36C26226Q0899.docx

Combined Synopsis-Solicitation for Commercial Products and Commercial Services

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

Network Contracting Office 22 4811 Airport Plaza Drive Suite 600 Long Beach CA 90815

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer Jasmine Pressley-Barnard jasmine.pressley-barnard@va.gov 602-860-7808

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System

3601 S 6th Ave

Tucson AZ

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice

DESCRIPTION

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products and commercial services prepared in accordance with the format Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.202, “Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Products and Commercial Services,” as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested, and a written solicitation document will not be issued.

This solicitation is issued as an RFQ. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01.

This solicitation is full and open.

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.

The FSC/PSC is 6640.

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System at 3601 S 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85723 is seeking a liquid handling system.

All interested companies shall provide quotations for the following:

Supplies/Services

The full text of FAR provisions or clauses may be accessed electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

The following solicitation provisions and clause apply to this acquisition:

1. FAR 52.212-1, “Instructions to Offerors–Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Sep 2023)”

(a) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and small business size standard. The NAICS code(s) and small business size standard(s) for this acquisition appear elsewhere in the solicitation. However, the small business size standard for a concern that submits an offer, other than on a construction or service acquisition, but proposes to furnish an end item that it did not itself manufacture, process, or produce is 500 employees, or 150 employees for information technology value-added resellers under NAICS code 541519, if the acquisition—

(1)Is set aside for small business and has a value above the simplified acquisition threshold;

(2)Uses the HUBZone price evaluation preference regardless of dollar value, unless the offeror waives the price evaluation preference; or

(3)Is an 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, economically disadvantaged women-owned, or women-owned small business set-aside or sole-source award regardless of dollar value.

(b) Submission of offers. Submit signed and dated offers to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the exact time specified in this solicitation. Offers may be submitted on the SF 1449, letterhead stationery, or as otherwise specified in the solicitation. As a minimum, offers must show—

(1) The solicitation number;

(2) The time specified in the solicitation for receipt of offers;

(3) The name, address, and telephone number of the offeror;

(4) A technical description of the items being offered in sufficient detail to evaluate compliance with the requirements in the solicitation. This may include product literature, or other documents, if necessary;

(5) Terms of any express warranty;

(6) Price and any discount terms;

(7) "Remit to" address, if different than mailing address;

(8) A completed copy of the representations and certifications at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.212-3 (see FAR 52.212-3(b) for those representations and certifications that the offeror shall complete electronically);

(9) Acknowledgment of Solicitation Amendments;

(10) Past performance information, when included as an evaluation factor, to include recent and relevant contracts for the same or similar items and other references (including contract numbers, points of contact with telephone numbers and other relevant information); and

(11) If the offer is not submitted on the SF 1449, include a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offers that fail to furnish required representations or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration.

(c) Period for acceptance of offers. The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 30 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation.

(d) Product samples. When required by the solicitation, product samples shall be submitted at or prior to the time specified for receipt of offers. Unless otherwise specified in this solicitation, these samples shall be submitted at no expense to the Government, and returned at the sender’s request and expense, unless they are destroyed during preaward testing.

(e) Multiple offers. Offerors are encouraged to submit multiple offers presenting alternative terms and conditions, including alternative line items (provided that the alternative line items are consistent with FAR subpart 4.10), or alternative commercial products or commercial services for satisfying the requirements of this solicitation. Each offer submitted will be evaluated separately.

(f) Late submissions, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of offers. (1) Offerors are responsible for submitting offers, and any modifications, revisions, or withdrawals, so as to reach the Government office designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation. If no time is specified in the solicitation, the time for receipt is 4:30 p.m., local time, for the designated Government office on the date that offers or revisions are due.

(2) (i) Any offer, modification, revision, or withdrawal of an offer received at the Government office designated in the solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt of offers is "late" and will not be considered unless it is received before award is made, the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late offer would not unduly delay the acquisition; and-

(A) If it was transmitted through an electronic commerce method authorized by the solicitation, it was received at the initial point of entry to the Government infrastructure not later than 5:00 p.m. one working day prior to the date specified for receipt of offers; or

(B) There is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received at the Government installation designated for receipt of offers and was under the Government’s control prior to the time set for receipt of offers; or

(C) If this solicitation is a request for proposals, it was the only proposal received.

(ii) However, a late modification of an otherwise successful offer, that makes its terms more favorable to the Government, will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted.

(3) Acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the Government installation includes the time/date stamp of that installation on the offer wrapper, other documentary evidence of receipt maintained by the installation, or oral testimony or statements of Government personnel.

(4) If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that offers cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of offers by the exact time specified in the solicitation, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the solicitation or other notice of an extension of the closing date, the time specified for receipt of offers will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume.

(5) Offers may be withdrawn by written notice received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of offers. Oral offers in response to oral solicitations may be withdrawn orally. If the solicitation authorizes facsimile offers, offers may be withdrawn via facsimile received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of offers, subject to the conditions specified in the solicitation concerning facsimile offers. An offer may be withdrawn in person by an offeror or its authorized representative if, before the exact time set for receipt of offers, the identity of the person requesting withdrawal is established and the person signs a receipt for the offer.

(g) Contract award (not applicable to Invitation for Bids). The Government intends to evaluate offers and award a contract without discussions with offerors. Therefore, the offeror’s initial offer should contain the offeror’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if later determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary. The Government may reject any or all offers if such action is in the public interest; accept other than the lowest offer; and waive informalities and minor irregularities in offers received.

(h) Multiple awards. The Government may accept any item or group of items of an offer, unless the offeror qualifies the offer by specific limitations. Unless otherwise provided in the Schedule, offers may not be submitted for quantities less than those specified. The Government reserves the right to make an award on any item for a quantity less than the quantity offered, at the unit prices offered, unless the offeror specifies otherwise in the offer.

(i) Availability of requirements documents cited in the solicitation.

(1) (i) The GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 101–29, and copies of Federal specifications, standards, and product descriptions can be downloaded from the ASSIST website at https://assist.dla.mil.

(ii) If the General Services Administration, Department of Agriculture, or Department of Veterans Affairs issued this solicitation, a copy of specifications, standards, and commercial item descriptions cited in this solicitation may be obtained from the address in paragraph (i)(1)(i) of this provision.

(2) Most unclassified Defense specifications and standards may be downloaded from the ASSIST website at https://assist.dla.mil.

(3) Defense documents not available from the ASSIST website may be requested from the Defense Standardization Program Office by—

(i) Using the ASSIST feedback module ( https://assist.dla.mil/feedback); or

(ii) Contacting the Defense Standardization Program Office by telephone at 571–767–6688 or email at assisthelp@dla.mil.

(4) Nongovernment (voluntary) standards must be obtained from the organization responsible for their preparation, publication, or maintenance.

(j) Unique entity identifier.(Applies to all offers that exceed the micro-purchase threshold, and offers at or below the micro-purchase threshold if the solicitation requires the Contractor to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).) The Offeror shall enter, in the block with its name and address on the cover page of its offer, the annotation "Unique Entity Identifier" followed by the unique entity identifier that identifies the Offeror's name and address. The Offeror also shall enter its Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) indicator, if applicable. The EFT indicator is a four-character suffix to the unique entity identifier. The suffix is assigned at the discretion of the Offeror to establish additional SAM records for identifying alternative EFT accounts (see FAR subpart 32.11) for the same entity. If the Offeror does not have a unique entity identifier, it should contact the entity designated at www.sam.gov for unique entity identifier establishment directly to obtain one. The Offeror should indicate that it is an offeror for a Government contract when contacting the entity designated at www.sam.gov for establishing the unique entity identifier.

(k) [Reserved]

(l) Debriefing. If a post-award debriefing is given to requesting offerors, the Government shall disclose the following information, if applicable:

(1) The agency’s evaluation of the significant weak or deficient factors in the debriefed offeror’s offer.

(2) The overall evaluated cost or price and technical rating of the successful and the debriefed offeror and past performance information on the debriefed offeror.

(3) The overall ranking of all offerors, when any ranking was developed by the agency during source selection.

(4) A summary of the rationale for award;

(5) For acquisitions of commercial products, the make and model of the product to be delivered by the successful offeror.

(6) Reasonable responses to relevant questions posed by the debriefed offeror as to whether source-selection procedures set forth in the solicitation, applicable regulations, and other applicable authorities were followed by the agency.

(End of provision)

2. FAR 52.211-6, “Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999)”

(a) If an item in this solicitation is identified as "brand name or equal," the purchase description reflects the characteristics and level of quality that will satisfy the Government’s needs. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that "equal" products must meet are specified in the solicitation.

(b) To be considered for award, offers of "equal" products, including "equal" products of the brand name manufacturer, must-

(1) Meet the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristic specified in this solicitation;

(2) Clearly identify the item by-

(i) Brand name, if any; and

(ii) Make or model number;

(3) Include descriptive literature such as illustrations, drawings, or a clear reference to previously furnished descriptive data or information available to the Contracting Officer; and

(4) Clearly describe any modifications the offeror plans to make in a product to make it conform to the solicitation requirements. Mark any descriptive material to clearly show the modifications.

(c) The Contracting Officer will evaluate "equal" products on the basis of information furnished by the offeror or identified in the offer and reasonably available to the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the offer.

(d) Unless the offeror clearly indicates in its offer that the product being offered is an "equal" product, the offeror shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation.

(End of provision)

3. VAAR 852.212-71, “Gray Market and Counterfeit Items (Feb 2023)

(a) No used, refurbished, or remanufactured supplies or equipment/parts shall be provided. This procurement is for new Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) items only. No gray market items shall be provided. Gray market items are OEM goods intentionally or unintentionally sold outside an authorized sales territory or sold by non-authorized dealers in an authorized sales territory.

(b) No counterfeit supplies or equipment/parts shall be provided. Counterfeit items include unlawful or unauthorized reproductions, substitutions, or alterations that have been mismarked, misidentified, or otherwise misrepresented to be an authentic, unmodified item from the original manufacturer, or a source with the express written authority of the original manufacturer or current design activity, including an authorized aftermarket manufacturer. Unlawful or unauthorized substitutions include used items represented as new, or the false identification of grade, serial number, lot number, date code, or performance characteristics.

(c) Vendor shall be an OEM, authorized dealer, authorized distributor, or authorized reseller for the proposed equipment/system, verified by an authorization letter or other documents from the OEM. All software licensing, warranty and service associated with the equipment/system shall be in accordance with the OEM terms and conditions.

(End of clause)

All quoters shall submit the following:

· Letter of Authorization from Original Equipment Manufacturer(OEM), if you are not the OEM.

· If offering an equal to item, name of manufacturer and identification of all salient characteristics that are/are not met.

· Identify country of origin for all supplies being offered.

All quotes shall be sent to the Contracting Specialist, Jasmine Pressley-Barnard jasmine.pressley-barnard@va.gov.

Award will be based upon evaluation of quotes in accordance with the Simplified Acquisition Procedures of RFO FAR 12.

4. Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website located at https://sam.gov/.

5. FAR 52.212-4, “Contract Terms and Conditions–Commercial Products and Commercial Services”

To facilitate the award process, all quotes must include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows:

"The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition."

OR

"The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:"

Quoters shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s), if any.

Submission of your response shall be received not later than Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 10:00am PT Local Time.

Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f).

Any questions or concerns regarding this solicitation should be forwarded in writing via e-mail to the Point of Contact listed below.

STATEMENT OF WORK

1. Contract Title:

Liquid Handling System

2. Background

2.1 VA SHIELD routinely fulfills biospecimen requests for large research cohorts, commonly requiring aliquoting for batches of 500 to 1,000 individual cases.

2.2 Manual pipetting at this scale is labor intensive, time consuming, and increases the risk of inaccuracy and delays.

2.3 An automated high throughput liquid handling system is required to meet VA SHIELD operational demands.

2.4 The FLO i8 V3 Liquid Handler will provide rapid, precise, and consistent aliquoting to support SHIELD research distribution.

3. Scope

3.1 The Contractor shall provide an automated liquid handling system meeting the salient characteristics listed in this SOW.

3.2 The Contractor shall deliver equipment, software, installation, and required documentation.

3.3 The system will be used to automate aliquoting of biospecimens from source tubes into microplates for research distribution.

4. Requirements

4.1 The liquid handler shall transfer biospecimen aliquots from source containers into microplates.

4.2 The system must support high throughput processing of 500–1,000 cases per batch.

4.3 The system must enable precise low volume pipetting suitable for molecular assays.

4.4 The system must handle diverse biological samples with minimal adjustment.

4.5 The system must integrate into existing workflows and be operable by standard lab personnel.

4.6 The system shall produce consistent, traceable, high-quality aliquots.

5. Salient Characteristics

5.1 MUST HAVE Eight independent Pipetting channels.

5.2 MUST HAVE Volume capability from 0.5 uL to 1,000 µL.

5.3 MUST HAVE Non-contact dispensing to 0.2 µL.

5.4 MUST HAVE Compatible with liquids of varying viscosity and volatility.

5.5 MUST HAVE Uses specialized positive displacement tips.

5.6 MUST HAVE Liquid level and well‑bottom sensing.

5.7 MUST HAVE Integrated camera/vision verification.

5.8 MUST HAVE Precision CV < 5% at 0.5 µL.

5.9 MUST HAVE Independent reach for plates, wells, and tubes.

5.10 MUST Reduce consumable waste.

5.11 MUST HAVE User-friendly software and intuitive programming.

5.12 MUST HAVE Real time run monitoring with safety interlocks.

5.13 MUST HAVE External API for system integration.

6. Performance Monitoring

6.1 The Government will review delivered equipment, installation, and system functionality.

6.2 Acceptance is based on demonstration that the system meets all salient characteristics.

7. Security Requirements

7.1 No sensitive data will be processed. Standard laboratory security applies.

7.2 No additional cybersecurity controls are required.

7.3 The Contractor shall implement all VA IT security requirements associated with system interconnection documentation required under a Memorandum of Understanding or Interconnection Security Agreement (MOU‑ISA). The SOP and MOU‑ISA template are available on the Information Protection Risk Management (IPRM) Portal and will be provided upon request.

7.4 The Contractor shall comply with and support all IT security requirements associated with the Certification and Accreditation (C&A) of the VA system to which the Contractor’s solution connects.

7.5 The Contractor shall meet all performance obligations related to VA IT security, including submission of required deliverables, completion of personnel screening requirements, and execution of termination and off‑boarding activities as applicable.

8. Government‑Furnished Equipment (GFE) / Information (GFI)

8.1 The Government will provide laboratory space, power, and network access.

8.2 No additional GFE/GFI will be provided.

9. Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations

9.1 Installation coordination with SHIELD staff is required.

9.2 Training shall be provided if included with the procurement.

9.3 All equipment shall include standard warranties.

Effective Date: 01/15/2026 Revision: 03