36C25626Q0711 Sources Sought Sonosite US and Probes.docx

Intent to Sole Source/ Sources Sought Notice

Sources Sought Notice

DESCRIPTION

Sources Sought Notice

1. Title: Purchase and Delivery of Sonosite US and Probes to Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS), AR, 72114. Brand Name or Equal.

2. Purpose:

a) The Network Contracting Office (NCO) 16 located at 5075 Westheimer Road, Galleria Financial Center, Suite 750, Houston, Texas, hereby issues the following Sources Sought/ Request for Information (RFI) with the intent of determining the contractor interest, capabilities, qualifications of potential businesses, nonmanufacturer rule compliance, Buy American Act compliance, Trade Agreement compliance and estimated industry pricing information for market research and estimated budgetary purpose for Contractor to assist with the purchase and delivery of Sonosite US and Probes for Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS), AR, 72114.

b) Notice of Intent to Sole Source. If there are no responses to this notice, a determination by the Government not to compete based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government to sole source the requirement. No response is a response.

c) Government request that interested offerors complete all questions below, provide required documentation, descriptive literature and authorization letter as described below. The Government is in no way obligated to do business with or to enter into any form of contract with any person, firm or other entity that receives or responds to this announcement.

3. Objective: To find qualified and certified contractors with the capability to provide the following:

a) The Contractor shall deliver, configure, and install one complete POC ultrasound system meeting all salient characteristics, provide required documentation, coordinate clinical acceptance with Surgery Services and Biomedical Engineering, and provide standard warranty/service support.

b) Brand Name or Equal. The brand name reference is the SonoSite PX; however, equal products will be considered if all salient characteristics herein are met or exceeded.

4. Delivery Location:

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center 2200 Fort Roots Drive, Bldg. 182 Little Rock, AR, 72114.

5. Period of Performance:

30 Days ARO

6. Responses Requested: The CAVHS requires all the following information and questions answered in this RFI/SS: Questions and information that is not provided shall be considered nonresponsive to the Request for Information and contractor shall not be considered as part of the market research.

a) Contractors shall provide their point(s) of contact name, address, telephone number, and email address, and the company's business size, and SAM Unique Entity Identification Number.

b) Is your company a small business, SDBs, HUBZone, or 8A concern? Please provide proof of qualifications.

c) Does your company meet all required four prong factors for the Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR) per guidance of SBA and 13 C.F.R. § 121.406? Offer must answer all questions below.

1) Does your company exceed the 500-employee alternative size standard for nonmanufacturers?

2) Is your company primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sells the type of products being supplied?

3) Does your company must take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment, or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice?

4) Does your company supply the end products of a small business manufacturer or processor made in the United States?

5) Is your company considered small under the NAICS code 334510.

6) Do you (offer) manufacture the product yourself or a distributor of the items being researched above?

7) Are you an authorized distributor/reseller? Provide evidence from original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

8) Do you (offer) supply a product manufactured by another domestic small business, if it is a nonmanufacturer?

9) Do you (offer) supply the product of any sized manufacturer if SBA has granted a waiver to the nonmanufacturer rule?

10) Is your (offer) Buy American Certificate completed in SAM? Please provide evidence with response.

11) Is your (offer) Trade Agreement Certificate completed in SAM? Please provide evidence with response.

12) Information for the name brand or equal product being requested, is it manufactured outside the US-Domestic non-available?

13) Information for the name brand or equal product being requested, is it a foreign manufactured end product under the trade agreement?

14) What is your schedule of delivery after receipt of order for the name brand or equal product?

15) For the name brand or equal product required, Is your company available under any;

Government Wide Agency Contract (GWAC) General Services Administration Schedules (GSA) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)

If so, please list the contract number for name brand or equal product.

16) Provide descriptive literature demonstrating ability to meet all of the requirement/salient characteristics listed if other than brand name product is being offered. Please provide list of contracts for commercial, federal, state, and local governments. Listed contracts shall provide communication on the government requirement illustrating the capability for comparison. to the name brand or equal product meeting the specific requirements per the draft Statement of Work.

17) Contractors may provide an estimated industry pricing for name brand or equal product for market research and budgetary purpose.

7. Opportunity:

a) NCO 16, is seeking information from potential contractors on their ability to provide this requirement. THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE and SOURCES SOUGHT FOR REQUEST INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. Small Business Concerns are encouraged to provide responses to this Sources Sought in order to assist the CAVHS in determining potential levels of competition available in the industry. Contractor shall possess the capability to provide all requirements and objectives.

8. Instructions and Response Guidelines:

a) Sources Sought responses are due by 05/05/2026 at 3:00 PM (CST) via email to t.miller@va.gov. Telephone requests or inquires will not be accepted. Public Information will not be provided and shall be utilized to the full extent possible. This a New Requirement.

b) The subject line shall read: 36C25626Q0711 - Sources Sought – Sonosite US and Probes. NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. There is no page limitation on subparagraphs 6(a) - 6(c17).

c) Please provide the information you deem relevant in order to respond to the specific inquiries of the Sources Sought. Information provided will be used solely by CAVHS as "market research" and will not be released outside of the CAVHS Purchasing and Contract Team. This Sources Sought notice does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or Request for Quotation (RFQ), and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response to this request. All information contained in this Sources Sought is preliminary as well as subject to modification and is in no way binding on the Government.

d) In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on Contracting Opportunities (https://beta.sam.gov/) website or GSA. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this Sources Sought, or future RFP/RFQ.

9. Contact Information:

Contracting Specialist, T Miller Email address: t.miller@va.gov

10. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES/PROPOSALS; however, any firm that believes it can meet the requirements may provide answers, responses and give written notification prior to the response due date and time. Supporting evidence and responses.

Your responses to this notice are appreciated.

36C25626Q0711 - Sources Sought – Sonosite US and Probes

See Statement of Work (SOW) Below:

Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System (CAVHS) Point-of-Care (POC) Ultrasound System Statement of Work (SoW) — Brand Name Or Equal

1. Purpose / Background:

A. CAVHS requires one (1) point-of-care (POC) ultrasound system for perioperative, procedural, and intraoperative imaging in the Operating Room (OR)/Vascular suite. The brand name reference is the SonoSite PX; however, equal products will be considered if all salient characteristics herein are met or exceeded.

2. Brand Name or Equal Notice:

A. The brand name specified (SonoSite PX) is provided solely for identification of the level of quality and features required. Offerors proposing an "equal" product shall furnish descriptive literature that clearly demonstrates how the offered item meets each salient characteristic enumerated in Section 4.

3. Scope:

A. The Contractor shall deliver, configure, and install one complete POC ultrasound system meeting all salient characteristics, provide required documentation, coordinate clinical acceptance with Surgery Services and Biomedical Engineering, and provide standard warranty/service support.

4. Salient Characteristics (Minimum Essential Requirements):

A. Clinical Use & Design

· POC system with mobile cart, fluid-resistant surfaces, boot-ready in ≤60 seconds.

B. Imaging Performance & Modes

· Must include B-Mode, Color Doppler, Power Doppler, M-Mode, and real-time needle visualization.

C. Transducer Capability (Non-OEM)

· Must support high-frequency linear probe (13–19 MHz), depth ≥6 cm, and additional probes.

D. Connectivity, Data, and Cyber Requirements

· DICOM Store/MWL, encrypted transfer, no local PHI retention, user accounts & audit logs.

E. Power & Physical

· 100–240 VAC, battery ≥60 minutes, ≤24-inch width, secure probe/cable storage.

F. Documentation & Training

· Operator manuals, training material, and clinical guides must be provided.

G. For evaluation of "Equal" products offerors must submit literature proving compliance with all salient characteristics.

5. Deliverables:

A. Complete ultrasound system, cart, probes, setup, configuration, manuals, warranty, and compliance crosswalk.

6. Period Of Performance:

A. 30 days after receipt of offer (ARO).

B. Installation and acceptance must occur within 30 days after equipment delivery.

7. Delivery & Installation:

A. Ship to:

2200 Fort Roots Drive, Bldg. 182 North Little Rock, AR 72114.

B. Hours: 8 AM–4 PM. Lift gate required.

C. Installation to be coordinated by POC listed on the contract.

D. Work Hours and Schedule: All work, execution of services, and completion of deliverables must be accomplished during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Federal Holidays excluded. Prior to work being performed proper coordination shall be initiated between the Contractor and the government to ensure that services/work/training can be executed when scheduled. Any work, services, and/or other tasks performed during other than normal business hours must be approved in advance by the Point of Contact (POC), Contracting Officer, and/or other authorized facility designee/representative before such work begins. The Federal Holidays that are currently being observed by the facility are listed below.

E. In addition to the days designated as holidays, the Government observes the following days:

1. Any other day designated by Executive Order.

2. Any other day designated by the President’s Proclamation; and

3. Any other day designated by the Federal Statute.

8. Warranty & Maintenance:

A. Minimum 1-year warranty. On-site technical support.

9. Acceptance & Quality Assurance:

A. Acceptance based on imaging verification, probe performance, DICOM connectivity, and Biomed inspection.

10. Security, Privacy, and Records Management:

A. Contractor will not access PHI or VA IT systems. Records handled per Federal regulations.

B. Information Systems Officer, Information Protection:

1) The contractor will not have access to VA Desktop computers, nor will they have access to online resources belonging to the government while conducting services. If removal of equipment from the VA is required, any memory storage devices, such as hard drives, solid state drives and non-volatile memory units will remain in VA control and will not be removed from VA custody.

C. Privacy Officer:

1) The contractor will not have access to protected Patient Health Information (PHI) nor will they have the capability of accessing patient information during the services provided to the VA and if removal of equipment from the VA is required, any memory storage devices, such as hard drives, solid state drives and non-volatile memory units will remain in VA control and will not be removed from VA custody. All research data available for Contractor analyses is de-identified.

2) The contractor, their personnel, and their subcontractors shall be subject to the Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks regarding information and information system security as delineated in this contract.

D. Records Manager:

A. Applicability

This clause applies to all Contractors whose employees create, work with, or otherwise handle Federal records, as defined in Section B, regardless of the medium in which the record exists.

B. Definitions “Federal record” as defined in 44 U.S.C. § 3301, includes all recorded information, regardless of form or characteristics, made or received by a Federal agency under Federal law or in connection with the transaction of public business and preserved or appropriate for preservation by that agency or its legitimate successor as evidence of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the United States Government or because of the informational value of data in them.

The term Federal record:

1. includes [Agency] records.

2. does not include personal materials.

3. applies to records created, received, or maintained by Contractors pursuant to their [Agency] contract.

4. may include deliverables and documentation associated with deliverables.

C. Requirements

1. Contractor shall comply with all applicable records management laws and regulations, as well as National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) records policies, including but not limited to the Federal Records Act (44 U.S.C. chs. 21, 29, 31, 33), NARA regulations at 36 CFR Chapter XII Subchapter B, and those policies associated with the safeguarding of records covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). These policies include the preservation of all records, regardless of form or characteristics, mode of transmission, or state of completion.

2. In accordance with 36 CFR 1222.32, all data created for Government use and delivered to, or falling under the legal control of, the Government are Federal records subject to the provisions of 44 U.S.C. chapters 21, 29, 31, and 33, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), as amended, and the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended and must be managed and scheduled for disposition only as permitted by statute or regulation.

3. In accordance with 36 CFR 1222.32, Contractor shall maintain all records created for Government use or created in the course of performing the contract and/or delivered to, or under the legal control of the Government and must be managed in accordance with Federal law. Electronic records and associated metadata must be accompanied by sufficient technical documentation to permit understanding and use of the records and data.

4. [Agency] and its contractors are responsible for preventing the alienation or unauthorized destruction of records, including all forms of mutilation. Records may not be removed from the legal custody of [Agency] or destroyed except for in accordance with the provisions of the agency records schedules and with the written concurrence of the Head of the Contracting Activity. Willful and unlawful destruction, damage or alienation of Federal records is subject to the fines and penalties imposed by 18 U.S.C. 2701. In the event of any unlawful or accidental removal, defacing, alteration, or destruction of records, Contractor must report to [Agency]. The agency must report promptly to NARA in accordance with 36 CFR 1230.

5. The Contractor shall immediately notify the appropriate Contracting Officer upon discovery of any inadvertent or unauthorized disclosures of information, data, documentary materials, records or equipment. Disclosure of non-public information is limited to authorized personnel with a need-to-know as described in the [contract vehicle]. The Contractor shall ensure that the appropriate personnel, administrative, technical, and physical safeguards are established to ensure the security and confidentiality of this information, data, documentary material, records and/or equipment is properly protected. The Contractor shall not remove material from Government facilities or systems, or facilities or systems operated or maintained on the Government’s behalf, without the express written permission of the Head of the Contracting Activity. When information, data, documentary material, records and/or equipment is no longer required, it shall be returned to [Agency] control, or the Contractor must hold it until otherwise directed. Items returned to the Government shall be hand carried, mailed, emailed, or securely electronically transmitted to the Contracting Officer or address prescribed in the [contract vehicle]. Destruction of records is EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED unless in accordance with Paragraph (4).

6. The Contractor is required to obtain the Contracting Officer's approval prior to engaging in any contractual relationship (sub-contractor) in support of this contract requiring the disclosure of information, documentary material and/or records generated under, or relating to, contracts. The Contractor (and any sub-contractor) is required to abide by Government and [Agency] guidance for protecting sensitive, proprietary information, classified, and controlled unclassified information.

7. The Contractor shall only use Government IT equipment for purposes specifically tied to or authorized by the contract and in accordance with [Agency] policy.

8. The Contractor shall not create or maintain any records containing any non-public [Agency] information that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract.

9. The Contractor shall not retain, use, sell, or disseminate copies of any deliverable that contains information covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 or that which is generally protected from public disclosure by an exemption to the Freedom of Information Act.

10. The [Agency] owns the rights to all data and records produced as part of this contract. All deliverables under the contract are the property of the U.S. Government for which [Agency] shall have unlimited rights to use, dispose of, or disclose such data contained therein as it determines to be in the public interest. Any Contractor rights in the data or deliverables must be identified as required by FAR 52.227-11 through FAR 52.227-20.

11. Training. All Contractor employees assigned to this contract who create, work with, or otherwise handle records are required to take [Agency]-provided records management training. The Contractor is responsible for confirming training has been completed according to agency policies, including initial training and any annual or refresher training.

[Note: To the extent an agency requires contractors to complete records management training, the agency must provide the training to the contractor.] D. Flow down of requirements to subcontractors

1. The Contractor shall incorporate the substance of this clause, its terms and requirements including this paragraph, in all subcontracts under this [contract vehicle], and require written subcontractor acknowledgment of same.

Violation by a subcontractor of any provision set forth in this clause will be attributed to the Contractor.