36C26326Q0926.docx

Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

NETWORK CONTRACTING OFFICE 23

316 ROBERT STREET N, SUITE 506

SAINT PAUL MN 55101

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Mariah Delaney mariah.delaney-mack@va.gov 334-464-1317

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

1 Veterans Dr.

Minneapolis MN

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY

The purpose of this Sources Sought is to conduct market research during the acquisition process to procure additional laboratory cassette and slide label printers. This notice serves to survey the market to ascertain whether-or-not sources are capable of providing the requested supply/services. You also must be an Authorized Distributor OR an Authorized Distributor for the manufacture of an equal product if not the manufacture.

This notice also allows potential contractors/vendors to submit a non-binding statement of interest and documentation demonstrating their capability. Please review the DRAFT Statement of Work (SOW) to compare your supply/service to what is requested. Complete the line-items below and submit any documentation supporting your product/service for consideration. Network Contracting Office 23 (NCO 23) is requesting responses from qualified business concerns; the qualifying NAICS code for this effort 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The Small Business Administration (SBA) Size Standard for this request is 1,000 employees.

This Sources Sought is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification(s) (Service Disabled/Veteran Owned Small Business (SD/VOSB), Hub zone, 8(a), small, small disadvantaged, woman owned small business, or large business) relative to NAICS 334516. 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 are requested to respond to this notice but are required to respond to the official solicitation announcement in order to be awarded the contract.

INSTRUCTIONS:

RESPONSES MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

• Primary Information:

· Company Name:

· Point of Contact (POC) name:

· Email address:

· Phone number:

· Unique Entity ID No. listed in the System of Awards Management (SAM):

· Business Size: (Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), Small Business Other, Small Business, or Large Business) for the NAICS code 334516.

The attached SOW is a draft and is NOT finalized. If any portions are 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.

Response is due by 07/21/2026, at 1300 Central Standard Time. Please submit e-mail responses to Ms. Mariah Delaney, Contract Specialist, at email address: mariah.delaney-mack@va.gov. Please place “Laboratory Cassette and Slide Label Printers” in the subject line of your email. This notice is to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in determining qualified sources of supply only.

NOTES: Issuance of this notice does not constitute any obligation whatsoever on the part of the Government to procure these supplies and/or 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 Sources Sought notice.

Statement of Work VISN 23 Laboratory Cassette and Slide Label Printers

I. Background: Several sites in VISN 23 are in need of replacement and/or additional cassette and slide label printers. Fargo and Iowa City’s current cassette and slide label printers have reached end of their life expectancy and we have begun to see an increase in issues that require a service call. The increased downtime of these machines greatly impacts the speed and efficiency of the labs in preparing specimens. Additionally, the labs are seeking newer models of equipment which have additional features that would increase the speed and efficiency of the staff in preparing specimens. Central Iowa is currently hand labeling their cassettes and slides and is in need of this equipment to maximize productivity, decrease ergonomic strain, reduce errors, and create continuity.

II. Purpose of Project: Obtain 3 new cassette printers and accessories (1 each for Central Iowa, Iowa City, and Fargo) and 8 new slide label printers (4 for Iowa City and 2 each for Central Iowa and Fargo).

III. Statement of Work

a. Description of Work:

The vendor will provide the following equipment:

Large Cassette Printer (Iowa City – QTY 1)

· Uses laser printing technology with toner module (meets requirement; not dot‑matrix or engraving)

· Six cassette hoppers, each holding at least 75 cassettes (Vega = 480 total capacity)

· Accepts six different tissue cassette types

· Able to print on 35° and 45° angled cassettes

· Accepts cassettes from any major manufacturer commonly used in histology

· Accepts all cassette configurations:

• attached lid

• detached lid

• without lid

• attached‑open lid

• attached‑closed lid

· Cassette hoppers accept pre‑loaded (sleeved) and individual (loose) cassettes

· Includes an attached cassette unloading module preserving chronological print order

· Prints 1D and 2D symbologist with forward/backward logic for decoding regardless of orientation

· Produces clear, permanent 300‑dpi solvent‑resistant markings that withstand prolonged exposure to strong solvents, clearing agents, acids, bases, and high‑temperature processing

· Prints at least 12 cassettes per minute (Vega/Nova print speed listed as 5 seconds per cassette)

· Very low re‑scan rate for barcodes due to high‑resolution laser imaging

· Software compatible with Windows 10 or later printer drivers

· Software supports manual data entry or LIS‑integrated digital input via middleware, specifically Data Innovations

· System must have an approved ERAR at time of proposal (meets VA procurement requirements)

· Small footprint, quiet operation, and optimized workflow design (per vendor description)

Small to Medium Cassette Printer (Fargo - QTY 1)

· Uses laser printing technology with toner module (not dot‑matrix or engraving)

· Single cassette hopper, factory capacity 80 cassettes

· Accepts six different tissue cassette types

· Suitable for 35° and 45° angled cassette printing

· Accepts cassettes from all major manufacturers

· Accepts all cassette configurations:

• attached lid

• detached lid

• without lid

• attached‑open lid

• attached‑closed lid

· Hopper supports pre‑loaded sleeved cassettes and individual cassettes

· Includes cassette unloading that maintains chronological print order (part of laser‑printer series design)

· Prints 1D and 2D barcodes with forward/backward decoding logic

· Produces high‑resolution, permanent 300‑dpi markings resistant to harsh solvents and processing environments

· ≥12 cassettes per minute (Nova listed as 5‑second print speed)

· Low re‑scan rate for barcodes due to laser etching clarity

· Software is Windows 10+ compatible and supports manual or LIS‑middleware digital input, specifically Data Innovations

· Must have approved ERAR at the time of proposal

· Small footprint, quiet operation, optimized for lower‑volume or single‑color workflow environments (per vendor description)

· Optional accessory: side‑delivery module available

Small to Medium Cassette Printer WITH PC and Digital Imager (Central Iowa - QTY 1)

· Uses laser printing technology with toner module (not dot‑matrix or engraving)

· Single cassette hopper, factory capacity 80 cassettes

· Accepts six different tissue cassette types

· Suitable for 35° and 45° angled cassette printing

· Accepts cassettes from all major manufacturers

· Accepts all cassette configurations:

• attached lid

• detached lid

• without lid

• attached‑open lid

• attached‑closed lid

· Hopper supports pre‑loaded sleeved cassettes and individual cassettes

· Includes cassette unloading that maintains chronological print order (part of laser‑printer series design)

· Prints 1D and 2D barcodes with forward/backward decoding logic

· Produces high‑resolution, permanent 300‑dpi markings resistant to harsh solvents and processing environments

· ≥12 cassettes per minute (Nova listed as 5‑second print speed)

· Low re‑scan rate for barcodes due to laser etching clarity

· Software is Windows 10+ compatible and supports manual or LIS‑middleware digital input, specifically the Data Innovations

· Must have approved ERAR at the time of proposal

· Small footprint, quiet operation, optimized for lower‑volume or single‑color workflow environments (per vendor description)

· Optional accessory: side‑delivery module available

Laser Slide Printers (Iowa City – QTY 4, Central Iowa – QTY 2, Fargo – QTY 2)

· Direct to glass laser etching for permanent, solvent resistant slide marking

· High contrast 2D barcodes, text, and symbols engraved directly onto the slide

· No ink or ribbon consumables; low ongoing operating cost

· Fast cycle time (typically 4–6 seconds per slide, model dependent)

· Compact footprint suitable for embedding at the microtomy workstation

· Supports color coded slide edges (if using compatible pre colored slides)

· Integration options for LIS / Data Innovations middleware

· Network connectable with typical VA IT requirements (remote service, data flow)

· Usually includes 1 year warranty covering corrective and preventive maintenance

· Optional operator training and onsite installation services available from vendor

Vendor is to provide a copy of equipment operator documentation either in paper or electronic format.

The equipment models being offered shall be in current production as of the date this offer is submitted. For purposes of this solicitation, “current product” shall mean that the grossing station is being offered as new equipment. Discontinued models that are only being made available as remanufactured equipment are not acceptable. Refurbished, used or current in house equipment is not acceptable.

b. Equipment Warranty All of the equipment should come with a 1 year warranty and include any and all preventative maintenance services recommended by the original equipment manufacturer during that warranty period.

c. Installation and Training The vendor shall provide at least 3 days of onsite installation, testing, and training for unlimited staff. This should be offered over at least 2 different shifts if needed by the lab.

d. Integrations:

Must integrate with each facilities LIS, Data Innovations.

e. Schedule of Deliverables:

All equipment and supplies shall be delivered to the following VA medical centers. Equipment shall be delivered within 120 days of receipt of an order.

Deliveries shall be made to:

VA Central Iowa Health Care System 3600 30th St, Des Moines, IA 50310

VA Iowa City Health Care System 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246-2209

VA Fargo Health Care System 2101 Elm St NE, Fargo, ND 58102

Delivery times: Between 8:00AM and 3:30PM, Monday-Friday except Federal Holidays. All deliveries shall be accompanied by a delivery ticket or sales slip which shall contain:

Vendor’s name Purchase order number Date of order Date of delivery Itemized list of products furnished including product description and quantity shipped.

f. Certificates of Performance Company shall provide “certificates of performance” shipped stating compliance with your company’s standards and CLSI (formerly NCCLS) standards where they exist.

g. Recalled and Defective Products The contractor will immediately notify the Contracting Officer of any recalls of product or other important safety issues. As appropriate, the Contractor will replace and/or reimburse recalled/defective products at no cost to the Government. The Contractor may be liable for costs of processing recalls, i.e. administrative and clinical services to replace recalled/defective products.

Sources Sought Notice