36C24124Q0632.docx

SUBJECT*

Pest Control Contract (VA-24-00037765)

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

VAMC Manchester

718 Smyth Road Manchester NH 03104

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Nathan Langone Nathan.Langone@va.gov 603-340-0102

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

950 Campbell Ave

West Haven CT

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought Notice

DESCRIPTION

Sources Sought Notice

This is a Sources Sought notice only. This is not a request for quotes and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. The Government will not provide any reimbursement for responses submitted in response to this Source Sought notice. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

If a solicitation is issued it shall be announced at a later date, and all interest parties must response to that solicitation announcement separately. Responses to this notice are not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation The purpose of this announcement is to perform market research to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 561710 (Exterminating and Pest Control Services) SBA size standard $17.5 Million. The contractor shall provide all management, to prevent and control a wide variety of arthropod and vertebrate pests which include but not limited to cockroaches, flies, fruit flies, termites, ants, fleas, bed bugs, stored product pests, silver fish, mosquitoes, mice, rats, bees, and wasps using best practice in our region. There may be a need to eliminate wildlife such as skunk(s), squirrel(s), bird(s), raccoon(s), possum(s) and others. In addition, the contractor will provide tools, supplies equipment, transportation, and labor to develop and implement an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan. All infestations shall be addressed until pests are eliminated. Inspections shall be conducted daily 7 days a week at the VA West Haven Campus, once a week at the Newington Campus and biweekly at each of the CBOC locations. with complaints responded to immediately (within 4 hours upon notification from the COR (Contracting Officer’s Representative). The full SOW is attached below for reference.

This Sources Sought notice provides an opportunity for respondents to submit their capability and availability to provide the requirement described below. Vendors are encouraged to submit information relative to their capabilities to fulfill this requirement, in the form of a statement that addresses the specific requirement identified in this Sources Sought. Information received from this Sources Sought shall be utilized to facilitate the Contracting Officer’s review of the market base, for acquisition planning, size determination, and procurement strategy.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by 17:00 EST, 9th of August 2024. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to Nathan.Langone@va.gov with Sources Sought # 36C24124Q0632 in the subject line. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Interested parties should complete the attached Sources Sought Worksheet. Parties may submit additional information related to their capabilities, provided it contains all the requirements contained in the Sources Sought Worksheet. Responses to this Sources Sought shall not exceed 8 pages. In addition, all submissions should be provided electronically in a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

Attachment 1 Sources Sought Worksheet

QUALIFICATION INFORMATION:

Company / Institute Name: _______________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________ Phone Number: ________________________________________________________________ Point of Contact: _______________________________________________________________ E-mail Address: ________________________________________________________________ Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) #: ___________________________________________________ CAGE Code: __________________________________________________________________ SAM Registered: (Y / N) Other available contract vehicles applicable to this sources sought (GSA/FSS/NASA SEWP/ETC): __________________________________________________________________

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS:

VIP Verified SDVOSB: (Y / N) VIP Verified VOSB: (Y / N) 8(a): (Y / N) HUBZone: (Y / N) Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business: (Y / N) Women-Owned Small Business: (Y / N) Small Business: (Y / N) NOTE: Respondent claiming SDVOSB and VOSB status shall be registered and Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) verified in VetBiz Registry www.vetbiz.gov.

BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SDVOSB, VOSB, SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.

CAPABILITY STATEMENT:

Provide a brief capability and interest in providing the service as listed in Attachment 2 Statement of Work with enough information to determine if your company can meet the requirement. The capabilities statement for this Sources Sought is not a Request for Quotation, Request for Proposal, or Invitation for Bid, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach, but rather the Government is requesting a short statement regarding the company’s ability to provide the services outlined in the SOW. Any commercial brochures or currently existing marketing material may also be submitted with the capabilities statement. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Government will not pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Pest Control Services for 2 Connecticut VA’s & 6 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs)

A. Purpose The purpose of this contract is to establish an environmentally sound and effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to prevent general arthropod, invertebrate, vertebrate pests and wildlife from adversely affecting the Connecticut VA installations operations and personnel through obtaining pest control services. A contract shall be awarded for a base year (12 months) with four (4) potential annual option years to be exercised at the discretion of the government.

B. Scope and Objectives The contractor shall provide all management, to prevent and control a wide variety of arthropod and vertebrate pests which include but not limited to cockroaches, flies, fruit flies, termites, ants, fleas, bed bugs, stored product pests, silver fish, mosquitoes, mice, rats, bees, and wasps using best practice in our region. There may be a need to eliminate wildlife such as skunk(s), squirrel(s), bird(s), raccoon(s), possum(s) and others. In addition, the contractor will provide tools, supplies equipment, transportation, and labor to develop and implement an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan. All infestations shall be addressed until pests are eliminated. Inspections shall be conducted daily 7 days a week at the VA West Haven Campus, once a week at the Newington Campus and biweekly at each of the CBOC locations. with complaints responded to immediately (within 4 hours upon notification from the COR (Contracting Officer’s Representative).

**Note: Other locations may be added or deleted as needed and frequency will vary.

VACBOC Stamford 1275 Summer St, Suite 102 Stamford, CT 06905

VACBOC Waterbury 95 Scovill Street Waterbury, CT 06706

Orange Annex 200 Edison Road Orange, Ct 06477 VACBOC Danbury 7 Germantown Rd Suite 2B Danbury, CT 06810

VACBOC Willimantic 1320 Main Street Willimantic, CT 06226

VACBOC New London Shaw's Cove Six New London, CT 06320 VACBOC Winsted 115 Spencer Street Winsted, CT 06908

Errera Community Center 114 Orange Ave West Haven, CT 06516 Page 1 of

All work shall be performed during normal business hours, 8:00am to 4:30pm EST, excluding Federal holidays and unless otherwise approved by the COR.

The service shall include all buildings, inside and out, at all locations. This includes at a minimum:

1. Thoroughly inspecting all areas requested for pest infestation(s) and surrounding areas/facilities as necessary.

2. Communicating regularly with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), determined at contract award, regarding planned actions and recommendations.

3. The contractor shall provide an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP) to the COR within thirty (30) days of contract award. • IPMP plan requires approval by the COR prior to implementation

• Contractors IPMP plan requires but is not limited to address the following tasks: o Inspect to determine pest management measures are appropriate are required.

o Recommend and communicate to the COR environmental sanitation practices that restrict or eliminate food, water or harborage for pests and recommend engineering practices that limit entry of pests.

o Selection and utilization of non-chemical control methods, which eliminate, exclude, or repel pests, i.e., traps, caulking, air screens, etc.

o Selection and utilization of the most environmentally sound pesticides(s) and application methods that present the lowest potential hazard to human health and non-target animals. All products shall be approved by the COR prior to use.

o Collection and disposal of all pests.

o Control general structural arthropod pests (i.e., cockroaches, ants, beetles, spiders, carpenter ants, bees, silver fish etc..).

o Control flying insect pests (i.e., flies, fruit flies, etc..).

o Control predatory pests (i.e., lice, bedbugs, fleas, mites, ticks, bees, wasps, mosquitoes, scorpions, etc..).

o Control stored product pests (i.e., saw tooth grain beetle, red confused flour beetle, trogerman beetles, moths, etc..).

o Control mice and rates (i.e., house mouse, field mouse, rats, etc..).

o Control pest bird (i.e., pigeons, sparrows, etc.).

o Control other vertebrate pests (i.e., dogs, cats, bats, squirrels, gophers, moles, skunks, snakes, rabbits, racoons, possums, etc.).

o Control wood destroying organisms (i.e., subterranean termites, dry wood termites, fungi, wood boring beetles, etc.).

o Control aquatic pests (i.e., mosquito larva/pupae, etc.).

4. The contractor shall perform an evaluation of the exterior of the buildings for any opening or discrepancies that potentially allows pests to enter.

5. The Contractor shall provide a reporting system (preferably web-based) that allows the VA Environmental Management Service (EMS) to see service metrics (i.e. number of calls, work orders submitted, when calls are addressed and/or when work orders are closed out). In addition, the report shall provide the following information:

o Name and address of person who applied pesticide o Location pesticide applied, by building and room number.

o Pest(s) against which the pesticide was applied o Date and time of application o Brand name of pesticide o Name of manufacturer or federal environmental protection agency registration number for pesticide o Rate of application or amount of pesticide applied o Total area treated

6. The Contractor shall provide pest control services 8:00am – 4:30pm EST 5 days a week at the West Haven Campus, once a week at the Newington Campus and monthly at each of the CBOC locations. These days may increase or decrease, depending on the needs of the VA.

7. The contractor shall respond to emergency calls within four (4) hours after receipt of notification and non- emergency calls twenty-four (24) hours after receipt of the call for all facilities.

8. Emergencies include, but are not limited to: bedbugs, swarms of bees or ants, bats in building, or nuisance wildlife, such as squirrels, skunks, chipmunks, or others in a building or on campus or affecting operations.

9. Contractor shall be responsible for complying with all federal, state, local laws, and regulations. Contractor shall comply with VA Directive 1850.02.

C. Safety Factors Storage of pest control materials or equipment is prohibited on VA property without the written approval of the COR. The Contractor shall not dispose of any excess pesticide containers, or any other materials contaminated by pesticides at any VA Hospitals, CBOCs or VA locations.

D. Supervision and Security

Contractor employees who will perform services at VA facilities covered by this contract shall be required to undergo fingerprinting prior to providing services, fingerprinting will be done at the West Haven Campus building 4. Once vendor employee has been fingerprinted and approved by the VA facility access badge will be provided. The VA badged certified (licensed) applicator/operator shall report to Building 8 EMS trailer at the West Haven campus, building 42-100 of the Newington Campus and the main check in desk at the VACBOC’s. The COR or designee will escort the Contractor employee to provide access to secure areas and act as a liaison to medical center personnel.

a. While on VA premises, all contractor personnel shall comply with the rules, regulations, and procedures governing the conduct of personnel and the operation of the facility.

b. An access badge will be given to the contractor’s employee upon entrance into VA Buildings. The contractor employee must safeguard the access badge and immediately report any lost, stolen, or destroyed badges to the COR. All contract personnel shall be in company uniform with company name displayed and shall properly display their VA access badges. Access badges shall be worn at or above the waist (facing forward). The contractor’s employee shall return access badges(s) to the COR or designee at the end of each workday.

c. The contractor shall be required to comply with all security policies/requirements of the CT VA facilities. All security policies/requirements must be met, and employees cleared prior to the contractor performing work under this contract. Employees that cannot meet the security and clearance requirements shall not be allowed to perform work under this contract.

d. It is the responsibility of the contractor’s personnel to park in the appropriate designated parking areas.

e. The VA shall not make reimbursements for parking or any other violations of the contractor’s personnel under any circumstance.

E. Interference to Normal Function:

Contractor may be required to interrupt their work at any time as not to interfere with normal functioning of the facility, including utility services, fire protection systems, and passage of facility patients, personnel, equipment, and carts.

a. In the event of an emergency, contractor services may be stopped and rescheduled at no additional cost to the government.

b. Contractor personnel shall inform the COR or the designee of the need to gain access to secured areas. If access is required to a secure area, prearranged scheduling shall be made with the COR or designee.

F. Glossary

• Certified Applicator/Operator: Any individual who applies pesticides or supervises the use of pesticides and who has been authorized to do so by certification by the State of Connecticut.

• Contracting Officer (CO): A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government. Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

• Contracting Officer's Representative (COR): An employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs appointed by the contracting officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations. This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the Contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does NOT have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A planned program incorporating a wide variety of technological and management practices to achieve long-term and environmentally sound pest suppression and prevention. IPIM uses targeted, sustainable methods including education/communication, habitat modification, non-chemical control, biological control, and where necessary, the use of pesticide compounds, formulations, and application methods that present the least potential hazard to humans and the environment.

• Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP): Along-range, well defined planning and operational document that describes the IPM program. Written pest management plans are required as a means of establishing and implementing IPM.

• Pesticide: Any substance or mixture of substances, including biological control agents, that may prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate pests and is specifically labeled for use by the EPA.