36C24C19Q0053-0003006.docx

RFQ Amendment Changes CONTINUATION PAGE The purpose of this Amendment is to provide an update to this RFQ and to respond to the questions and answers submitted to this RFQ.

NOTE: The period for submitting any additional questions has closed and VA will not address any additional questions. However, this amendment includes answers to questions received by deadline for questions stated in the SF-1449 of the original solicitation.

1. Updated Statement of Work (SOW) to remove reference to “2.0” and updated language for clarification purposes.

2. SOW Appendix B: Product Categories removes language stating the number of Product Categories and provides an updated list of anticipated Product Category solicitations.

3. C.1. VAAR 852.219-10, VA Notice of Total Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (JUL 2019) (DEVIATION) language is revised to:

1. State that offers are solicited only from eligible SDVOSBs;

2. Clarify that only VIP-listed SDVOSBs are considered eligible and/or “similarly situated”;

3. Clarify that awards include orders under multiple-award contracts;

4. Clarify that an independent contractor shall be considered a subcontractor;

5. Update the SBA Title 13 CFR reference citations and requirement to comply with SBA regulations pertaining to limitations on subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule;

6. Make other changes to comport with current SBA terminology;

7. Clarify that the limitations on subcontracting requirements and the nonmanufacturer rule apply to all VA SDVOSB set-aside or sole source contracts; and

8. Make other administrative and technical changes described in the sections included in this deviation.

4. C2. VAAR 852.219-11, VA Notice of Total Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (JUL 2019) (DEVIATION) language is revised to:

1. State that offers are solicited only from eligible VOSBs;

2. Clarify references to SDVOSB/VOSB concerns;

3. Clarify that only VIP-listed SDVOSBs/VOSBs are considered eligible and/or “similarly situated;”

4. Clarify that awards include orders under multiple-award contracts;

5. Clarify that an independent contractor shall be considered a subcontractor;

6. Update the SBA Title 13 CFR reference citations and requirement to comply with SBA regulations pertaining to limitations on subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule; and

7. Clarify that the limitations on subcontracting requirements and the nonmanufacturer rule apply to all VA VOSB set-aside or sole source contracts.

5. Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Replaced by the attached. Notably, previous “Volume” language was removed and replaced with new language for clarification purposes, which includes:

RFQ submissions shall include a completed SF-1449, Quote Sheet (Attachment B), and all relevant award documents (e.g. Authorized Distribution Letter, Small Business Certification, etc.) All documents shall follow the same file naming standard, RFQ Number, company name, and then artifact. For example: “36C24C19Q00XX-Company Name-Quote Sheet.”

6. 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Items (OCT 2014) (Tailored) is attached. It was updated to provided clarity on the evaluation tiers. In part, it read as follows:

This procurement is set-aside according to the order of priority for contracting preferences as established in 38 U.S.C. § 8127 and includes a tiered evaluation approach pursuant to VA Procurement Policy Memorandum (PPM 2018-04) (Attachment A):

(a) The Government will award a BPA resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror whose quote conforming to the solicitation provides the best value to the Government, price considered. If no quotes were submitted by SDVOSB concerns, or if none of the quotes would result in award at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government, then the SDVOSB set-aside will be withdrawn and the agency will review quotes from the next tier.

(b) If no quotes were submitted by VOSB concerns, or if none of the quotes would result in award at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government, then the VOSB set-aside will be withdrawn and the agency will review quotes from the next tier.

(c) Within the small business tier, the Government will afford a preference to HUBZone small business concerns and 8(a) participants. If no quotes were submitted by HUBZone small business concerns or 8(a) participants, or if none of the quotes would result in award at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government, then the Government will review quotes from other small business concerns. If no quotes were submitted by small business concerns, or if none of the quotes would result in award at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government, then the Government will review quotes from the next tier.

(d) If no quotes were submitted by large business (i.e. unrestricted) concerns, or if none of the quotes would result in award at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government, then the solicitation may be cancelled, and the requirement resolicited.

The evaluation section also was revised to clarify how the information submitted by Offerors pursuant to the Instructions to Offerors will be used to establish the technical criteria.

7. Attachment B – ONLY USE THE QUOTE SHEET VERSION PROVIDED IN THIS AMENDMENT. Quote sheets were updated to include clearer instructions to Offerors about how to completely fill out the Quoted Supplies tab within the quote sheet and ensure that there are no errors when submitting the completed quote sheet. The Quoted Supplies tab header was updated to provide clearer, real time feedback and alerts to the Offeror when data is entered in incorrectly. This will reduce the need to have Offerors provide quote sheet clarifications after submission. If a supply is manufactured in multiple countries, the Offeror shall select the preponderant manufacturing country of that item.

Historical sales data is provided for reference purposes and should not be considered an exact amount, nor should Offerors be “cross-walking” these items for potential replacement. The intent of this solicitation is to increase medical/surgical item availability that meets the requirements of VA clinicians. Offerors are welcome to submit all items that fall in the scope of this RFQ's category description (see Attachment B, Historical data tab) that they are authorized to sell by the OEM, excluding any items already covered under the AbilityOne Procurement List

Each item should be entered as a new row on the Quoted Sheet tab in Attachment B. For supplies that Offerors believes are incorrectly described in the historical data tab, Offerors are welcome to provide the supplies under the name and number they believe are correct. All supplies quoted will be evaluated.

8. MSPV Supply Solicitation Questions and Answers Spreadsheet – Industry questions received by the deadline specified in each solicitation were reviewed by the Government. For transparency and ease of use, questions were consolidated across multiple solicitations into a single document. Duplicate questions or questions similar in terms were consolidated and responded to accordingly.