36C24E21Q0235_1.docx

Special Notice Special Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

Veterans Health Administration Regional Procurement Office (RPO) East 323 North Shore Drive, Suite 500 Pittsburgh PA 15212-5319

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer Ms. Millicent Covert millicent.covert@va.gov

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

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AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

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DESCRIPTION

Regional Procurement Office (RPO) - East intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Savenor’s Liquor Mart, Inc. (DBA: Acme Dry Ice Co.), 100 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138-2065, to purchase follow-on dry ice services for the Boston VA Healthcare System – Jamaica Plains Division. The services will be used for handling CSP and VA research biospecimen samples for the Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center (MAVERIC) Core Laboratory, which processes and stores specimens for clinical trials run by the VA Cooperative Studies Program.

STATEMENT OF WORK

1.1 BACKGROUND & SCOPE

The Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center (MAVERIC) Core Laboratory processes and stores specimens for clinical trials run by the VA Cooperative Studies Program. As a biorepository the MAVERIC Lab “banks” or stores samples in both cryogenic (-180°C) and ultra-low (-80°C) states. When samples are handled outside of their storage vessel/state, dry ice is used to maintain a lower sample temperature compared to room temperature. The requested service is necessary to guarantee efficient and effective handling of CSP and VA research biospecimen samples at appropriate temperatures.

1.2 REQUIRED PRODUCTS & SPECIFICATIONS

Acme Dry Ice is the only seller of dry ice in Massachusetts that manufactures and delivers the product sold in Massachusetts. Their dry ice is produced in Cambridge, Massachusetts and sold/shipped the next day so it is very fresh, with virtually no powder in the boxes. Although other vendors have the capability of delivering dry ice, it is shipped in by train or truck and stored for resale. As dry ice sits, the pellets often break down to powder and sublimates (releases CO2 gas) into the air. This lesser-quality dry ice makes it difficult to handle specimens vital for the studies.

1.3 SPECIFIC TASKS

The vendor shall provide and deliver dry ice pellets to the MAVERIC Core Lab on a weekly and/or as needed basis.

Performance Period: Multi-Year Contract (5 Years Total). Performance Period shall be 12 months from date of contract award and include up to 4 (12 month) Option Years, subject to approval.

Place of Delivery:

VA Boston Healthcare System MAVERIC Core Lab, Room RB-8 150 South Huntington Avenue Boston, MA 02130 The service requires a delivery once a week on Mondays of eleven (11) 50lb boxes of dry ice pellets for 52 weeks for a total of 572 boxes per year.

The delivery will be made on Tuesday after a Monday Federal holiday unless instructed otherwise.

The vendor shall also provide on-demand service for emergency/additional dry ice deliveries as needed (Estimated additional 156 Boxes per year).

Task orders under this requirements contract may be issued quarterly, semi-annually, and/or annually based on the availability of funds and need. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will work closely with the Contracting Officer (CO) to ensure timely communication of need.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Any responsible sources who wish to identify their interest and capability to provide this equipment or equipment that is compatible must notify this Contracting Specialist at Millicent.Covert@va.gov NLT Wednesday, September 15, 2021 by 11:59 AM EST. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Upon receipt of the interested parties' notification, the Contracting Officer will determine whether to conduct a competitive procurement or proceed with sole source negotiations.

Special Notice