36C10X26Q0207_1.docx

Request for Information

Request for Information

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE*

21703

ARCHIVE

30 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

CONTACT INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS

Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick Department of Veterans Affairs 5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103 Frederick MD 21703

DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is seeking information and sources capable of providing the supplies described below. The purpose of this notice is to gather capabilities and market information pertinent to acquisition planning. The responses to the request for information notice will contribute to determining the method of procurement and identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement.

THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME

This request for information does not constitute a request for quotes. Submission of any information in response to this sources sought notice is purely voluntary. The Government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Information & Technology (OIT), End User Services (EUS), End User Operations (EUO), Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) IT has a requirement to purchase Apple accessories for the mobile devices.

The requested Apple mobile device accessories listed are the requirements for the base period of twelve months plus one option period of twelve months (Base +1).

Please see the attached Product Description (PD)

I. Anticipated NAICS Code/Size Standard:

The applicable NAICS Code is 334220- Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communication Equipment Manufacturing. The SBA size standard for NAICS 334220 is 1,250 employees.

II. Submission Information:

All responses must be submitted to justin.cole4@va.gov and Craig.Nelson@va.gov by the date listed with an email titled VACO Apple Mobile iPhone Accessories. Responders will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of a response but will not receive individualized feedback on any questions. If your company has the potential capability to perform these contract requirements, please respond to this Request for Information by providing a capability statement. The number of pages is limited to a total of 10 pages; size must be no greater than 8 1/2" x 11". The top, bottom, left and right margins must be a minimum of one inch each. Font size must be no smaller than 12-point. Arial fonts are required.

III. Disclaimer:

This Request for Information is for market research purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Quotation. It is not considered to be a commitment by the Government to award a contract nor will the Government pay for any information provided. No basis for a claim against the Government must arise from a response to this Request for Information or Government use of any information provided. Failure to submit information in sufficient detail may result in considering a company as not a viable source and may influence competition and set-aside decisions. Regardless of the information obtained from this Request for Information, the Government reserves the right to consider any arrangement as deemed appropriated for this requirement. Respondents are advised, the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response to this Request for Information.

IV. Questions

a. Quoters Business Questions

1. Provide a brief corporate profile of your company to include the following:

a. Organization's official name and dba name, if applicable;

b. Length of time the Organization has been in business;

c. Types of services provided by your Organization;

d. Types of clients by industry (i.e., Federal, Commercial, Local Government, etc.);

e. Whether the Organization is U.S. based or International;

f. If the Organization is a subsidiary of another Organization;

g. SAM Unique Entity ID number and CAGE number;

h. Organization's website address;

i. Main point of contact name, phone number, and email address;

j. SBA size designation information and small business concern type (if applicable);

k. Number of employees in the organization;

l. Organization's most recent annual receipts amount as defined by the SBA.

m. Tax Identification Number

n. Any applicable Socio-Economical Classification(s): 8(a), HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-owned, Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned and Small Disadvantaged Business.

2. Does your organization have an existing GSA schedule for this type of requirement?

3. What NAICS codes would your company recommend for this action?

b. Draft RFI Questions

6. Do you feel the requirements are clearly defined in the draft documentation provided?

7. What information needs to be added, changed and/or reworded within the draft documentation provided to support the acquisition?

8. Can you provide documentation certifying that all products supplied will be new, OEM-original, and not "Gray Market Goods" or refurbished/remanufactured items, consistent with VA's anti-gray-market requirements?

9. Do you have existing experience fulfilling similar accessory orders for federal agencies, and if so, can you describe the scale and delivery timelines involved?

10. Are you registered in SAM.gov, and do you hold any relevant socioeconomic certifications (SDVOSB, VOSB, HUBZone, 8(a), etc.)?

11. Are there alternative or equivalent products you would propose that meet the same functional requirements at different price points?

12. What warranty terms accompany these products, and do they meet or exceed OEM standard warranty coverage?

13. If proposing an "or equal" product rather than genuine Apple accessories, what specific salient characteristics (dimensions, material, drop-test rating, MagSafe pull-force, key travel distance, etc.) does your product meet or exceed?

14. Does your organization manufacture or distribute keyboard and protective phone cases that are not Apple-branded but are designed to be compatible with Apple iPad Pro (M5, 13"/11") and iPhone 17 Pro Max devices?

15. What third-party or alternative-brand products would you propose as functional equivalents to a Magic Keyboard-style accessory and a MagSafe-compatible protective case?

16. Can you identify other manufacturers in the market currently producing viable "or equal" alternatives to these Apple-specific accessories, even if your organization does not produce them directly?

17. Is your organization able to source multi-brand or private-label equivalents that meet the same functional need, rather than being limited to a single manufacturer's product line?

18. Does your proposed keyboard alternative use a proprietary connector/attachment system, or is it compatible with the standard Smart Connector pin layout used by the target iPad models? If not compatible, what alternative attachment or pairing method (Bluetooth, USB-C) does it use?

19. For a case alternative, does your product support genuine MagSafe magnetic charging and alignment, or does it use a different magnetic/charging standard? Please describe any functional trade-offs.

20. Does your case alternative leave the Camera Control button and Action/programmable button fully functional and unobstructed, given that these are proprietary hardware features specific to this device generation?

21. Given that Apple restricts certain proprietary technologies (e.g., MagSafe's magnetic array, Smart Connector, Camera Control integration) through licensing (the "Made for iPhone/iPad" or MFi program), is your proposed product MFi-certified? If not, what functional limitations should the Government expect?

22. Are there compatibility or warranty risks associated with using non-Apple accessories with Apple devices that VA end users or IT support staff should be aware of (e.g., voided device warranty, software update conflicts, MDM/Mobile Device Management compatibility issues)?

23. Has your organization's product been tested for compatibility with VA's mobile device management (MDM) environment or similar federal MDM platforms?

24. What is the expected lifespan/durability of your proposed alternative compared to OEM accessories, and does this affect the total cost of ownership over the contract's base + option period?

25. Does your organization offer volume-based pricing tiers for bulk orders (e.g., 50–120 units per item, consistent with this requirement's estimated quantities)?

26. Can you confirm your proposed alternative products are new (not used, refurbished, or remanufactured) and are not affected by Gray Market Goods or Counterfeit Electronic Parts concerns as defined in VA's product requirements?

27. Where are your proposed alternative products manufactured, and can you confirm compliance with the Trade Agreements Act (TAA) regarding country of origin?

28. What changes would you recommend to the Product Description's language to ensure it describes the functional need (e.g., drop protection to a specific standard, wireless charging compatibility, keyboard/trackpad functionality) rather than referencing specific Apple product names or Apple-specific feature names (like "MagSafe" or "Camera Control")?

29. Do you hold a GSA Schedule contract that includes non-Apple/alternative mobile accessory products, and if so, under what SIN?

See attached document: PD Apple Mobile Device Accessories New Contract FY26_V2.

Request for Information

Request for Information