36C24125Q0465.docx

SUBJECT*

Pharmacy Incubation and Read Contract

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

VAMC Connecticut

950 Campbell Ave West Haven CT 06516

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Jerry Choinski Jerry.Choinski@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 541380 (Testing Laboratories and Services) with a size standard $19 million. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office 1 (NCO 1) is seeking to identify any vendor capable of providing VAMC West Haven all necessary equipment, tools, and supporting materials to successfully support the incubation and read of TSA, MEA or SDS plates as well as media bags. When required, (if CFUs are above action level in specific situations), microorganism recovered genus level identification will be required by a microbiologist. Assistance from the microbiologist will be needed to evaluate the potential cause of the contamination. All above requirements must be incubated in accordance with USP <797> version 2022. If the USP <797> gets updated to a newer version, vendor is required to adopt based on the timeline of adaptation at West haven VA. A report of how the company complies with USP <797> version 2022 specific to incubation and read of the samples will be required. Information provided will be reviewed by USP Compliance Program Manager at West Haven VA. Samples will be sent via overnight UPS to the vendor address. An explanation of how the vendor will communicate the results from the incubation is required. If needed, a change might need to be implemented to meet the need of USP Compliance Program Manager. All services shall be performed in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in this solicitation and in compliance with the performance work statement.

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 16:00 EST, 15th of May 2025. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to Jerry.Choinski@va.gov with Sources Sought #36C24125Q0465 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.

Date: 1/25/2024

Performance Work Statement (PWS) for Incubation and Read Contract General:

Contractor shall provide all necessary equipment, tools, and supporting materials to successfully support the incubation and read of TSA, MEA or SDS plates as well as media bags. When required, (if CFUs are above action level in specific situations), microorganism recovered genus level identification will be required by a microbiologist. Assistance from the microbiologist will be needed to evaluate the potential cause of the contamination.

All above requirements must be incubated in accordance with USP <797> version 2022. If the USP <797> gets updated to a newer version, vendor is required to adopt based on the timeline of adaptation at West haven VA.

A report of how the company complies with USP <797> version 2022 specific to incubation and read of the samples will be required. Information provided will be reviewed by USP Compliance Program Manager at West Haven VA.

Samples will be sent via overnight UPS to the vendor address.

An explanation of how the vendor will communicate the results from the incubation is required. If needed, a change might need to be implemented to meet the need of USP Compliance Program Manager.

Description of Service:

When a TSA Plate term is used, it is understood, that either TSA, MEA, or SDA plates could be used. Although currently a TSA plates are used, VACT reserve the right to change it according to the need of pharmacy service department.

TSA plates (or equivalent), and media sample bags will be purchased outside of this contract. This Contract is for service not for material.

Vendor will receive a TSA plate to incubate and read as follow:

1. Post Garbing, Left and Right Hand

2. Post media sampling, Right and Left Hand

3. Surface Sampling of the hood post media sampling

4. Surface Sampling of any location as per decision of the USP Compliance Program Manager (USP <797> requires monthly surface sampling of all ISO Class 7, and ISO Class 5 air).

5. Post Garbing Left and Right x three times if initial media sampling test.

6. Negative Control TSA plate

7. Media Bag used for media sampling testing.

Vendor will be required to incubate each plate and media bag according to the USP <797> version 2022 requirements. In case the USP comes up with a newer version during the duration of the contract, vendor will implement the newer version, at the timeline specified by USP Compliance Program Manager. VACT will be in charge when to switch to a newer version of USP <797> (if needed) for incubation and read.

Frequency:

As needed after media sampling of the pharmacy team, and at least monthly for surface sampling. Most of the pharmacy service team members will be tested every 6 months.

The vendor is required to put a bid per cost of each type of TSA plate and media bag (cost per left and right hand read as one cost is acceptable). In addition, vendor will specify how much will cost to investigate microorganism recovered to the genus level if required, according to USP <797> version 2022, and assistance from the microbiologist to investigate the cause of the problem, as required to complete corrective action plan by the West Haven VA.