36C25026Q0904 0001.pdf

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO. 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office. is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30 PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

(Type or print) (Type or print)

(Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code)

(If other than Item 6)

(Specify type of modification and authority)

(such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

1 7

0001 09-07-2026

36C25026Q0904 Question and Answers

36C250

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 10 3140 Governor's Place Blvd Suite 210 Kettering OH 45409-1337

36C250

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 10 3140 Governor's Place Blvd Suite 210 Kettering OH 45409-1337

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C25026Q0904

X

X X

See CONTINUATION Page

X 0

The purpose of this solicitation modification is to post questions posed with corresponding answers.

The solicitation close date and time are hereby extended to 9/10/2026 at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Vendor questions and answers are located on the continuation page below.

If you have submitted your response to this solicitation and do not need to make any changes no further action is required of you. If you wish to make any changes to your response please adhere to the extension date and deadline above. Responses only via email to Jennifer.Nowak@va.gov and Thomas.Bellamy@va.gov.

Thomas Bellamy Contracting Officer

CONTINUATION PAGE

Question and Answers:

1. SF 1449, Page 1; document headers, Pages 2-57. Please confirm the correct solicitation number. The SF 1449 identifies the solicitation as 36C25026Q0904, while the continuation pages identify the solicitation as 36C25026Q0870. -

Answer: 36C25026Q0904.

2. SF 1449, Page 1; Opportunities Notice, Page 57. Please confirm the correct quotation due date and time. The SF 1449 states September 4, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EST, while the Opportunities Notice states August 4, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EST, which precedes the August 24, 2026 solicitation issue date.

Answer: All responses will be submitted via email for RFQ 36C25026Q0904 by 9/10/2026 at 5pm EST due to an extension for these questions.

3. Opportunities Notice, Page 57. Please confirm the correct email address for submission of questions. The quotation submission address is shown as Jennifer.Nowak@va.gov, while the questions address is shown as Jennifer.Nowak@.va.gov.

Answer: Jennifer.nowak@va.gov

4. SF 1449, Page 1; Opportunities Notice, Page 57. Please confirm the applicable small business size standard for NAICS 541380. The SF 1449 lists $34 million, while the Opportunities Notice lists $19 million.

Answer: 541380 = $19M. This is a SB set aside. Naics website:

https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2023- 06/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20March%2017%2C%202023%20%282% 29.pdf

5. SF 1449, Page 1; Section B.2, Page 4; Opportunities Notice, Page 57. Please confirm the governing technical requirements and the applicable editions. The solicitation references VHA Directive 1161 on Page 1, VHA Directive 1116 in Section B.2 and on Page 57, and uses both STE108 and AAMI ST108 terminology. Please identify the exact VHA directive and AAMI ST108 edition that will govern performance.

Answer: ST108 is a practical, operational tool to help carry out the objectives of VHA Directive 1116 and holds important information to understand when performing these services. Together they ensure VA health care environments are safer for Veterans and staff, and align with federal standards for infection prevention.

6. Section B.2, Page 4; Opportunities Notice, Page 57. Please confirm the number of option years. Section B.2 states a base period plus 'one (2) option years,' while the remainder of the solicitation indicates a base year plus two option years.

mailto:Jennifer.Nowak@.va.gov mailto:Jennifer.nowak@va.gov

Answer: Base period plus 2 option years = base year plus two options years. Base year plus two possible option years so for example if it starts 10/1/2026-9/30/2027 that will be the base year plus OY1 10/1/2027-9/30/2028 and OY2 10/1/2028-09/30/2029.

7. Section B.2, Pages 4-5. Please confirm the allowable on-site performance hours. Page 4 states normal facility work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., while Page 5 states testing will be performed during normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Answer: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

8. Section B.2, Page 4. The SOW requires the contractor to provide the same tester each time. Please clarify whether the same individual must perform every collection throughout the entire base and option periods, and whether qualified substitute personnel may be used for illness, leave, turnover, or other unavoidable absences.

Answer: In the case of illness, leave, turnover, or other unavoidable absences I am sure this will be fine and can be determined via communication between the COR/POC and awardee of this contract.

9. Section B.2, Page 4. Please define the required qualifications for the tester and the documentation that will be considered acceptable evidence of proficiency in AAMI ST108 testing methods and procedures. Please also clarify whether this documentation must be submitted with the quotation or after award.

Answer: I would use your experience on other similar contracts (Legionella testing) and submit it as part of your response showing that you are proficient in water testing. A copy of the STE108 and VHA Directive 1116 were attached with this RFQ posting.

10. Section B.2, Pages 4 and 14. Please identify the exact laboratory accreditation and certification requirements. The SOW requires delivery to a laboratory meeting AAMI ST108 requirements and later states that CDC ELITE Certification and ISO Certification will be confirmed upon award. Please specify the required ISO standard, required accredited scope/analytes, whether accreditation must be held by the prime contractor or the performing laboratory, and whether the requirements must be met at the time of quotation or only at award.

Answer: Please read the STE108 and VHA Directive 1116 attached with this RFQ posting.

If you need a copy please see attached to this email.

11. Section B.2, Page 14. Please clarify how CDC ELITE Certification applies to this requirement, since the listed testing is for AAMI ST108 water quality, dental HPC, domestic water parameters, and steam testing. Please identify which portion of the work requires CDC ELITE certification.

Answer: CDC Elite certification request is in the Statement of Work per the Cleveland VAMC for this service. By requiring CDC Elite certification this satisfies the directive’s requirement for demonstrated proficiency and shows that the proficiency is measured and enforced by the lab.

12. Section B.2, Page 4. Please clarify the requirement to 'provide' a handheld resistivity meter and pH/hardness colorimetric dipsticks to the VA. Field meters and dipsticks are not sensitive enough for critical water testing and require laboratory grade probes to detect at the detection limit required by ST 108. Can the government remove this requirement and allow all testing to be performed in a lab. If not, can the government provide the required make/model, measurement range, accuracy, or other minimum specifications.

Answer: As it reads in the Statement of Work the site is asking the contractor to bring their own handheld resistivity meter, pH/hardness colorimetric dipstick to be available during this onsite service. This will help check water ion/purity and verify final rinse water quality for instruments and/or check for mineral/scaling risk, pH for cleaning for example. STE108 and VHA Directive 1116 both stress requirement for proper decontamination, disinfection and sterilization.

13. Section B.2, Page 5. Please clarify the contractor's responsibilities regarding the DO/DI system and the DO/DI contractor. Specifically, is the water-testing contractor responsible only for coordinating testing around maintenance and disinfection, or is any maintenance, disinfection, troubleshooting, or other work on the DO/DI system required under this contract?

Answer: I think you are referring to this part “All Service Maintenance for the DO/DI I System is provided by the DO/DI contractor. Following the PM schedule per DO/DI contractor.” – This means that service and maintenance of the DO/DI system is to be performed by the contractor contracted to do those services none of that is listed in this SOW requirements chart or line items. If you or the awardee sees something they wish to report to the COR/POC please do so.

14. Section B.2, Page 5. Please define the term 'TAB report' as used in the Deliverables section and identify the required report format and minimum content. Please also confirm whether one consolidated report per testing event is acceptable or whether separate reports are required for each analysis, inspection, location, or department.

Answer: A TAB report stands for Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing report. It is a formal document produced after the performance verification of building environmental systems. The SOW goes into detail on page 5 that they are looking for “report of each analysis and inspection to include a summary report of treatment recommendations based on analysis with mention of complete specifications of all products. This can be together as the work will be done at the same time.

15. Section B.2, Pages 5 and 14. The SOW states that, when problems are identified, the contractor shall recommend corrective actions, provide chemicals as necessary, and perform tests as necessary to confirm desired results. Please clarify whether the contractor is expected to furnish or apply treatment/disinfection chemicals. If so, please identify the types and anticipated quantities of chemicals, the authorization process, and the CLIN or pricing mechanism under which this work will be ordered and invoiced.

Answer: As this service is only for testing, much like Legionella Testing, they are looking for your expertise and feedback. Additional work such as chemicals outside the scope of these line items will be discussed by site, contractor and contract specialist/officer to determine additional actions.

16. Section B.2, Pages 5 and 14; Section B.3, Page 16. Please explain how more frequent analysis, special testing, and retesting will be priced and ordered. The SOW permits additional work with written authorization, while CLIN 0007 is a zero-quantity job item identified as a 3% retesting reserve. Please clarify whether additional work will use the awarded per-sample unit prices, a separately quoted rate, or another pricing mechanism.

Answer: CLIN 0007 is stating that we expect a 3% retesting a year and was a spot for you to list your pricing either per test or total 3% of tests/work to be performed a year as a separate expected line item. Much like an increase occasionally happens.

17. Section B.2, Pages 5-6; Section B.3, Page 16. Please reconcile the Utility Water sampling quantity. The Utility Water schedule appears to list ten routine quarterly locations before two retest locations, which would equal 40 routine samples per year, while CLIN 0005 provides a quantity of 36 samples per year. Please identify the exact routine locations to be sampled each quarter.

Answer: I would stick to the line items provided by the site which is 36 and list your tests per item so that if they find an error and need more tests they can pay for them separately. For now, they are stating they need 36 guaranteed.

18. Section B.2, Pages 6-8; Section B.3, Pages 15-16. Please reconcile the monthly Critical Water and AER Water quantities with CLIN 0004. The schedules appear to identify 13 routine Critical Water locations and 11 routine AER locations, or 24 routine samples per month/288 per year, while CLIN 0004 contains 300 samples per year. Please identify the exact locations and number of samples to be collected during each monthly event and explain the additional 12 samples included in the CLIN quantity.

Answer: locations, number of samples per site can change as needed and as equipment/areas to be tests change. Please follow the CLIN structure and fill in the price/cost schedule as requested.

19. Section B.2, Pages 6-8; Section B.3, Page 16. Please clarify whether the rows labeled 'Retest POU Deficiency' and 'Retest POC Deficiency' are planned samples included in the routine quantities or are placeholders to be used only when a deficiency occurs. If they are contingency samples, please confirm that they are to be ordered under the retesting reserve rather than the routine testing CLINs.

Answer: As it states, these are when deficiencies occur.

20. Section B.2, Page 8; Section B.3, Page 16. Please confirm the required analytes for steam testing. The Steam Quality Requirements table lists pH, alkalinity, conductivity, and hardness, while CLIN 0006 lists chloride, conductivity, hardness, and pH. Please clarify whether alkalinity, chloride, or both are required.

Answer: This has been confirmed by what has been written on requirements in the line items and I believe confirmed via email.

21. Section B.2, Pages 9-13; Section B.3, Page 15. Please reconcile the Dental Line HPC quantity. The SOW lists Dental Service locations numbered 8 through 82, which appears to total 75 locations, while CLIN 0001 provides 304 tests per year, equivalent to 76 tests per quarter.

Please identify the complete set of dental HPC collection locations and the intended quarterly quantity.

Answer: The intent is for the contractor to perform HPC collection and testing at the 76 locations each quarter, as designated by the government’s prioritized list or as directed by the COR. If clarification or adjustments to the official location list are needed, we will provide an updated list prior to initiation of services each quarter, but the total number of required tests remains as specified in CLIN 0001. Please adhere to the CLIN 0001 quantity (76 samples/quarter, 304/year) as the basis for your work plan, scheduling, and invoicing.

22. Section B.3, Page 15; Section B.2, Pages 4-14. Please clarify CLIN 0003, 'Calibration of HH11C Thermometers - Annually,' quantity 12. The SOW does not otherwise describe this requirement. Please confirm whether this represents 12 individual thermometers calibrated once annually, identify their locations, and provide the required calibration procedure, accuracy/tolerance, traceability, documentation, and whether calibration is to be performed on site or off site.

Answer: The total quantity is 12 so per item total of 12. They are handheld and you can reference the Omega HH11C Manual Download https://assets.omega.com/manuals/HH11C_HH12C.pdf (accuracy typically +/-0.3% of reading +1 degree check manual for exact figures). AAMI ST 108 requires instrumentation used to be calibrated annually traceable to NIST and have documentation available for survey/audit. SPS Environment of Care checklist references “thermometer calibration/documentation” VHA Directive also recommends annual calibration including thermometers per manufacturer instructions.

23. Section B.3, Page 16. Please clarify how offerors should price CLIN 0007, 'Reserve for Re-Testing (3% typically),' because the listed quantity is 0.00 job. Please define what the 3% is calculated from, whether a unit or not-to-exceed amount should be proposed, and how authorized retesting will be invoiced.

Answer: The 0 quantity line item for 3% retesting is provided to allow the Government to order retests of a subset of samples, if required by protocol or quality assurance review.

This line item is priced on a per-test basis and set at a default quantity of zero to allow flexibility without obligating funds unless retesting is performed. If retesting (up to 3% of the original number of samples) is needed, the Government will authorize work against this line item and only pay for the services received. I believe you asked a similar question above and I stated to list your per test price or a 3% of the annual work to set aside funds for such an occurrence. Which is the intent of this line item.

24. Section B.3, Page 19. Please confirm whether CLIN 2008 is an inadvertent duplicate.

Both CLIN 2007 and CLIN 2008 are listed as zero-quantity 'Reserve for Re-Testing (3% typically)' items for Option Year 2.

Answer: Please see answer to Question 23.

25. Section B.2, Pages 5-8. Please provide the anticipated monthly and quarterly testing schedule, including the expected first collection date after award. Please also confirm whether https://assets.omega.com/manuals/HH11C_HH12C.pdf monthly and quarterly sampling should be consolidated into the same site visit when their schedules coincide, and whether both VA locations are expected to be serviced during the same visit.

Answer: In section 2. Specific Tasks it states “scheduled testing” meaning we expect communication between the contractor and COR/POC upon award to determine availability, need of testing to determine dates and times that work for both parties.

26. In July 2026, Sources Sought 36C25026Q0686 contemplated an Ohio-wide, multi-facility contract that could include HPC and other water testing. Given that this solicitation includes a base year plus two option years, can the Government confirm whether this contract may be terminated for convenience if those services are later incorporated into the statewide contract?

Answer: There is no expectation of that at this time.

27. Section B.2, Statement of Work, Specific Tasks – Pages 4–8: The SOW requires the contractor to collect samples from numerous site-specific locations throughout the SPS and reprocessing water systems. Can the Government confirm that knowledgeable VA SPS and/or Engineering personnel will identify each required sampling location, provide access to the appropriate sampling ports or points of use, and instruct the contractor on any facility-specific procedures necessary to safely access and collect from those locations?

Answer: It is confirmed that personnel will communicate and assist while accompanying contractor personnel through these various locations. As there will probably be staff, patients, cleaning staff and unknown impediments (construction) engineering will assist with procedures from locations and probably explain the expectations in the CLINs versus SOW. It has been performed successfully for the past 5 years between current contractor and engineering.