36C26326Q0562_1.docx

Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

NETWORK CONTRACTING OFFICE 23

1303 5TH STREET, SUITE 300

CORALVILLE IA 52241

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Robert Bennett robert.bennett8@va.gov 319-339-7079

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

One Veterans Drive

Minneapolis MN

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Statement of Work Microtome (manual) Minneapolis VAMC

1. Introduction

The Minneapolis VA Healthcare System (MVAHCS) Pathology and Laboratory Department requires one manual microtome which will be used in the histology laboratory to prepare high quality ultra-thin tissue specimens for microscopic analysis and ultimately pathologist diagnosis. This equipment is engineered to produce exceptionally thin slices of specimens between 1 to 60 µm thick. This requirement is Brand Name or Equal to the Leica HistoCore BIOCUT Config. 1 (Part #: 149BIOG00C1) with the salient characteristics below.

2. Salient Characteristics:

A. Manual mechanical rotary B. Silent retraction C. Horizontal feed and vertical stroke mechanisms D. Smooth-running hand wheel allowing rocking mode and full hand-wheel rotation E. Two independent hand-wheel locking systems F. Personalized coarse feed wheel G. Removable top tray H. 2-in-1 blade holder (allows to switch between high and low profile blades without changing blade holders) I. Quick clamping system for specimen clamps J. Universal cassette clamp, securing cassettes vertically and horizontally K. Antistatic waste tray L. Section thickness: 1 to 60 µm M. Trimming section thickness: 10 µm, 30 µm N. Specimen feed: approx. 24 mm ± 2 mm O. Vertical stroke: 70 mm ± 1 mm P. Specimen retraction: approx. 40 µm; option to turn off Q. Specimen cooling option R. Dimensions not to exceed (25” D X 19” W x 14” H) S. Specimen orientation with zero position horizontal and vertical rotation

2. Delivery/Installation/Training/Validation/Warranty:

A. All new equipment will be shipped within 60 days of receipt of award. The contractor will coordinate with MVAHCS for delivery and installation of equipment. The MVAHCS requests delivery terms of: FOB DESTINATION for all deliveries, installation, and training.

1. Deliveries shall be made to:

VA Medical Center, Bldg. 70 Warehouse (90D), Ref. PO#:____________ One Veterans Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417

2. Acceptable delivery times are between 8 am and 3 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.

B. Installation will be completed by the contactor and basic operation must be established. No validation support or training is required.

C. A twelve (12) month warranty at no extra charge to MVAHCS is to be included in purchase.

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Before responding please carefully read and consider the following:

This is a full and open competition sources sought.

The sources sought is to determine if there are any domestic made products to meet the needs of the Statement of Work.

Microtome for the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. This is a Sources Sought Announcement Only and no solicitation is currently available. Responses will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After a review of the responses to this Sources Sought Notice, a solicitation announcement may be posted. A response to this Sources Sought Notice is not an adequate reply to a potentially forthcoming solicitation.

All information contained in this Sources Sought Announcement is preliminary, as well as subject to modification, and is in no way binding on the Government. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this request. Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to cancel this requirement at its discretion. The information requested will be used solely within the Department of Veterans Affairs to facilitate decision making and will not be disclosed outside of the Government. The determination of a procurement strategy, based upon the comments submitted in response to this Sources Sought Announcement, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, size standard is 1,000 employees. NOTE: Please ensure that the System for Award Management (SAM) indicates this NAICS code if you are interested in the requirement.

This acquisition may also be subject to the Nonmanufacturer Rule, see FAR 52.219-33.

Description of Supplies

· See included Statement of Work

Interested firms with the capability of providing the requirement, per applicable subcontracting rule limitations and nonmanufacturer rule, shall submit capability statements so the Government can determine the firm’s experience and capability to provide the requirements. Failure to demonstrate the capability of providing the requirement in response to this market survey may affect the Government’s review of the industry’s ability to perform or provide these requirements.

Firms shall include the following information with their responses if applicable:

1. Organization name, unique entity identification (UEI) number, address, socioeconomic category of your firm under the NAICS, email address of a point of contact who can verify the demonstrated capabilities, website address, and telephone number.

2. Capability statement demonstrating the ability to meet the specialized requirements stated in the Statement of Work (see attached) and their expertise in the above-described areas in sufficient detail, including any other specific and relevant information. Please provide a specification sheet for the equipment.

3. Copies of any agreements with companies/manufacturer(s) showing authorization to provide required products / services.

4. Small Business respondents indicate the estimate of services/supplies to be subcontracted.

a. What percentage of services/supplies (estimated) would the company perform as the Prime Contractor? __________________%

b. What percentage of services/supplies (estimated) would the company subcontract to other firms? __________________%

5. Identify if your organization is the manufacturer of the requested supplies. If you are not the manufacturer, identify the manufacturer of the supplies that you will provide and their socio-economic category.

a. Fill out the certificate under FAR Provision 52.225-2(b), identifying the item and its country of origin. If the product is a US domestic end product, write in USA for the item's country of origin.

52.225-2 Buy American Certificate.

(b) Foreign End Products:

Line Item No. Country of origin Exceeds 55% domestic content (yes/no)

6. State whether any of the requested services/supplies may be ordered against a government contract awarded to your organization (e.g Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), General Services Administration (GSA), etc.).

7. Provide estimated shipping and delivery information for the requested supplies (e.g. Expected lead time on delivery) Only firms seriously interested and truly capable should send their information described above and any questions by email to robert.bennett8@va.gov no later than 4:00 PM Central Time, April 17, 2026.

Sources Sought Notice