ARGOS BIOMETER 36C25626Q1010.pdf

Sources Sought Notice

36C25626Q1010 Sources Sought Notice

SUBJECT* ARGOS BIOMETER

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE* 77056

SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C25626Q1010

RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE 07-08-2026 2PM CENTRAL TIME, CHICAGO, USA

ARCHIVE 7 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N

SET-ASIDE

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* 6540

NAICS CODE* 334510

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Department of Veterans Affairs

Newtwork Contracting Office Galleria Financial Center 5075 Westheimer Road Suite 750 Houston, TX 77056

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Tiffany Burks tiffany.burks@va.gov 601-362-4471 X56338

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

2002 Holcombe Blvd Houston TX

POSTAL CODE 77030

COUNTRY USA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL https://www.va.gov URL DESCRIPTION Department of Veteran Affairs AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS tiffany.burks@va.gov EMAIL DESCRIPTION Sources Sought 36C25626Q1010

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 16

Request For Information (RFI)

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A

REQUEST FOR QUOTE, PROPOSAL, OR BID. This notice is not a solicitation as defined by FAR 2.101, therefore it shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to an acquisition approach. All information contained in this Request for Information (RFI) is preliminary as well as subject to amendment and is in no way binding on the Government. Information submitted in response to this notice is voluntary; the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. The Government is requesting that restrictive or proprietary markings not be used in response to this notice. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the Federal Contract Opportunities website or GSA. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this RFI

1. Title: Argos Biometer

2. Purpose: The purpose of this Sources Sought is to identify potential sources which will aid in defining the procurement strategy (e.g., set-aside, sole source, unrestricted) for a solicitation the VA intends on issuing shortly for the following:

Model / Part Number Item /Description of Supplies/Equipment Qty 900242708

1-EA

The anticipated Small Business Administration (SBA) size standard for the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334510 is 1250 (employees or dollars).

3. Responses Requested: The following questions must be answered in response to this Sources Sought.

Answers that are not provided shall be considered non-responsive to the Sources Sought:

a. Where are the requested items/equipment manufactured?

For example: City/State, Country

b. Are the requested items/equipment manufactured by a small or large business? Yes or No

c. Is the potential vendor in compliance with the Non-Manufacturer Rule (NMR)? Yes or No

d. Is the Vendor an authorized distributor with access to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts which may be required in performance of this requirement?

The VA does not accept grey market items and therefore the Vendor must attach evidence of this access (Authorized Distributor letter) to be viewed by the government to be considered as part of the Market Research and responsiveness to this Sources Sought notice.

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 16

Request For Information (RFI)

e. Name of potential Contractor that possess the capability to fulfill this requirement. Contractors shall also provide the following:

Point(s) of contact name: _______________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________ Telephone number: ___________________________________________ Email address: _______________________________________________ Company's business size: ________________________________________________ Unique Entity ID (UEI) #: ________________________________________________

f. Is your company considered a small business concern, SB, SDVOSB, VOSB, HUBZone, or 8A concern, with the requisite 334510 NAICS code?

Please provide proof of qualifications.

g. Is your company available under any Government Wide Agency Contract (GWAC), General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), (FSS) Federal Supply Service and/or Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)?

If so, please identify the contract number for the Government to review as part of this Market Research.

4. Opportunity/Market Pricing: Michael E. DeBakey (MEDVAMC) is seeking information from potential vendors on their ability to provide the required items/equipment. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. Small Business Concerns are encouraged to provide responses to this RFI in order to assist the HOUSTON VAMC in determining potential levels of competition and general market pricing available in the industry. Therefore, vendors are requested to submit estimated market research pricing along with their responses to the above. The estimated pricing will be considered when determining the procurement strategy for the forthcoming solicitation.

5. Sources Sought responses are due by 3:00pm (CST), Wednesday July 8, 2026; size is limited to 8.5 x 11 inches, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins in Microsoft Word format via email to tiffany.burks@va.gov

The subject line shall read: Michael E. DeBakey VAMC – Argo Biometer. NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. There is no page limitation on subparagraphs 3(a) - 3(f). Please provide the information you deem relevant in order to respond to the specific inquiries of the RFI. Information provided will be used solely by Michael E. DeBakey VAMC as “Market Research” and will not be released outside of the Michael E. DeBakey VAMC Purchasing and Contract Team.

6. Contact Information:

Tiffany Burks tiffany.burks@va.gov

Your response to this notice is greatly appreciated!

STATEMENT OF WORK

ARGOS BIOMETER

MICHAEL E. DEBAKEY VA MEDICAL CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS

A. PURPOSE

The overall purpose is to procure 1 ARGOS Biometer for the Michael E.

DeBakey Medical Center (VAMC), 2002 Holcombe, Houston, Texas, 77030, Eye Clinic, Bldg. 100, RM 1C300. This item allows for timely exams and seamless Eye operations in the main clinic.

B. BACKGROUND

This request is to purchase 1 ARGOS BIOMETER for the Eye Clinic. Eye is replacing the outdated LENSTAR with the ARGOS. The Argos Captures biometric data of: Anterior Chamber Depth (ACD), Keratometry (K), Corneal Diameter/WTW, Central Corneal Thickness (CCT), Axial Length (AL), Aqueous Depth (AD), Pupil Size (PD), Lens Thickness. In a recent study, ARGOS® was found to have a significantly faster biometry measurement time compared to all other optical biometers for all patients 1.5x faster scanning speed than IOL Master 700. Streamline advanced IOL calculations with sophisticated astigmatic management tools.

C. SCOPE

Contractor shall supply, install, and provide all required electrical interfacing so all ophthalmic equipment operates as one unit. The contractor shall provide training to all staff members (and staff support members) who will be utilizing these ophthalmic exam lanes at no additional cost to the U.S. government.

D. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

All products must meet all salient characteristics defined in this section. If other than brand name (Or equal/Equivalent/Substitute Products) are to be provided then the contractor shall furnish catalog, part number, and the characteristics of the substitute item that are equivalent to the brand name. Other documents may also be required in order to clearly describe the item(s) so that it/they can be evaluated by the end user. (Items otherwise equal may not satisfy the requirement due to differences in material composition, size, environmental application, etc).

E. ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS AND SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

Eye is replacing the outdated LENSTAR with the ARGOS. Alcon’s new Argos Biometer with Image Guidance is a swept-source based biometer that provides the biometry, keratometry and high-resolution imagery of the eye prior to cataract surgery, and aids in the selection of an appropriate intraocular lens

(IOL). The ARGOS® Biometer faster measurement speed saves you time and helps reduce risk of measurement variability.

F. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Contractor shall provide a projected schedule in terms of days from the time of award addressing (at a minimum) the following milestones: verification that all system quantities and configurations are accurate; manufacture/assembly of all parts and/or equipment; delivery to identified location; and complete installation of hardware if required.

G. TRAINING

Contractor shall provide training on the operation of the equipment in the Eye Clinic to all residents, interns, technicians and staff if training should be required but the equipment is currently utilized in the Eye Clinic. Training shall be available in the Eye Clinic at the Michael E. DeBakey VAMC, Eye Clinic, 1st.

Floor, RM 1C300. during normal business hours between 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday, if required.

H. TESTING AND CERTIFICATION

Upon installation of equipment, the Contractor shall notify the COR that the system is ready for acceptance testing, and that it meets all requirements as specified. Submission of this notification of system readiness shall be accomplished by the contractor prior to the beginning of the scheduled Government Acceptance Test.

I. GOVERNMENT ACCEPTANCE TEST

Contractor shall perform the Government Acceptance Test in the presence of the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and designated Ophthalmology Staff for proof-of-performance. Upon completing the Government Acceptance Test successfully, Contractor shall document the success of this Government Acceptance Test on Contractor’s company form which will be certified by the COR’s signature as evidence of Government Acceptance of the referenced piece of equipment. A copy of this document shall be furnished to the COR and the Contracting Officer before Contractor’s Representative at the end of the testing.

J. INSTALLATION

1. Contractor shall provide all labor, staff, materials, tools, equipment and other resources for the installation of the equipment. Installation date, time, and specific location shall be determined and provided to the contractor.

2. Contractor shall be responsible for removing all packaging materials and related waste and then disposing of these items offsite.