6530--CAGE RACK WASHER FOR RESEARCH

Sources Sought- Cage Rack washer for Minneapolis VA Research department Notice Type: Sources Sought This is a Request for Information (RFI) only; it is not a request for quotations or offers. 52.215-3 -- Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997) (a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. (b) Although proposal and offeror are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. (c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of conducting market research to identify potential sources for a potential procurement contract for an animal cage rack washer for the Minneapolis MN research department. Please address the following in your responses:

Company legal name, address, point of contact information, and DUNS Number Product being proposed, with product literature attached to response Where are products being manufactured? Who is the OEM? Estimated shipping and delivery information. Shipping destination-Nebraska Your firm s socio-economic status Shipping terms (FOB Origin or Destination) Must provide copy of authorized distributor letter with response to demonstrate non-gray market to be considered in market research. Provide confirmation the products being proposed is not gray market or counterfeit in accordance with Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation Clause 852.212-72 below. 852.212-72 Gray Market and Counterfeit Items (MAR 2020) (DEVIATION) GRAY MARKET AND COUNTERFEIT ITEMS (MAR 2020) (a) No used, refurbished, or remanufactured supplies or equipment/parts shall be provided. This procurement is for new Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) items only. No gray market items shall be provided. Gray market items are OEM goods intentionally or unintentionally sold outside an authorized sales territory or sold by non-authorized dealers in an authorized sales territory. (b) No counterfeit supplies or equipment/parts shall be provided. Counterfeit items include unlawful or unauthorized reproductions, substitutions, or alterations that have been mismarked, misidentified, or otherwise misrepresented to be an authentic, unmodified item from the original manufacturer, or a source with the express written authority of the original manufacturer or current design activity, including an authorized aftermarket manufacturer. Unlawful or unauthorized substitutions include used items represented as new, or the false identification of grade, serial number, lot number, date code, or performance characteristics. (c) Vendor shall be an OEM, authorized dealer, authorized distributor or authorized reseller for the proposed equipment/system, verified by an authorization letter or other documents from the OEM. All software licensing, warranty and service associated with the equipment/system shall be in accordance with the OEM terms and conditions This is a request for information and sources only, which may or may not lead to a future solicitation. This is not a request for proposal (RFP). The VA will not pay for any information received resulting from this sources sought notice. Information should be forwarded to the Contract Specialist. Any questions should be addressed to the Contract Specialist, in writing, at the email address provided. Because this is a request for information only, answers to questions will not be posted. If your organization has the capability to provide these items and is interested in this opportunity, please respond to Melanie Stockman, Contracting Officer, Network 23 Contracting Office (NCO23), 4801 Veterans Drive, Saint Cloud, MN or via e-mail at melanie.stockman@va.gov. Please submit this information as soon as possible, but no later than 4:30 PM, Central Time on June 23, 2021. 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. In accordance with 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. SPECIFICATIONS: MVAHCS Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) Cage Washer request The following is requested: New cage washer unit that has at minimum: ability to wash standard polycarbonate shoebox mouse and rat cages on racks using either high temperature water and/or alkaline detergents; ability to wash freestanding stainless-steel rabbit racks and pans using acid cycles; ability to wash loose animal equipment (water bottles, water bottle tops, stainless steel wire cage lids and card holders, plastic food bowls, and toys) has built-in safety features, including interior safety pull stop cable, door with large window, lock out tag out features includes at minimum two washing racks; if bottle washing rack is separate, then two washing racks and a bottle washing rack. Ideally the unit would also be compatible with currently used washing rack units The new cage washer shall be compatible with the utilities supporting the current cage washer and fit in the existing footprint without any facility modification required, Contractor is to provide a written safety plan and LOTO procedure to Minneapolis VA Engineering prior to starting work, Include demolition and disposition of the current unit, Include installation and connection of the new cage washer and commissioning. Â All facility and utility modifications and associated cost shall be by the cage washer contractor after Minneapolis VA Engineering s review and approval of the proposed facility and/or utility modification (note, no utility or facility modifications are expected to be required and if a need for utility or facility modification is identified during a site visit, it should be discussed prior to contract award) Include at least one year of warrantee and preventative maintenance. Provide operation and maintenance training and all O&M manuals. The C&A requirements do not apply, and a Security Accreditation Package is not required