36C26124Q0063.docx

Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

Network Contracting Office (NCO 21) VA Central California Health Care System 855 M Street, Suite 1020 Fresno CA 93721

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer Mathew Czeshinski mathew.czeshinski@va.gov

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)

VA San Francisco Healthcare System

4150 Clement Street

San Francisco CA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Subject: Sources Sought, Bread Products, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) VISN 21.

The purpose of this sources sought is to conduct market research to support the procurement of Bread Products and service for VISN21. This notice serves to survey the market in an attempt to ascertain whether or not sources are capable of providing the requested services. This notice allows potential contractors/vendors to submit a non-binding statement of interest and documentation demonstrating their capability. The sources sought effort is intended to assess industry capabilities and develop/support the intended direction of acquisition planning. The Network Contracting Office (NCO 21) is requesting responses from qualified business concerns; the qualifying NAICS code for this effort is 311999 – All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing.

This sources sought is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classifications (Service Disabled/Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB/VOSB), Hub zone, 8(a), small, small disadvantaged, woman owned small business, or large business) relative to NAICS 311999. Responses to this notice, will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this notice, a solicitation announcement may be published. Responses to this notice are not considered adequate responses to any corresponding solicitation announcement. All interested offerors will have to respond to the solicitation announcement in addition to responding to this notice.

Background: The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking vendors who can provide Bread Products per the attached draft Statement of Work. The vendors must demonstrate the ability to meet all requirements for this notice. See attached draft SOW.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Submit a brief description, two-three (2-3) pages (including cover letter) that demonstrates how your company can provide the requested services that are required in the attached draft salients. Include past experience in providing this requirement to the VA, other Government (Federal or State) agency, or for a private facility. Please specify your availability and your address. The attached SOW is a draft, and is NOT finalized. If any portions seem unclear, prohibited, and/or you are unsure about the draft description of the requirement please list your comments and/or concerns in your response so they can be addressed. PLEASE INDICATE WHETHER YOU HOLD A GSA FEDERAL-SUPPLY SCHEDULE CONTRACT THAT COVERS THESE SERVICES AND, IF SO, THE CONTRACT NUMBER. Provide BUSINESS SIZE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS; (a) Indicate whether your business is large or small (b) If small, indicate if your firm qualifies as a small, emerging business, or small disadvantages business (c) If disadvantages, specify under which disadvantaged group and if your firm is certified under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (d) Indicate if your firm is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) (g) Include the DUNS number of your firm. (h) State whether your firm is registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) at http://www.sam.gov and/or the VetCert Registry at https://www.sba.gov. If not, please NOTE that any future solicitation could only be awarded to a contractor who is registered in SAM and to receive award based on VOSB or SDVOSB status you must be registered in the VetCert Registry (i) provide current commercial pricing for all items listed in the attached SOW and any applicable discounts. (j) link to the respondent’s General Services Administration (GSA) schedule, or attached file of same, if applicable (k) citation of any current or past customers (i.e., within the past two (2) years) to include contract number, point of contact telephone number or e-mail address; and (l) other material relevant to establishing core competencies of the firm.

Response is due by 15:00 EST Thursday, October 19, 2023. Please submit e-mail responses to Mat Czeshinski, Contract Specialist, at email address: mathew.czeshinski@va.gov . Your response should include a STATEMENT OF CAPABLILITY, GSA SCHEDULE INFORMATION, DUNS#, BUSINESS SIZE, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS information as explained above. Please place “SS RESPONSE - [YOUR FIRM NAME] – BREAD – VASFHCS” in the subject line of your email. This notice is to assist the VA in determining sources only.

NOTES: Issuance of this notice does not constitute any obligation whatsoever on the part of the Government to procure these services, or to issue a solicitation, nor to notify respondents of the results of this notice. No solicitation documents exists at this time; however, in the event the acquisition strategy demonstrates that GSA is a viable option for procuring a solution, the RFQ shall be posted to GSA eBuy where only those firms who currently hold a GSA Schedule with the applicable SIN will be able to respond. The Department of Veterans Affairs is neither seeking quotes nor accepting unsolicited quotes, and responses to this notice cannot be accepted as offers. Any information the vendor considers proprietary should be clearly marked as such. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI.

ITEM INFORMATION

Bread FY24: 1 Request for local bread contract to supply various bread products for pt. meals.

Contract Period: Base POP Begin: 01-01-2024 POP End: 12-31-2024

Bread FY25: 1 Request for local bread contract to supply various bread products for pt. meals.

Contract Period: Option 1 POP Begin: 01-01-2025 POP End: 12-31-2025

Bread FY26: 1 Request for local bread contract to supply various bread products for pt. meals.

Contract Period: Option 2 POP Begin: 01-01-2026 POP End: 12-31-2026

Bread FY27: 1 Request for local bread contract to supply various bread products for pt. meals.

Contract Period: Option 3 POP Begin: 01-01-2027 POP End: 12-31-2027

Bread FY28: 1 Request for local bread contract to supply various bread products for pt. meals.

Contract Period: Option 4 POP Begin: 01-01-2028 POP End: 12-31-2028

Statement of Work 662-23-3-120-0693

Project: Contract (One base year with four option years) for bread products, at San Francisco VA Healthcare System - Nutrition and Food Services

Overview: Nutrition and Food Services within the San Francisco VA Health Care System provides meals to Veteran inpatients in the Acute Care, Community Living Center and various other units throughout the San Francisco campus. A variety of bread products are a regular component of a patient meal. This food is an essential component of the Veteran patient’s nutritional intake and support Veteran centric meal services. A contract, will allow Nutrition and Food Services to provide a variety of bread products and which are fresh and baked locally and for which, may not be available from the national subsistence prime vendor.

Objective: Establish an IDIQ contract for bread products, for VA Healthcare Systems Nutrition and Food Services

1) Product Specifications:

a) Contractor will provide delivery of prepared bread product. Items will be delivered a minimum of twice per week with 2-3 days between each delivery.

b) All food items will be prepared in a facility that is compliant with all USDA regulations, standards, and guidelines.

c) A variety of bread items will be available and must meet the nutrient ranges noted below:

Bread Type Per Serving

Hamburger Bun

d) Contract should include the ability to purchase any of the other bread items on vendors item list as needed or desired by the SFVAHCS.

e) Full ingredient list and nutritional analysis will be made available for all items provided under the contract.

f) Production of food shall not precede delivery by more than twenty-four (24) hours. Bread shall be packaged in accordance with the commercial practice. Bread shall not have been frozen prior to arrival. The package shall afford adequate protection against deterioration and physical damage during transit from the supply source to the medical center.

g) All items shall be delivered to the requested destinations as listed in the schedule. All bread items furnished under this contract shall be fresh and of the highest quality.

h) All products furnished under this contract shall be processed and packed under sanitary conditions in strict accordance with guidelines provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, using the best commercial practices that are standard for the industry. All containers shall be clean, sound and securely covered or sealed to provide adequate protection from dirt, filth or contamination.

i) Each bread type will be wrapped in packages of agreed upon quantity, marked with the type of bread, ingredients and Use By Date. Comment by Fruitman, Jessica M.:

2) Ordering and deliveries of Bread Items:

a) Orders shall be placed no less than 1 workday prior to the required delivery date.

b) Orders may be issued orally (by phone) or by agreed upon electronic commerce methods.

c) Items will be delivered a minimum of twice per week, during regular business hours. Specific days will be determined during contract negotiations.

d) Deliveries will be made between the hours of 6am-2pm on established delivery days. Contractor making delivery will check in with designated nutrition and food services staff on duty.

e) Should a federal holiday occur on the scheduled delivery day, the contractor shall provide delivery on the weekday preceding the holiday or Monday holiday, delivery will be on Tuesday, Friday holiday, delivery will be on Thursday.

f) Exact building and room numbers for delivery location will be provided at time of award.

g) If the contractor delivers an item(s) to the wrong location and the item(s) are not recovered at its original location, the contractor is responsible for its replacement by the next workday

h) All food items delivered shall be properly packaged to maintain freshness and dated with a use by date.

i) Contractor-owned delivery trays/racks and wheeled carts, etc. shall be in clean condition at delivery time; if they are not, contract personnel will be required to transfer the food item delivery to government owned holding racks. Contract-owned trays/racks, wheeled carts utilized in the delivery will be held by the government for pickup and re-use by the contractor.

j) All deliveries shall be accompanied by a packers list, shipping ticket or invoice with the purchase order number. This document will include the quantity of each product code/name of sandwich delivered.

k) All items may be purchased by each item. It is not required to purchase by the flat.

l) The Government does not guarantee the estimated yearly quantity.

3) Invoicing and Payments

a) Billings shall be identified with proper delivery order number and shall reflect all deliveries made against the delivery order. End of the month deliveries shall not be billed against the following month delivery order.

4) General Guidelines

a) A pre-awarded meeting with the successful bidder will be required to provide samples and nutritional analysis. If an item is found to be unacceptable, it may be dropped from solicitations.

b) Pre-award evaluation of vendor. The vendor will be evaluated on the following criteria, all criteria is of equal weight:

i) Price

ii) Taste/flavor/mouthfeel/texture

iii) Nutritional analysis

iv) Ability to meet packaging and delivery specifications noted above.

c) All product furnished under the awarded contract shall be processed at plants that have been inspected by the city, county, state, or Federal Government. Approved inspection reports of another VA Facility or other Government agency will be accepted as satisfactory evidence that the facilities/plants meet these requirements, provided that the inspection was made not more than six (6) months prior to the proposed contract period. The Contracting Officer or his/her designee reserves the right to make pre-award, on-site survey and inspection of the plant, personnel, equipment, and processes of the offeror prior to making award and conditions found will be considered in awarding the contract. Inspection(s) may also be made at any time during the life of the contract and, if it is found that the contractor is not complying with specifications, deliveries will be rejected, and the products covered by this contract will be procured in the open market. Any excess cost occasioned by this action will be charged against the contractor’s account.

d) Post Award Evaluation of contract. The contractor will be evaluated on the following criteria:

i) Ongoing quality/consistency of product.

ii) Delivery packaging and individual item packaging/labeling.

iii) Production facility inspections

iv) Timeliness of invoice submission to VA System

v) Delivery timeliness

e) In the case of an emergency that affects the San Francisco Bay Area, the contractor will give San Francisco VA Medical Center priority service. Contractor shall provide a 24-hour emergency telephone number where orders for immediate delivery will be processed.

f) Offerors may propose alternate items, packaging or packing. Offerors shall clearly indicate, in their offer, the quantity, packaging size, unit or other different features upon which the offer is submitted. Evaluation of the alternate items will be made against a common denominator (i.e., weight, package quantity, etc.). Offerors are reminded that the alternate item must meet all the requirements of the Government specifications.

g) The contractor shall contact the Contracting Officer on all matters pertaining to administration. Only the Contracting Officer is authorized to make commitments to issue changes which will affect the price, quantity and quality or delivery of this contract.

5) Other

a) The C&A requirements do not apply, a Security Accreditation Package is not required

VA MEDICAL CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Delivery Location:

4150 Clement St.

San Francisco, CA, 94121 Building 203, BB10 – Main Hospital Kitchen (Dietary) Loading Dock

Delivery Times:

Deliver two (2) days per week with 2-3 days between each delivery.

Sources Sought Notice