Brand Name NSNs, Industry Feedback Request

GSA's Supply Chain Management Contracting Division is seeking feedback from industry regarding the Brand Name National Stock Numbers (NSNs) published with this notice.

The NSNs were established as Brand Name (BN) specific at the point they were created, and therefore the Item Purchase Descriptions (IPDs) are likewise written as BN specific. Supporting information was provided at the point of NSN/IPD creation, however in some cases that information may no longer be relevant (see FAR Part 10), and as Brand Name specific items (see FAR 8.405-6(b) and FAR 6.302-1(c)), GSA is seeking to verify whether the need described by the IPDs can in fact only be met by the one particular manufacturer cited (the manufacturer indicated in the IPD), or whether other manufacturers’ products (or brands) can be offered which can meet the requirement (see FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B), FAR 8.405-6(b), FAR 6.302-1(c)).

In order to meet the continued need for these items on behalf of our DoD customers, GSA will seek to add these items to contract, but prior to doing so, we are issuing this notice as a request to industry to provide feedback confirming or countering the requirement as described. Are these manufacturer names and part numbers, as listed in the IPDs, the only manufacturers that will meet the requirement, or are there suitable substitute manufacturer names and part numbers that can be offered to meet the requirement? Please note that supporting information must be provided by industry respondents by filling in accurately and completely, all of the designated columns, for any NSN(s) that you are seeking to comment on.

To respond to this feedback request, please complete the attached excel template in the highlighted columns designated for industry feedback, along with supporting documentation for all NSNs where you indicated a viable substitute, and email them to fssi.mro-req@gsa.gov. Note that all literature must contain the NSN indicated on every page of literature submitted so that the NSN association being made is clear. Also the subject line of your email must follow this naming convention: BN NSN Industry Feedback, [Your Vendor or OEM Name]. ie, "BN NSN Industry Feedback, ABC Corporation".

All NSNs with corresponding Brand Name Only manufacturer and part numbers are listed on the Brand Name attachment. To request an individual IPD, please email fssi.mro-req@gsa.gov with the following naming convention in the subject: “BN NSN Industry Feedback, IPD Request, NSN (please list NSN)”

04/25/24 update: An updated excel attachment was posted 04/25/24. This new attachment includes the full set of 3,479 BN NSNs in the Tools and Hardware Commodity group. The original excel attachment contained only a smaller subset (less than 2,000) of these NSNs.

04/30/24 update: Over 1000 of the Item Purchase Description (IPDs) were posted to this announcement. Please see the Attachments section of the announcement.