36E79724Q0006_1.docx

Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

Pharmaceutical Standardization 1st Ave 1 Blk N of 22ns St

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Teresa Hussain teresa.hussain@va.gov 708-786-5852

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

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EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

MARKET RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE – VIALS AND BOTTLES 2024

Company Name: _________________________

I am conducting market research for the procurement of Vials and Bottles for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Indian Health Service (IHS), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and Federal Health Care Center (FHCC). The VA facilities have a variety of dispensing machines that would require costly recalibration if we were to require one brand of vials and caps for all facilities. Due to costly recalibration of machines, facilities will not recalibrate their automated equipment. This national procurement is for VA and OGA facilities that utilize Script-Pro machines for Groups 1-4. Any facility currently using the calibrated ScriptPro machines for vials will be mandated for its continued use. Group 5-7 bottles are not used in ScriptPro machines. Each Group will be evaluated and may be awarded separately. This is a follow-on procurement as there is a national contract in place for both vials and bottles that will expire in August of 2024. I am in the beginning stages of market research and thus have a few questions.

Award will be made in the aggregate by group for vials (one award) and bottles (possible 3 awards). The Government estimates that a solicitation will be issued in late March/early April and have an award in place in by August when the current contract expires. Please respond to the questions below.

1. Is your Company able to meet the following minimum requirements:

a. If the offeror is not the manufacturer of the offered items, the offeror shall submit a letter of commitment from the manufacturer to the offeror which will assure the offeror a source of supply sufficient to satisfy the Government's requirements for the contract period. Name of Manufacturer:_________________

Would you be able to provide a letter of commitment from the manufacturer of the offered products?_____________

b. Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor: All Ordering Activities under the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense acquire their pharmaceutical requirements through their Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor Program (PPV). The contractor shall ensure that chargeback agreements with the PPVs have been executed with sufficient time to permit the PPVs to begin timely distribution of Government orders if an award is made. Does your company currently have a business-to-business agreement with the PPVs?_________

d. Under NAICS code 326160, is your company size (check one):

Large Business ______ Small Business ______

e. If a small business, does your company manufacture at least 50% of the product offered?_________

g. Product, bottle size and usage:

GROUP 1 - VA only; VA Logo required

GROUP 2 - IHS & BOP; NO VA Logo required

GROUP 3 - VA only; VA Logo required

GROUP 4 - IHS & BOP; NO VA Logo required

GROUP 5-7 - VA, IHS, BOP; NO VA Logo; not used in automation machines

GROUP 1 (VA - Requires VA Logo) Amber vial, plastic, round, minimum 4-1/8" circumference, minimum 2" high, for use with safety caps (press down and turn) and non-safety snap caps; one-piece closure, no fitment. Vials and caps must meet USP light transmission and moisture tight container requirements. Vial opening instructions must be legibly embossed or permanently marked in contrasting color on cap surface.

QTY

Unit

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

Group 2 - (OGA No VA Logo) Amber vial, plastic, round, minimum 4-1/8" circumference, minimum 2" high, for use with safety caps (press down and turn) and non-safety snap caps; one-piece closure, no fitment. Vials and caps must meet USP light transmission and moisture tight container requirements. Vial opening instructions must be legibly embossed or permanently marked in contrasting color on cap surface.

QTY

Unit

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

GROUP 3 (VA - Requires VA Logo) Amber vial, plastic, round, minimum, 4-1/8" circumference, minimum 2" high, for use with safety caps (squeeze and turn) and non-safety snap caps; two-piece closure, fitment inserted and reversible screw cap. Vials and caps must meet USP light transmission and moisture tight container requirements. Vial opening instructions to be legibly embossed or permanently marked in contrasting color on cap surface- Must be compatible with ScriptPro automated equipment.

QTY

Unit

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

GROUP 4 - (OGA - no VA Logo) Amber vial, plastic, round, minimum, 4-1/8" circumference, minimum 2" high, for use with safety caps (squeeze and turn) and non-safety snap caps; two-piece closure, fitment inserted and reversible screw cap. Vials and caps must meet USP light transmission and moisture tight container requirements. Vial opening instructions to be legibly embossed or permanently marked in contrasting color on cap surface- Must be compatible with ScriptPro automated equipment.

QTY

Unit

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

BT

EA

EA

EA

Group 5 - 7 - VA, IHS, BOP. Is NOT used in automation. There is no need to be compatibility with automated equipment

Group 5 - Jars, Ointment: Opaque, white, polypropylene (PP) plastic ointment jar, single walled, molded screw caps. Must meet USP light transmission and moisture tight container requirements.

QTY

Unit

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

Group 6 - Bottles, Liquid: Amber, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, single walled, child-resistant cap with embossed opening instructions. Bottle to contain graduated markings. Must meet USP light transmission and moisture tight container requirements.

QTY

Unit

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

Group 7 - Bottle, safety cap, wide mouth packer, screw neck, round, opaque white high density polyethylene with child-resistant (palm and turn) type cap. Bottles and caps must meet USP light transmission and moisture tight container requirements.

QTY

Unit

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

BT & CAP

2 . Is your Company interested in submitting a response to a solicitation?________

3. If yes, for the items listed above, please indicate which groups you would be interested in submitting an offer for and if you are a manufacturer OR distributor for these items. If you are a distributor, please list the country where manufactured.

GROUPS 1-4

GROUP 5

GROUP 6

GROUP 7

4. For this procurement, we will be utilizing a Producer Price Index (PPI).

VAAR Clause 852.216-71 ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT OF CONTRACT PRICE(S) BASED ON A PRICE INDEX (MAR 2018) (clause attached for your review) would minimize risk for both the Government and the prospective contractor considering the rising costs of supplies. Utilizing this EPA type, award will be made in the aggregate for all line items (one award for vials and possible three awards for bottles) for the base year, and option year pricing will be determined based on the Product Price Index (PPI) each year. No pre-pricing of option years. Click on link: (BLS Data Viewer)

How many option years is your company willing to consider for this procurement (Base + 1-4)? The government prefers a Base plus 4 options but in the past couple years we have done a Base + 2. ________________________________________________________________________

5. For this procurement, VA is requiring a logo to be printed on the closures for Group 1 & 3 (Logo to be printed on the closures/caps will be provided with the solicitation). Please let me know if your company has any problems or concerns with including this label for VA caps.

If your company is not interested in participating, please respond with the reason why. This aids our market research for future procurements. ________________________________________

If you could provide your responses by next Tuesday, March 5, 2024, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Sources Sought Notice