THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE SUBMISSION OF PRICING, CAPABILITIES FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, AND OTHER MARKET INFORMATION IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED UNDER THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) FAR 15.201(e). This is not a solicitation announcement. This is a Sources Sought Notice only. The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of potential qualified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) or Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) under NAICS 337910. Responses to this synopsis will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this Sources Sought Notice, a solicitation announcement may be published in the FedBizOpps. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice are not considered adequate responses to the solicitation announcement. All interested offerors will have to respond to the solicitation announcement in addition to responding to this Sources Sought Notice. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 22, is seeking sources for Stryker Isolibrium Support Surface mattresses for the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System. If you are interested, and are capable of providing the required supplies please provide the requested information as indicated below. Responses to this notice should include: company name, address, point of contact, size of business pursuant to the following questions: Please indicate the size status and representations of your business, such as but not limited to: Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), Hubzone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.) Is your company considered small under the NAICS code identified under this RFI? If not, is your company considered small under a related NAICS code? Are you the manufacturer or distributor of the items being referenced above (or equivalent product/solution)? What is the manufacturing country of origin of these items? If you re a small business and you are an authorized distributor/reseller for the items identified above (or equivalent product/solution), do you alter; assemble; modify; the items requested in any way? If you do, state how and what is altered; assembled; modified? Does your company have an FSS contract with GSA or the NAC or are you a contract holder with NASA SEWP or any other federal contract? If so, please provide the contract type and number. If you are an FSS/GSA/NAC or NASA SEWP contract holder or other federal contract holder, are the referenced items/solutions available on your schedule/contract? Please provide general pricing for your products/solutions for market research purposes. Please submit your capabilities in regards to the salient characteristics being provided and any information pertaining to brand name or equal to items to establish capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to
[email protected]. Telephone responses shall not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than Monday, July 23, 2018, by 0800 AM PST. If a solicitation is issued it shall be announced at a later date and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this Sources Sought Notice. Responses to this notice will not be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION FAR PART 13 SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES PROCUREMENT REQUEST 605-18-3-026-0541 In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 11.105(a)(1), the particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government s requirements, and market research indicates other companies similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency s needs q For brand name purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)). x For brand name acquisitions of commercial items in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold conducted pursuant to FAR subpart 13.5 (13.501(a)). Justification for other than full and open competition under the authority of section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 or the authority of the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (41 U.S.C. 428a). The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System Facilities Management Services requires 30 Stryker Isolibrium Support Surface Mattresses. The Facilities Management Services Department only provides Stryker Isolibrium Support Surface Mattresses throughout the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System and all VA Loma Linda staff are trained on the operation and maintenance of the Stryker Isolibrium Support Surface Mattresses. An additional $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 would be required to train all medical personnel on a new brand and model of hospital mattress. Lastly, the Facilities Management Services Department has only purchased Stryker Isolibrium model of mattresses and changing to a new brand of mattress would require additional funding for training. This additional funding and time for additional training on a new brand of mattress is not available to the Facilities Management Services Department. Any interruption to the supply of hospital mattresses to the VA Loma Linda medical wards could disrupt veteran patient care. Market Research A search of the VETBIZ, NAC, and GSA websites was conducted for vendors of the Stryker Isolibrium mattress. Contractors of hospital mattresses were identified so in accordance with FAR subpart 5.2 this Sources Sought Notice will be posted from 7/19/2018 to 7/23/2018. Based on the Contracting Officer s determination, the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer s signature below certifies that this Brand Name Justification is accurate and complete to the best of the Contracting Officer s knowledge and belief. Approval of the Brand Name Justification: Contracting Officer (Proposed contract not exceeding $550,000)