
    cannot be returned - no exceptions. Offerors that fail to furnish
    required representations or information, or reject the terms and
    conditions of the solicitation, may be excluded from consideration.

**If you [are not]{.underline} submitting your offer through the e-offer
system please follow these steps:**

-   Download, complete and print all required documents. This file must
    be completed and returned.\
    Download, complete and print the appropriate attachment applicable
    to the services you intend to offer. For example, if you were
    offering Tools, you would download and print Department 6. Complete
    and return [all pages]{.underline} of the attachment.

-   Offerors are strongly urged to use two-sided copying of offers for
    submission to GSA.

-   Please note that a Dun and Bradstreet Credit Check will be requested
    on all offerors submitting an offer under this Solicitation. Prior
    to submission of your offer, please ensure that all information
    provided to Dun and Bradstreet is accurate and complete.

-   Do not alter the solicitation in any manner. Any changes, deletions,
    or additions to the document, other than required fill-in
    information, may result in the rejection of the offer.

**[THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE FOR USE AFTER CONTRACT AWARD ONLY\-- NEW
OFFERORS SHOULD NOT SUBMIT THESE SEPARATE ATTACHMENTS]{.underline}**

-   **Exhibit 1 - Post Award Procedures.** The information in this
    Exhibit provides information about where to send your requests for
    modification.

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-   **Exhibit 2 - Post Award Guidelines for Adding Products or Price
    Adjustments.** The information in this Exhibit applies if you wish
    to add products or increase/decrease your prices.

-   **Exhibit 3 - Post Award Guidelines for Novation Agreement, Novation
    and Change of Name Agreement.** The information in this Exhibit
    applies if all the assets of your company (including assets directly
    related to a subsequent contract) are purchased by another company.
    If your company name changes during the course of contract
    performance, you must submit the required documents to the
    contracting officer.

-   **Exhibit 4 - Post Award Guidelines for Exercising an Option -
    Modifications/Exercise of Option to Extend the Term of the
    Contract.** The information in this Exhibit will be used ONLY if a
    current contract is in place and eligible to be extended.

> **REMINDERS**

The basic solicitation and all applicable attachments must be completed
and returned in **duplicate**. Be sure to include two copies of your
commercial price list and the Price Discount Relationship Spreadsheet
(an electronic copy of the spreadsheet will be required with the Final
Revised Proposal). The basic solicitation, applicable attachments, and
price lists constitute the complete offer, which is submitted for
evaluation. Substantially incomplete offers may be subject to rejection.

**Please note that any offer submitted after June 30, 2008, MUST be
submitted on the Solicitation dated May 30, 2008. Offers submitted on
prior versions and received after June 30, 2008, will be rejected.**

This is a standing solicitation with no closing date for receipt of
offers. This solicitation will remain in effect until it is replaced by
a refreshed solicitation.

Offers shall be submitted on the SF 1449 and shall include all
subsequent pages following this form, to include all attachments
applicable to the product(s) and/or service(s) being offered. Please
sign and date your offer. Please keep a copy of the completed offer for
your files. Offerors that fail to furnish required representations or
information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation,
will be excluded from consideration for award.

Please ensure that your firm is registered with the Department of
Defense Central Contract Database (CCR) by registering at
[www.ccr.gov](http://www.ccr.gov/). Offers will be rejected as
non-responsive if offeror does not have active registration in CCR and
ORCA.

Pursuant to Clause 552.238-74, Industrial Funding Fee and Sales
Reporting (July 2003), the IFF is a separate collection mechanism and
any increase or decrease in the fee does not change the price/discount
relationship established at the time of award pursuant to 552.238-75,
Price Reductions (Sept 1999). The IFF shall be added to the net GSA
price.

Current contractors do not need to complete this solicitation in order
to add items/SINs. Instead current contractors should download and
complete the forms provided in the Guidelines for Adding Products and
Price Adjustments.

We actively solicit offers from 8(a) firms for the products/services
found under this MAS solicitation.

GSA is issuing this solicitation by electronic means only. Interested
parties may access the solicitation at
[http://www.fedbizopps.gov](http://www.fedbizopps.gov/). This site
provides instructions for downloading the solicitation file.

Offerors are strongly urged to use two-sided copying of offers for
submission to GSA.

All successful offerors must accept payment by **Government Commercial
Purchase Card** for oral or written delivery orders equal to or less
than the micro-purchase threshold in accordance with Prompt Payment Act
(31 U.S.C. 3903) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular
A-125.

If contractors accept trade-ins, they are allowed under any resultant
contract. It will be the responsibility of the ordering agency to
determine fair and reasonableness of price/off-set.

Any resultant contract may be cancelled unless reported contract sales
are at least \$25,000 for the first 24 month period after initial
contract award and \$25,000 in sales for each 12-month period
thereafter. See clause 552.238-73, Cancellation and I-FSS-639, Contract
Sales Criteria.

Offerors are encouraged to review clause 52.212-1, Instructions to
Offerors\--Commercial Items.

The Trade Agreements Act applies to this solicitation. See Clause
**52.225-5** in the Incorporated by Reference section for additional
information.

Offerors must upload catalog information and a **text file** into GSA
Advantage! within 6 months from contract start date. The text file will
contain the information required by Clause I-FSS-600, Contract
Pricelists (July 2004). The text file may reference a link to the
contractor website as long as the link is GSA specific and the text file
shows all the elements required by I-FSS-600 (see pages 1B thru 1D of
your award document)..

An individual product (item) may be offered only under one SIN even
though it may have different applications.

Visit the JWOD website at [www.jwod.gov](http://www.jwod.gov/) for a
listing of AbilityOne (formerly JWOD) directed source items. If items
being offered are essentially the same (ETS), they should be excluded
from the offer. A list of the excluded items should be submitted with
your offer.

Please note that a Dun and Bradstreet Credit Check will be requested on
all offerors submitting an offer under this Solicitation. Prior to
submission of your offer, please ensure that all information provided to
Dun and Bradstreet is accurate and complete.

**[Do not alter the solicitation in any manner. Any changes, deletions,
or additions to the document, other than required fill-in information,
will result in the rejection of the offer.]{.underline}**

Submit your completed offer to the address shown in Block 9 of the
Standard Form 1449.

**If you have questions regarding this solicitation, please contact any
of the Contracting Officers listed on the Cover Page of the Attachment
for which you are applying.\
\
**

**THE FOLLOWING CHECKLIST IS USED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICERS TO REVIEW
YOUR OFFER. IT IS PROVIDED HERE TO ASSIST YOU IN SUBMITTING YOUR
OFFER.**

**PLEASE REMOVE BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR OFFER TO GSA.**

Before submitting your offer, have you completed all items and provided
all documents as required by the provisions of the solicitation? Page
numbers shown below are approximate and may vary depending on your
printer.

Each element MUST be completed and if not applicable, so state. Provide
documentation and/or justification to support your response, if
necessary.

Before submitting your offer, have you completed all items and provided
all documents as required by the provisions of the solicitation?

Each element MUST be addressed. Provide documentation and/or
justification to support your response, if necessary.

**SF 1449, Block 12, Discount Terms.** This block should reflect the
[prompt payment discount]{.underline} offered to the government. If net
30 it should so state.

**SF 1449, Block 17a, Contractor, Name and Address**

**SF 1449, Block 17b, Remittance.**

**SF 1449, Block 30a, Signature.**

**SF 1449, Block 30b, Name and title of signer.**

**SF 1449, Block 30c, Date.**

**Clause 52.215-6, Place of Performance.**

**Clause 552-212-70, Preparation of Offer. Ensure that you have complied
with the requirements of this\
clause and provided the pricelist and documentation as required. Failure
to comply may result in rejection of your offer.**

**Clause 552.219-72, Preparation, Submission and Negotiation of
Subcontracting Plans. [If you are a large business this must be
completed and submitted with your offer.]{.underline} An award will not
be made without an approved plan.**

**Commercial Sales Practice (CSP-1).**

> **(1) Provide the dollar value of sales to the general public at or
> based on an established catalog or**
>
> **market price during the previous 12-month period.**
>
> **(2) Show the total projected annual sales to the Government.
> Identify if this projection was based on**
>
> **actual sales and if not, what was used to prepare the estimate.**

**(3) Complete.**

> **(4) (a) Complete in its entirety. Specific instructions for
> completing this chart are on pages 2 and 3 of**
>
> **this attachment.**

**(4) (b) Complete if you are a dealer of the products offered, please
provide the proper information as**

> **shown in this paragraph.**

**Submit required Marketing Plan\
\
Complete the information in the applicable Departments for the products
you are offering:**

**Department, Hardware Store. Be sure to comply with the requirements of
AbilityOne (formerly JWOD).**

**Department 4, Commercial Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Fuels, and
Lubricants. ([Be sure to\
comply with AbilityOne (formerly JWOD) requirements]{.underline})**

**Department 5, Appliance Department.**

**Department 6, Tools Department.**

**Department 7, Lawn and Garden Department.**

**Department 8, Woodworking and Metalworking Machinery and Equipment.\
** **Department 9, Leasing and Rental Department\
\
*In addition, please ensure that the following items are with your offer
to GSA. \*\**[FAILURE TO PROVIDE ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS MAY
RESULT IN THE IMMEDIATE REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER.]{.underline}**

1)  ***Open Ratings Report -- Completed from Open Ratings (D&B Past
    Performance Evaluation Report)***

2)  ***Proof of Registration with Central Contractor Registration (CCR).
    The web-site is [www.ccr.gov](http://www.ccr.gov/)***

3)  ***Country of Origin Disclosure. (Must include all products and part
    numbers being offered).\
    \
    4) Origin of all Components of Sets and Kits\
    \
    5) Copy of Online Representations and Certifications Application
    (ORCA) record. The web-site is
    [http://orca.bpn.gov](http://orca.bpn.gov/)\
    \
    6) Random sampling of approximately 20-25 invoices written to your
    most favored customer (MFC). These will be used for the purpose of
    verifying discount and pricing structures disclosed as well as
    freight evaluation.\
    \
    7) Exceptions to the Solicitation, if any.\
    \
    8) Fire or Casualty Safety Standards\
    \
    9). Discounting Policies\
    \
    10) Production Point\
    \
    11) Letter(s) of Supply**. If you are a Dealer or Supplier of
    products (excluding Department 3, Hardware Store Department), you
    must provide a letter of commitment from the manufacturer for each
    brand offered. This letter must be on the manufacturer's original
    letterhead with an original signature from an officer (CEO,
    President, Vice President) of the company. It must reference your
    offer, including your company name and the solicitation number (
    6FEC-E6-070173-B), and contain a statement similar to the following:
    "[Manufacturer's Name]{.underline} guarantees [Your Company
    Name]{.underline} a source of supply sufficient to meet the
    Government's requirements for the term of the contract. The
    manufacturer must also include a statement certifying that new
    products comply with the requirements of Clause 52.225-5, Trade
    Agreements Act.*

*\
**12) Letter of Authorization** (for use when authorizing an agent to
discuss and negotiate your offer, and bind your company).\
**\
13) Financial Documents (Most recent 12-month Balance Sheet and Income
Statement)\
\
!4) Commercial Sales Practices Format (CSP-1)\
\
15) Printed, published, Commercial Price List (See Clauses M-FSS-329,
Commercial Price Lists, and 552.212-70, Preparation of Offer).\
\
16) Offered Pricing\
\
17) Descriptive Literature\
\
18) Authorized Dealer(s) Information (if applicable)\
\
19) Complete Copy of Standard Commercial Warranty\
\
***