REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Eyeglass Lenses v3.pdf

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT IS ISSUED

SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT

CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION.

THE SUBMISSION OF PRICING, CAPABILITIES FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, AND

OTHER MARKET INFORMATION IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED

UNDER THIS RFI IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) FAR 15.201(e).

DISCLAIMER

This Sources Sought/RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. IAW 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.

SOURCES SOUGHT DESCRIPTION

This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a sources sought/RFI only. The purpose of this sources sought/RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 339115 (size standard of 1000 employees). Responses to this sources sought notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions.

After review of the responses to this sources sought notice, a solicitation announcement may be published. Responses to this sources sought notice are not considered adequate responses for a solicitation announcement.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office (NCO) 10, is seeking multiple sources that can manufacture or provide lens blanks for the VA VISN 10/12 Optical Lab's fabrication of prescription eyeglasses that at a minimum meets the following salient characteristics with a brand name or equal product for the VA VISN 10/12 Optical Lab:

Prescription lens blanks (and lens blanks only) in sizes and styles as required for the fabrication of eyeglasses by the VISN 10/12 Optical Lab for VA veteran patients. The estimated number of lens blanks is approximately 190,000 pairs per year to enable the VA VISN10/12 Optical lab the ability to fabricate and provide approximately 190,000 pairs of eyeglasses for Veterans. No one source will be required to produce or provide this aggregate amount. All lens blanks shall be fabricated in accordance with the current edition of the “American National Standard Requirements for Dress Ophthalmic Lenses” ANSI Z80.1-2005. The VA is interested in sources with manufacturing capabilities located in the United States.

The information identified above is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive and to indicate the quality of the supplies/services that will be satisfactory. It is the responsibility of the interested source to demonstrate to the government that the interested parties can provide the supplies/services that fulfill the required specifications.

If you are interested, and are capable of manufacturing or providing the lens blanks, please provide the requested information as well as the information indicated below. Response to this notice should include company name, address, point of contact, size of business pursuant to the following questions:

(1) Please indicate the size status and representations of your business, such as but not limited to: Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned

Small Business (VOSB), Hubzone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.)?

(2) Is your company considered small under the NAICS code identified under this RFI?

(3) Are you the manufacturer, distributor, or an equivalent solution to the items being referenced above?

(4) If you are a large business, do you have any designated distributors? If so, please provide their company name, telephone, point of Contact and size status (if available).

(5) If you’re a small business and you are an authorized distributor/reseller for the items identified above or an equivalent solution, do you alter; assemble; modify; the items requested in any way? If you do, state how and what is altered; assembled; modified?

(6) If you intend to sub contract any work on this contract, what portion of the total cost will be self-performed/will be performed by your organization? Please provide estimated detailed percentage breakdowns related to sub contracted work and completion of job.

(7) Does your company have an FSS contract with GSA or the NAC or are you a contract holder with NASA SEWP or any other federal contract? If so, please provide the contract number.

(8) If you are an FSS GSA/NAC or NASA SEWP contract holder or other federal contract holder, are the items/solution you are providing information for available on your schedule/contract?

(9) General pricing of your products/solution is encouraged. Pricing will be used for the purpose of market research only. It will not be used to evaluate for any type of award.

(10) Please submit your capabilities in regard to your manufacturing facilities.

(11) Please identify the source of your materials for manufacturing lenses. Especially identify the country of origin of such materials and if the are compliant with the “Buy America” Act.

(12) Please provide your Unique Entity ID (SAM) number.

Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to christopher.blazejewski@va.gov.

Telephone responses shall not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than Tuesday April 2, 2024, 12:00 pm (noon) Eastern Time. If a solicitation is issued it shall be announced at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this sources sought notice. Responses to this sources sought notice are not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation.