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General Definition

Acquisition - The process of getting what the Government needs, to where it is needed, when it is needed, as economically as possible, and in compliance with legal and administrative requirements.

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Our Procurement Authority

The Supply and Information Services Division is responsible for procuring materials and/or services with an estimated price at or below the Simplified Acquisition threshold of $150,000, on the open market. Additionally, we also procure materials and /or services from GSA Schedule contracts and other indefinite delivery type contracts up to the maximum order limit of the contract. The Supply and Information Services Division has unlimited authority when ordering from the Government's Wholesale Supply System. Procurements over the open market procurement limit ($150,000) are the responsibility of the NRL Contracting Division, Code 3200.

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Getting Started

The Supply and Information Services Division maintains a current bidders mailing list utilizing our automated system. Your company information may be emailed to SolQnA@nrl.navy.mil, faxed to (202) 767-0367 or mailed to:

Naval Research Laboratory
Technical Staff, Code 3441.3
4555 Overlook Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20375-5329

The Supply and Information Services Division Purchasing Branch, NRL Code 3410, has set aside Monday mornings as "Vendor Days" to allow contractors/vendors an opportunity to come in and meet the Contracting Officers/Purchasing Agents. Mondays during the month of September as well as those during the Christmas Holidays are excluded.

Please contact the Purchasing Branch Receptionist to schedule an appointment. These appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis and early scheduling is recommended.

You may contact the receptionist to schedule an appointment or for questions on
(202) 767-0375 or by mail at:

Naval Research Laboratory
Purchasing Branch, Code 3410
4555 Overlook Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20375-5329

Open market acquisitions with an anticipated value greater than $3000 are set aside by law, exclusively for small business concerns regardless of the procurement methods used. The NRL Supply and Information Services Division has very stringent small business participation goals that we make every effort to meet. Small business participation in the procurement process, here at NRL, continues to grow.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) establishes small business size standards on an industry-by-industry basis. Business size is determined based on annual receipts or the number of employees of a business concern. Small business size standards are applied by classifying the product or service being acquired in the industry whose definition best describes the product or service being acquired.

The industry categories are called North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and can be found in the NAICS Manual published by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The SBA online Women's Business Center is available to help women entrepreneurs start or expand their businesses. The online center offers information and services to women at all levels of business development. The SBA's Online Women's Business Center can be accessed at www.onlinewbc.gov.

For more information on other SBA programs, you can visit the agency's home page at www.sba.gov.

All Requests for Quotations (RFQs) issued by the Supply and Information Services Division will be posted on this web-site for download by potential quoters. The RFQs documents are in PDF format and are viewable with the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Amendments to these RFQs will also be made available in this same manner.

If you choose to participate in a particular solicitation it is your responsibility to check this web site on a regular basis. This will ensure that you receive any amendments that are issued to a particular RFQ that you may have interest in.

Questions regarding an RFQ should be addressed to the Contracting Officer, at the fax number stated in the RFQ, or they may be submitted via e-mail at SolQnA@nrl.navy.mil. Please reference the RFQ number on the subject line of the e-mail. Any questions must be submitted to the Contracting Officer at least five (5) working days in advance of the closing date for the RFQ.

The answers to any questions that are submitted will be provided to all potential quoters in the form of an amendment to the RFQ posted on this web site.

The submission of all responses to RFQs posted on this site must be in writing, by the time and closing date and at the place specified in the RFQ.

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RFQ's are not issued until the 16th day after they have been advertised in the FedBizOpps. The RFQ's are shown as "Pending" until that time. All Supply and Information Services Division RFQs are in PDF format. A reader, such as the Adobe Acrobat Reader is necessary to view all RFQs. RFQs will not be be available for downloading until the issue date.

Notification to unsuccessful contractors/vendors will only be given if requested. When a contractor/vendor requests information on an award, which was based on factors other than price alone, the notification will include a brief explanation of the basis for the contract award decision, but will not include a point by point comparison with the successful quote.

NRL promotes a highly successful purchase card program with over 300 cardholders. Our cardholders represent scientist and engineers, as well as, support personnel and contracting officers. We understand the need to get our material promptly and for contractors/vendors to receive prompt payment. We are constantly looking for more contractors/vendors who accept the card. For additional information about participating in our expanding program, please contact our Agency Program Coordinator, via e-mail or phone at (202) 404-8165.

All Department of Defense (DOD) contractors/vendors must be registered with the CCR database in order to be eligible for award of a contract or purchase order.

In an effort to streamline the acquisition process, the Federal Government has established the CCR database system. The CCR serves as a centralized repository of information about firms qualified to do business with the Federal Government. It also provides a single point where suppliers can register to do business with numerous agencies throughout the Government. The DOD and civilian agencies are looking to the CCR as the primary source of information from which they may assemble bidders lists for their acquisition needs. The CCR will also be used to verify payment data for electronic payment.

You may register with the CCR by completing an electronic on-line registration application at the CCR web site. The address for this site is http://www.ccr.gov/.

For additional information, you may also call the CCR Registration Assistance Center toll free at 1 (888)227-2423.

E-mail requests and comments concerning the CCR to: dlis_support@dlis.dla.mil.

Proposed acquisitions between $25,000.01 and $150,000 will be synopsized in the Federal Business Operations (FedBizOpps). The notice will be put into the FedBizOpps for 15 days prior to soliciting quotations. The Contracting Officer/Purchasing Agent will consider each individual procurement as to its complexity, availability and urgency when establishing the responsible time to the RFQ.

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What Do You Do If The Items Or Services That I Quote On Are Not The Same As Those Requested?

If a contractor/vendor has offered something different than the NRL requester has asked for, the Contracting Officer/Purchasing Agent will work with the requester to determine if the substituted item(s) or service(s) are acceptable.

What If I Am Unable To Meet The Required Delivery, But I Quote The Best Price?

The Contracting Officer/Purchasing Agent will contact the NRL requester for the purpose of determining if the delivery date quoted would be acceptable. If the requester relaxes the required delivery date, then all contractors/vendors originally solicited will have to be notified of this relaxed requirement, and be permitted to submit a new quote.

How Long Does It Take To Award A Purchase Order After The Closing Date Of The RFQ?

It is the responsibility of the NRL requester to evaluate the technical aspects of a quotation, and determine the contractor's/vendor's compliance or non-compliance with the specification requirements. After receipt of quotes, the entire quotation package, exclusive of prices, is forwarded to the requester for a written evaluation. This usually takes only a matter of a few days.

Does The Lowest Quoter, Always Get The Award?

Contracting Officers/Purchasing Agents may evaluate quotations based on price alone, or price and other factors (e.g. past performance, or quality). If quotes are evaluated on price and other factors, these other factors will be identified and made clear in the RFQ.

Are Discounts Offered By A Contractor/Vendor In His Quote Considered In The Evaluation?

Often times, contractors/vendors are sometimes willing to extend discounts based on quantity. The buyer will take this type of discount into consideration in the evaluation of the quoted price prior to award. However, prompt payment discounts offered, while greatly appreciated, cannot be considered in the evaluation of quotes.

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Government Contracts Resource Center
NRL Contracts Division (Code 3200)
Small Business Administration (SBA)
SBA - Online Women's Business Center

Supply & Information Services Division

Home

General Definition

Our Procurement Authority

Getting Started

Small Business Participation

How to Respond To Solicitations

Current Solicitations

Closed RFQ's

Requirements For On-Site Contractors

Notice to Unsuccessful Vendors

NRL Purchase Card Program

Central Contractor Registration (CCR)

Federal Business Opportunity (FedBizOpps)

Frequently Asked Questions

Points of Contacts

Links of Interest

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