Synopsis: This is a Sources Sought for Planning Purposes. The VA VISN 9, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) is conducting market research through hosting a Vendor Fair seeking as potential sources companies that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to competently and competitively respond to a requirement for a comprehensive Green Tissue Program (NAICS 424130, Size Standard 100 Employees; FSC/PCS 8540); for the VISN 9 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers located in the TVHS area, and possibly other medical centers/facilities within the VISN 9 region. All interested vendors, in particular those on the Federal Supply Schedule, are encouraged to participate. This Sources Sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Quotation. It is the intent of VISN 9 Acquisition Service Center to conduct a Vendor Fair on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at the VA TVHS Nashville VAMC, All Purpose Room (B-104), 1310 24th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212; and on Thursday, April 1, 2010 at the VA TVHS Alvin C. York Medical Center, Building 107 Auditorium, 3400 Lebanon Pike, Murfreesboro, TN 37129, beginning at 11:00 a.m. and ending at 1:00 p.m. It is the intention of the VA TVHS to establish a contract with a single vendor for the purchase and supply of all tissue products including toilet paper and dispenser, hand towels and dispenser, toilet seat covers, baby changing station covers, and female sanitary products. The purpose of seeking a sole vendor is to ensure consistent quality and to ensure that appropriately sized dispensers are provided for all paper products at TVHS facilities. In addition, we are investigating the possibility of other facilities within the VISN 9 region being able to purchase off this same contract and are therefore interested in locating vendors whose territory may include other facilities within this region.Vendors wishing to participate in the Vendor Fair must contact Sonja Robinson @
[email protected] in advance to ensure that room will be available in the designated room; and space will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis (all vendors will be permitted the same amount of space for display purposes). All Vendors may begin arriving at 9:00 a.m. in order to set-up for the Vendor Fair, and no vendor(s) will be permitted into the room prior to this designated set-up time; and vendors must be out of the facility no later than 3:00 p.m. Vendors will need to be present at both locations. It is further intended that, after the Vendor Fair, a solicitation will be finalized and posted as required by law so that all interested, qualified, capable, and competent contractors may submit bids for evaluation, and ultimately a contract award. Point of Contact: Carol Franklin email
[email protected] Contract Specialist Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 9 Acquisition Center (90C) 1639 Medical Center Parkway Suite 400 Murfreesboro, TN 37129-2573 Phone: (615) 225-6972; Fax: (615) 225-5431 PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORK: Green Tissue Program The purpose of this contract is to establish an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) for the making and supplying of tissue products for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. This includes the dispensing devises and by products associated with the packaging and distribution of all green tissue products. Selected contractors will assist and provide the following requested services: General Requirements The contractor shall provide a Green Tissue Program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) locations within the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS). Tissue for the purpose of this Statement of Work (SOW) includes toilet paper, hand tissues, bi-fold hand tissues, feminine hygiene products, baby changing station covers and toilet covers. This contract will not be based on price alone. The criteria will be based quality, recycling requirements, waste minimization, and cost. Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) is an integrated healthcare system comprised of Medical Centers, the Alvin C. York Campus in Murfreesboro, TN, and the Nashville Campus in Nashville, TN, and many community based outpatient clinics located in Tennessee (Charlotte Avenue, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Cookeville, Dover, McMinnville, Tullahoma, and Vine Hill), and Kentucky (Fort Campbell, Hopkinsville, and Bowling Green). Detailed Requirements PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Interim time will be a part of the phase in and phase out process and will also carry the facilities through to the base year. The intent is to contract for one Base year with the possibility of four one year option periods. There is also the possibility of establishing a contract that would permit other facilities within the VISN 9 Region to order off this same contract. As part of the Green Tissue Program, TVHS expects products to include recovered paper material and post-consumer material. Products will be expected to meet certain absorbency rates. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS: Contractor shall ensure all products must be made in accordance with reasonable industry practice with respect to holes, tears, wrinkles, cleanliness, absorbency rates, foreign materials or dirt. It must have no disagreeable odor, either wet or dry, in accordance with reasonable industry practice. Edges of the product must be cleanly cut and not ragged. Product must dispense properly from the box or fixture. Contractor shall supply all dispensing units for Green Tissue items. Where feasible provide the environmentally friendly dispensing units. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: Toilet Tissue: The contractor shall provide each roll of bathroom tissue which must contain at least 40 square feet of product (equivalent to approximately 300 x 4.5 x 4.4 inch sheets). Each box of facial tissue must contain at least 70 square feet of product (equivalent to approximately 175 x 8.0 x 8.0 inch sheets). The fiber in bathroom tissue shall contain 100% recovered materials, including 20% post-consumer materials. Paper Towels: The contractor shall ensure fiber in paper towels and napkins contain 100% recovered materials and at least 40% post-consumer material by weight. The percentage of recovered material and post-consumer material shall be calculated and certified based on the FIBER weight of the paper. Calculations will also be performed based on the total weight of the paper. The recovered material used in making a certified product shall not be bleached using chlorine or any of its derivatives (such as hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide). Feminine Hygiene Products: The contractor shall ensure Tampons and panty liners are made from organic cotton (no irritating, synthetic materials here), whitened without the use of chlorine bleach, compact, and safe for sensitive skin. Toilet Seat Covers: Contractor shall ensure100 % Biodegradable seat covers provide a hygienic barrier for sanitary protection. Baby Changing Station Replaceable Covers: Contractor shall ensure 100 % Biodegradable covers provide a hygienic barrier for sanitary protection while changing diapers. Dispensing Units: Contractor shall supply all tissue dispensing units at no cost to the government. Contractor will be responsible for additional units as construction and renovation projects are completed. GREEN PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: Bleaching: Chlorine and its derivatives shall not be used. Post-consumer Content: the post-consumer content of a product shall be determined by measuring the average product fiber utilization over a period of no longer than three months. De-inking of Recovered Paper: recovered paper shall not be de-inked using a solvent containing chlorine, or any chemicals listed by the EPA under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. Additional Ingredients: the product (not including packaging) shall not contain any added pigments, inks, dyes, or fragrances. PACKING REQUIREMENTS: The core of a roll of bathroom tissue or the box used to package facial tissue must be made from 100% recovered fiber, or coreless. A consumer package of bathroom tissue must contain at least 4 rolls unless the outer wrapper has been manufactured from 100% recycled materials. Packaging shall not contain inks, dyes, pigments, stabilizers, or any other additives to which any lead, cadmium, or hexavalent chromium has been intentionally introduced. The sum of the concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium present in any package or packaging components shall not exceed 100 parts per million by weight.