36C26226Q1232.docx

Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

Department of Veterans Affairs NCO 22 - Network Contracting 4135 S. Power Road Mesa AZ 85212

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Jessica Brooks jessica.brooks3@va.gov 480-466-7940

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Phoenix VA Healthcare System

650 E. Indian School Road

Phoenix AZ

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

RedHat OS Service Contract

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. It is neither a solicitation announcement nor a request for proposals or quotes and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Responses to this sources sought must be in writing. The purpose of this sources sought announcement is for market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential qualified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses, 8(a), HubZone and other Small Businesses interested and capable of providing the services described below. Documentation of technical expertise must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary functional area expertise and experience to compete for this acquisition. Responses to this notice shall include the following: (a) company name (b) address (c) point of contact (d) phone, fax, and email (e) DUNS number (f) Cage Code (g) Tax ID Number (h) Type of small business, e.g. Services Disabled Veteran Owned small Business, Veteran-owned small business, 8(a), HUBZone, Women Owned Small Business, Small disadvantaged business, or Small Business HUBZone business and (i) must provide a capability statement that addresses the organizations qualifications and ability to perform as a contractor for the work described below.

The San Diego VA Health Care System located at 650 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85012 is seeking a potential qualified contractor that can provide RedHat OS Service.

Important information: The Government is not obligated to, nor will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to this sources sought synopsis request. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued. The VA is mandated by Public Law 109-461 to consider a total set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business set aside. However, if response by Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business firms proves inadequate, an alternate set-aside or full and open competition may be determined. No sub-contracting opportunity is anticipated. The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 812210 ($12.5 Million Dollars).

Notice to potential offerors: All offerors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov and complete Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Additionally, all Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses or Veteran Owned Businesses who respond to a solicitation on this project must be registered with the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Dynamic Small Business Search located at https://dsbs.sba.gov/.

All interested Offerors should submit information by e-mail: by e-mail to jessica.brooks3@va.gov.

All information submissions to be marked Attn: Jessica Brooks, Contract Specialist and should be received no later than 16:00 MST on July 31, 2026.

Performance Work Statement RedHat Service Contract Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System (PVAHCS) Purpose:

The Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS) requires a service agreement to provide maintenance and support for RedHat OS.

Background:

PVAHCS Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) supports the RapidAI stroke server and the VAPALS-ELCAP lung research server, both of which utilize RedHat as their OS. The Phoenix VA does not have the expertise to maintain the software and must depend on the vendor.

Required Services A. The Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining the OS in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

B. The Contractor shall be responsible for upgrades, updates, enhancements, and installations.

C. The Contractor shall respond to service calls by phone or email within 1 hour.

D. The Contractor shall dispatch a service engineer within 8 hours of the initial service call.

E. The Contractor shall verify that the software that was serviced is fully functional before closing a ticket.

F. The Contractor shall deliver an electronic copy of a Field Service Report that delineates the service performed and confirms quality assurance tests results to Agency, see paragraph 4.

G. Service technicians shall be certified to perform services on the enclosed specified equipment. Contractor shall provide documentation/copy of certification with proposal submittals and upon award.

H. IAW 15 USC 657s and 13 CFR 125.6 - Limitations on Subcontracting, the Contractor shall perform over 50% of the work.

I. FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services: The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days.

J. Noncontract Charges: The contractor shall not perform any services that shall result in additional charges without prior approval from the Contracting Officer.

K. Payment: Payment shall be made in arrears, and upon receipt of a properly prepared invoice which references the period for which payment is due, the contract number and/or assigned purchase order number. The invoice shall include the correct payment address.

L. Failure to carry out the above procedures shall be considered as a failure to document the service visit and shall constitute a failure to perform.

Deliverables Filed Service Reports shall be provided for all service activities including preventive maintenance, emergency repair, and safety inspections within one week of service and shall contain the following information:

A. Date(s) and time period of service.

B. Complete description of equipment serviced including model number and serial number.

C. Complete description of equipment services performed including upgrades, updates and software changes made.

D. Complete list of all materials, parts, or assemblies installed or replaced including serial numbers of parts where applicable.

E. A statement of the complaint that initiated the service call.

F. Total standard labor hours, total overtime/premium hours, and total travel hours expended during the repair.

Security:

A. Security Requirements for Unclassified Information: 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.

B. The Contractor shall have remote access to the equipment included in this contract that capture and process ePHI. The remote access is initiated, controlled, and monitored by the VA via MS Teams connection.

C. Any and all ePHI shall be stored long-term in either VistA Imaging or a dedicated server.

D. A current national Business Associate Agreement between Contractor and the VA shall be on file prior to award. Contractor shall ensure currency of BAA.

E. A national Interconnection Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding MOU/ISA between contractor and the VA shall be on file prior to award. Contractor shall ensure currency of MOU/ISA. The standard operating procedure (SOP) and a template for a MOU-ISA are located on the Information Protection Risk Management (IPRM) Portal and can be provided to the contractor.

Contractors who have access to protected health information (PHI) in the performance of their official duties or have access to VA systems shall take the Privacy and HIPAA Focused Training Web-Based Training. The official privacy training for VA employees (VA10203) is available from the TMS website at: https://www.tms.va.gov/SecureAuth35/.

Risk Control:

The Contractor shall be virtually escorted by the Agency during maintenance sessions.

Performance Monitoring:

The Agency shall oversee work done by the contractor and accept the quality of work as appropriate.

Guarantee The contractor shall guarantee workmanship and all parts furnished by the contractor for a period of not less than 30 days Place of Performance:

Delivery of services shall be coordinated through the Biomedical Engineering located at:

Phoenix VA Health Care System 650 E. Indian School Rd.

Phoenix, AZ 85012

Hours of Coverage:

A. Normal hours of coverage are Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm local time, excluding federal holidays. All service shall be performed during normal hours of coverage unless requested or approved by the SME in coordination with the COR.

B. Work performed outside the normal hours of coverage shall be approved by the Contracting Officer. Funding for services that are outside the normal coverage hours or on holidays shall have approved modification prior to any service being allowed.

NOTE: All software modifications, upgrades, updates, enhancements, installations etc., for the enclosed inventory listing shall be scheduled and performed during normal hours of coverage at no additional charge to the government.

C. Federal Holidays observed are located at the following link:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/

Period of Performance:

Sources Sought Notice