36C24827Q0107.docx

SUBJECT*

FY27 Bio-Hazardous Waste Services

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

Network Contracting Office 8 (NCO 8)

8875 Hidden River Pkwy Ste 160A Tampa FL 33637

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer Keila President keila.president@va.gov N/A

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

Sources Sought Notice

DESCRIPTION

Sources Sought Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

Network Contracting Office 8 (NCO 8)

8875 Hidden River Pkwy Ste 160A Tampa FL 33637

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Keila President keila.president@va.gov 813-972-2000 Ext 5998

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Page 1 of

Sources Sought Notice

The Department of Veterans Affairs, James A. Haley VA Medical Center is currently seeking information from any Service Disabled Veteran-owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran-owned Small Business (VOSB), or Small Business (SB) vendors that can provide the following service.

1. Scope of Work:

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, sanitized, disinfected and labels for containers, supplies, materials, transportation and supervision required to provide pick up, transport, incineration and/or acceptable disposal of biomedical infectious, veterinary, chemotherapy, biological/pathological, “sharps” waste, and contaminated wastes.

2. Performance Period: Base year and 4 one-year option periods (2/15/2027 to 2/14/2031).

3. Places of Performance

a) James A. Haley VAMC* (JAHVAMC), 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612

b) New Port Richey OPC* (NPROPC), 9912 Little Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654

c) Mental Health OPC (MHOPC), 10770 N. 46th Street Building E, Tampa, FL 33617

d) Primary Care Annex (PCA), 13515 Lake Terrace LN, Tampa, FL 33637

e) Falls Clinic, 8900 Grand Oaks Circle, Tampa, FL 33637

f) Research Dept. USF Connect, 3802 Spectrum Blvd. Suites 300 & 308, Tampa, FL 33612

g) Pharmacy Service, 12210 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612

h) Lakeland CBOC*, 4237 S. Pipkin Rd., Lakeland, FL 33811

i) Lakeland Mental Health 4231 S. Pipkin Rd., Lakeland, FL 33811

j) Zephyrhills CBOC, 6937 Medical View Lane, Zephyrhills, FL 33541

k) Brooksville CBOC, 14540 Cortez Blvd. Suite 108, Brooksville, FL 34613

l) South Hillsborough CBOC, 12920 Summerfield Crossing Rd, Riverview, FL 33578

m) Lecanto CBOC, 2804 W Marc Knighton Ct Suite A, Lecanto, FL 34461

*VAMC = Veterans Affairs Medical Center *OPC = Outpatient Clinic *CBOC = Community Based Outpatient Clinic

The contractor is not responsible for providing sharps containers. The sharps containers are purchased and stocked by the VA.

The contractor is responsible for providing:

1. TB02 130gl/96gl Reusable Containers and TB01 30gl reusable containers

2. An approximate total of 50 properly labeled 4x4 cubic foot (cu. ft.) locations listed in table below and see Section D for pictures of containers.

130gl or larger Reusable

TB02

96gl reusable Reusable

TB01

30gl reusable Reusable 4.12CF Boxes

The contractor shall also provide two (2) “6 Pack” Bio-Hazardous Storage Bin or similar for use at the PCA.

The contractor shall use the following procedures to handle Bio-Hazardous Waste.

· All bio-waste containers filled to the full line mark are to be removed and replaced.

· Containers will be collected at a location provided and identified on a signed manifest showing the date collected, number and size of the used containers collected, and the number and size of the clean containers being left onsite. A copy must be left with the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) or their designee who will provide said copy to the COR on the day of collection.

· The contractor shall respond to any urgent exchange needs within one working day unless otherwise agreed to by the COR.

The primary point of contact for all communication between the Contractor and the Government will be the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). He or she will furnish technical guidance and advice under this contract. He or she will be appointed by and represent the Contracting Officer. The foregoing is not to be construed as authorization to interpret or furnish advice and information to the Contractor relative to the financial or legal aspects of the Contract. Those matters are the responsibility of the Contracting Officer and will not be delegated.

The Contractor shall pick up, transport, treat and/or dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with all applicable Local, Country, State of Florida, and Federal (Environmental Protection Agency EPA, Department of Transportation) laws, policies, guidelines and VA infectious medical waste requirements as stated in Paragraph 3. The Contractor shall also have an assigned U.S. EPA authorization and identification number, necessary Department of Transportation permits and insurance prior to transport and or disposal of subject waste. If contractor requires additional information, they may contact the U.S. EPA regional office.

This Contract will encompass emergency “Category A” response by the contractor. The Contract Line-Item Numbers (CLINs) found in section B.3 Price/Cost Schedule are no cost. Once a “Category A” case is confirmed and any special permits have been obtained, these costs will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

2. DEFINITIONS

MEDICAL WASTE:

Contaminated dressings, tissues, gloves, masks, hair covers and other materials from isolation rooms packed and tied in “RED BAGS” (red plastic leak-proof bags).

BIOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL WASTE:

Human anatomical parts, waste tissue, blood, microbial cultures, stool samples and other materials packed in tired and leak-proof “RED BAGS”.

VETERINARY WASTE AND ANIMAL CARCASSES:

Animal parts, carcasses, waste tissue and other veterinary waste packed in tied and leak-proof “RED BAGS”.

CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY WASTE:

Discarded items which have been contaminated by chemotherapeutic drugs or antineoplastic agents, provided that such items, including trace drugs used against malignant cells in treatment of cancerous tumors, vials and syringes, gauze and gloves, infusion bags and other materials shall be empty or contain only such trace amounts of chemotherapeutic drugs as are allowable under applicable Federal, state, county or municipal laws, regulations and guidelines so as to be considered waste.

INFECTIOUS WASTES:

· Laboratory wastes, including cultures of etiologic agents, which pose a substantial threat to health due to their volume and virulence.

· Pathologic specimens, including human or animal tissues, blood elements, excreta and secretions which contain etiologic agents and attendant disposable fomites.

· Surgical specimens, including human or animal parts and tissues removed surgically or at autopsy which contains etiologic agents and attendant disposable fomites.

· Equipment, instruments, utensils and other disposable materials which are likely to transmit etiologic agents from the room of humans, or the enclosures of animals which have been isolated because of suspected or diagnosed communicable disease.

· Human dialysis waste materials including arterial lines and dialysate membranes.

· Carcasses of animals infected with etiologic agents which may present a substance hazard to public health if improperly managed.

· Any other material which, in the determination of the facility infection control staff, presents a significant danger of infection because it is contaminated with or may reasonably be expected to be contaminated with etiologic agents.

· Provide incident response to all Category A-B within a 24-hour response time – performed in accordance with Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidelines. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/agentlist- category.asp Reference 3.4 DOT Guidelines (40 CFR parts 171-180)

ETIOLOGIC AGENTS:

A type of microorganism, helminthic or virus which causes or significantly contributes to the case of increased morbidity or mortality of human beings.

3. INCINERATED INFECTIOUS WASTES

a) Infectious wastes that have been incinerated, steam sterilized or otherwise treated to be non-infectious, may be handled as noninfectious, nonhazardous, regular solid waste unless the material is defined as a hazardous waste (40 CFR 261.4(b)) or hazardous material (49 CFR 171.8 and 49 U.S.C. 5103)

b) HAZARDOUS WASTE (40 CFR 261.4(b))

“Hazardous Waste” means any waste material or mixture of wastes which is toxic, corrosive, flammable, an irritant, a strong sensitizer or which generates pressure through decomposition, heat or other means, if such a waste or mixture of wastes may cause substantial injury, serious illness or harm to humans, domestic livestock or wildlife. Hazardous waste includes extremely hazardous waste.

c) HAZARDOUS MATERIAL (49 CFR 171.8 and 49 U.S.C. 5103)

“Hazardous Material” means any substance or mixture of substance which is toxic, corrosive, flammable, an irritant, a strong sensitizer or which generates pressure through decomposition, heat or other means, if such a substance or mixture of substances may cause substantial injury, serious illness or harm to human, domestic livestock or wildlife. Hazardous material includes extremely hazardous material.

d) DOT Guidelines (40 CFR parts 171-180)

CATEGORY A: An infectious substance in a form capable of causing permanent disability or life threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals when exposure to it occurs. An exposure occurs when an infectious substance is released outside of its protective packaging, resulting in physical contact with humans or animals. Classification must be based on the known medical history or symptoms of the source patient or animal, endemic local conditions, or professional judgment concerning the individual circumstances of the source human or animal. Category A poses a higher degree of risk than Category B.

CATEGORY B: An infectious substance not in a form generally capable of causing permanent disability or life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals when exposure to it occurs. This includes Category B infectious substances transported for diagnostic or investigational purposes.

4. DISPOSAL AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Contractor shall employ the proper methods of treating and destruction of wastes such as incineration and recycling or any other acceptable methods in accordance with EPA and industry standards. Disposal shall be performed in such a manner as not to create conditions detrimental to public health or to constitute a public nuisance.

2. The pick-up area where containers are placed shall be maintained in a clean, orderly, sanitary condition. Particular attention shall be paid to the prompt clean-up of oil and/or grease leakage or spills, either generated from vehicles used to haul containers or because of a container leakage.

3. Should hazardous, radiological, DEA controlled substances, or universal waste be released during the performance of services under this contract, through no fault of the VA facilities, the Contractor will be responsible for all costs associated with the satisfactory remediation of the incident. This will include the cost of all labor and materials as well as any actual damages incurred to the facility and harm caused to patients, visitors and staff of the medical center. The remediation efforts shall be performed to the satisfaction of the cognizant regulatory authorities and the VISN 8 Environmental Protection Program Manager. Contractor shall immediately notify the COR of any incident on VA property.

4. Contractor furnished containers shall be kept serviceable, neat clean and sanitary in appearance and repaired or replaced as necessary. Cleaning and decontamination of containers shall not be performed on Government property. Contractor shall provide manufacture’s specification and descriptive literature for approval. Waste containers shall be United Nation (UN) and Department of Transportation (DOT) approved.

5. CONTAINERS

a) The Contractor shall provide TB02 – 130gl reusable containers, 96gl reusable containers, 30gl reusable containers and 4.12cf leak resistance biohazard waste container. These containers shall be in serviceable condition with tight fitting lids, durable, rigid, puncture resistant, leak-proof, labeled, color-coded, and clearly marked (or markable).

b) Inspection for leaks and corrosion shall be performed routinely by the Contractor prior to furnishing containers to the VA. VA Personnel will distribute the containers throughout the facility and will return them to the waste pick-up area.

c) The Contractor shall provide 4 x 6-inch biohazard labels for application on the containers.

d) The Contractor shall properly cleanse the containers prior to distribution to the VA Facility with a hospital grade disinfectant and each container shall be clean and free of foul or offensive odors.

6. DOCUMENTATION

a) The manifest shall be used to track the waste from the point of generation to the designated disposal location. Once the material has reached the disposal facility, a copy of the manifest and certificate shall be provided to the COR, confirming that the material has been properly handled and disposed of. The Contractor shall provide a manifest for each pick-up, certifying the number of containers and types of waste picked up, removed and transported from each VA Facility and, upon destruction of the waste, shall provide appropriate copies of the manifest form to indicate date, place and manner of destruction and/or disposal. VA will keep its copy on file in accordance with agency procedures.

b) Monthly Report:

The Contractor shall also provide, in accordance with applicable regulation, a detailed daily activity statement which shows in columnar form information including, but not limited to,

a) Service dates

b) Types and quantities of treated and disposed waste

c) Container/tub number

d) Weight (in pounds)

e) Pick-up location,

f) Methods of treatment and disposal

g) Location of licensed treatment and disposal facilities

The tracking documents shall be provided to the COR on a monthly basis along with monthly invoices that reference the line item as listed in the Price/Cost in Section B of the Contract.

c) Weight System:

The Contractor shall provide a certifiable weighing system to enable proper billing for “tare weight” waste poundage disposed, i.e., if the disposal container weighs 10 pounds and the Contractor is to dispose of 10 containers, each container shall be weighed, and container total weight is subtracted from the gross container weight to determine the total waste poundage to be recorded.

d) Spill Report:

When waste is spilled by the contractor at any pickup or storage location or during transport, the contractor shall submit a Spill Report identifying the spills. Such incidents shall be reported to the COR immediately, by telephone and in writing no later than seven (7) workdays after leaving the site. The Spill Report shall list at a minimum the type of spill, amount of waste, and personnel exposed to the spilled waste.

The Contractor shall provide certification that the spill was removed, including a statement concerning the effect on any employees, and a description of the cause and corrective measure instituted by Contractor to ensure spills do not occur again. The Contractor is responsible for cleaning up spills that are caused by contractor employees.

e) Transportation:

Hazardous waste shall be transported on the public highways by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved (with DOT implications) licensed haulers to an approved disposal site. All Contractor vehicles used to transport hazardous waste must be currently licensed, permitted or otherwise registered in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws. License number must be posted on the exterior of the vehicle. Each truck or van transporting hazardous waste must have an emergency spill clean-up plan and basic cleanup equipment on board.

f) Method of disposal:

Waste generated by the facilities and approved for transport to storage stations shall not be commingled in the same shipping container with wastes from other VA Healthcare System or any other generator, unless allowed by law. Disposal method shall be by recycle, incineration, treatment or land burial, whichever is appropriate and in compliance with Federal, State, and Local disposal regulations. The Contractor shall use a treatment, storage, or disposal facility that has a valid permit to manage hazardous waste. The Government must approve all disposal facilities used by the Contractor.

The applicable NAICS for this service is 562112, Hazardous Waste Collection. To be considered for this requirement, vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM - https://www.sam.gov). Any vendor interested in this requirement should include the following information:

Company Information (business name, UEI number, business size/category, GSA schedule if applicable) Capability Statement (brief background of capabilities, resources, experience, etc) Contact information (POC name, email, and phone)

All information regarding this requirement will be posted on Contracting Opportunities. All responses to this request for information notice shall be submitted to the following email address: keila.president@va.gov. The closing time/date for responses is 11/10/2026 @ 2:00 pm EST.

This request for information is for market research purposes only. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION AND DOES NOT REQUIRE THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A SOLICITATION. The Government will not pay for any information submitted under this notice.

DISCLAIMER

This request for information is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this request for information 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.