36C10G19Q0052-0001000.docx

FedBizOpps Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

CLASSIFICATION CODE

SUBJECT

CONTRACTING OFFICE'S

ZIP-CODE

SOLICITATION NUMBER

BASE NOTICE TYPE

RESPONSE

DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)

ARCHIVE

DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS

SET-ASIDE

NAICS CODE

CONTRACTING OFFICE

ADDRESS

POINT OF CONTACT

(POC Information Automatically Filled from User Profile Unless Entered)

DESCRIPTION

See Attachment

AGENCY'S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT'S EMAIL

ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

ADDRESS

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

* = Required Field FedBizOpps Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation Rev. March 2010 NX EQ Microscopes, Light, Laboratory Nikon Eclipse Brand Name or Equal 22408-2697 36C10G19Q0052 04-16-2019 N 333314 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OPAL | Strategic Acquisition Center 10300 Spotsylvania Ave | STE 400 Fredericksburg VA 22408-2697 Sonja Davis Sonja.Davis2@va.gov www.va.gov/OfficeOfAcquisitionOperations/about/sac.asp VA | OALC | OPAL | Strategic Acquisition Center The purpose of this Amendment is to provide answers to Vendor questions and post a Revised Attachment B – Minimum Salient Characteristics Product Description. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Question 1: Regarding Salient Characteristic No. 1, please describe the type of Chemistry applications intended for these microscopes.

Answer 1: While listed only as an example of a clinical application, the chemistry application has been removed.

Question 2: Concerning Salient Characteristic No. 3, as the government wants the option of Trinocular tubes for use, please confirm offers must include Trinocular tubes.

Answer 2: Yes, the option for Trinocular tubes must be included.

Question 3: Regarding Salient Characteristic No. 6, please provide further explanation as to what the government considers to be an “ergonomically designed” microscope. We don’t believe motorization is the only characteristic reflective of ergonomically design nor the best option available to meet the clinical needs. Furthermore, a motorized microscope stand is a very specific brand related requirement, ultimately limiting competition and forcing the government to purchase a higher‐priced product.

Answer 3: In reference to “ergonomically designed”, the microscope should be designed to fit the worker, not the other way around. The goal is to eliminate discomfort and risk of injury due to work. Motorized is not used in a Salient Characteristic (SC); if a product can perform the same without being motorized, it would be not be a problem.

Question 4: Please confirm all proposed microscopes will be evaluated based upon the six (6) Salient Characteristics and not evaluated based off the requested line items/CLINS in the pricing spreadsheet? For example, CLIN0010, SubCLIN 0010AF, is a Halogen Lamp. Halogen is an outdated lighting solution. We offer LED which is much more ecofriendly, longer lasting (over 50,000 hours), brighter, does not require bulb changes for the life of the microscope, and does not cause eye strain for the user, unlike Halogen. Would Alliant’s proposal to include the LED lighting have any effect on our proposal if we are still meeting all 6 Salient Characteristics?

Answer 4: To be considered technically acceptable each CLIN must meet all the SCs. For those items not identified with a SC, the quoted product should be a similar product that would perform the same function. As such, a LED light would be acceptable.