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 RFI IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) FAR 15.201(e). DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. IAW FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. SOURCES SOUGHT DESCRIPTION This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a source sought synopsis only. The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 811210 (size standard of $30 M). Responses to this synopsis will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After a review of the responses to this source sought synopsis, a solicitation announcement may be published. Responses to this source sought synopsis are not considered adequate responses for a solicitation announcement. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 17 Network Contracting Office, is seeking sources that can provide Sakura Finetek Tissue-Tek VIP 6 for the VA NTX Healthcare System. The FAR Clause 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal applies to this RFI. Any items stated as equal and not conforming to the requirements will be considered non-responsive. The information identified above is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive, and to indicate the quality of the supplies/services will be satisfactory. It is the responsibility of the interested source to demonstrate to the government that the interested parties can provide the supplies/services that fulfill the required specifications. If you are interested and are capable of providing the sought-out supplies/services, please provide the requested information as well as the information indicated below. Response to this notice should include company name, address, point of contact, and size of business pursuant to the following questions: (1) Is your business a: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), HUBZone, Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.? (2) Is your company considered small under the NAICS code identified under this RFI? (3) Are you the manufacturer or a distributor of the items being researched above? (4) If you re a small business and you are an authorized distributor/reseller for the items identified above, do you alter; assemble; or modify; the items requested in any way? (5) If you do, state how and what is altered; assembled; or modified? (6) Does your company have FSS GSA/NASA SEWP/NAC or any other federal contract? If so, please provide the contract number. (7) If you are an FSS GSA/NASA SEWP/NAC or federal contract holder, are the items you are providing information for available on your schedule/contract? (8) Please submit your capabilities in regard to the salient characteristics being provided and any information pertaining to equal to items to establish capabilities for planning purposes? *** Submissions addressing Section (8) should show clear, compelling, and convincing*** evidence that all equal to items" meet all the salient characteristics. 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 8:00 AM CST. November 09, 2022. 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 source sought. Responses to this source sought notice are not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. Please reference 36C25723Q0127.