P01 _ SOW - Brand Name or Equal.docx

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center — Salt Lake City, UT

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

Echocardiography Cardiac Exam Beds

SECTION 1 — GENERAL OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

1.1 Background

The George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, requires the procurement and delivery of Four (4) Echocardiography Cardiac Exam Beds. The incumbent cardiac exam tables at the facility are beyond their expected service life and beyond economical repair, necessitating replacement. These beds are a critical component of the facility's cardiac imaging capability and directly support high-accuracy diagnostic imaging and safe patient handling.

1.2 Objective

To acquire a high-capacity, electrically adjustable cardiac exam and diagnostic table that provides the platform rigidity, alignment compatibility, and cardiac-specific positioning features required for echocardiographic and cardiac nuclear imaging procedures, in support of diagnostic accuracy, sonographer workflow, and patient/staff safety at the facility.

1.3 Brand Name or Equal

This requirement references the Heritage Medical Products ATLAS Cardiac Imaging Bed (formerly known as the 2000 Series) "Sonobed" as a brand name to describe the standard of quality, performance, and physical/functional characteristics required by the Government. The ATLAS bed is engineered specifically for cardiac imaging applications and incorporates a proprietary low-deflection composite platform, precision motion stability system, and uniform weight-distribution structure that ensure consistent alignment of imaging detectors and elimination of shadowing, sag, or motion artifacts. This is a brand name or equal requirement.

Offerors proposing an "equal" product shall:

· Identify the product by manufacturer name, model number, and configuration.

· Submit manufacturer specification sheets demonstrating compliance with each salient characteristic in Section 2.1.

· Bear the burden of proof that the offered equal product meets all salient characteristics. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing information not identified in the offeror's proposal.

· Provide a narrative explanation of how the proposed product achieves equivalent imaging stability, alignment compatibility, and cardiac-specific access/positioning functionality, specifically addressing each characteristic identified in Section 2.1 (low-deflection platform construction, motion stability system, weight-distribution structure, mechanical interface geometry, and synchronized motion/positioning controls).

· Provide evidence of compatibility with the facility's existing cardiac imaging equipment interface requirements (detector head, gantry, and patient platform), if applicable.

The Contracting Officer will evaluate all "equal" product submissions to determine whether the salient characteristics are met. An offer that fails to demonstrate that an "equal" product meets all salient characteristics may be considered technically unacceptable.

1.4 Scope of Work

The Contractor shall furnish all materials, equipment, and support necessary to provide Echocardiography Cardiac Exam Beds meeting the salient characteristics in Section 2.1, including manufacturing, quality assurance/factory testing, and dock-to-dock shipping.

In-Scope:

· Manufacturing and preparation of the Cardiac Exam Bed

· Inclusion of all selected optional features (Power Wedge, Power Drop Section, 3-Function Foot Controls)

· Quality assurance and factory testing prior to shipment

· Dock-to-dock shipping, including materials handling fees

· Delivery to receiving dock of customer facility Out-of-Scope:

· No on-site assembly, installation, or setup is included.

SECTION 2 — TASKS AND ASSOCIATED DELIVERABLES

2.1 Task: Supply of Echocardiography Cardiac Exam Beds (Salient Characteristics) Beds furnished under this contract — whether the referenced brand name product or an approved equal — shall meet or exceed the following salient characteristics:

The following salient characteristics are considered essential for high-accuracy cardiac imaging and safe patient handling, and equal-product offerors must specifically address them in their technical submission:

· Low-deflection platform (e.g., a low-deflection composite construction) to ensure consistent alignment of imaging detectors and elimination of shadowing, sag, or motion artifacts that compromise diagnostic quality.

· Precision motion stability and uniform weight distribution to maintain imaging accuracy during patient positioning and procedures, preventing the misalignment, reduced image fidelity, and repeat-imaging exposure that result from platform instability.

· Mechanical interface geometry and alignment points compatible with existing cardiac imaging systems (detector head, gantry, and patient platform), maintaining the precise tolerances required for cardiac nuclear/echocardiographic imaging. Offerors must demonstrate that their interface geometry will not require recalibration of, or introduce misalignment with, the facility's existing imaging equipment.

· Cardiac-specific drop-out and wedge sections, along with cut-out sections and patient positioning modes, engineered for imaging access and patient positioning, distinct from the general-purpose or broad-use exam and imaging tables offered by other manufacturers.

· Synchronized motion controls and emergency clearance features supporting sonographer workflow and safety, and rapid response for high-acuity patients, including automatic (electric) height, tilt, and drop-out functions that reduce the need for manual patient repositioning and associated sonographer injury risk.

Alternative general-purpose examination or imaging tables have not demonstrated the cardiac-specific structural architecture, platform rigidity, or alignment compatibility described above. Alternatives generally lack: cardiac-specific drop-out and access points; the platform rigidity required to prevent motion or deflection artifacts; mechanical interface alignment suited to existing VA cardiac imaging systems; and synchronized patient-motion capabilities tailored to cardiac imaging protocols. Use of a non-equivalent table could result in imaging misalignment, increased need for repeat scans (with associated increased patient radiation exposure where applicable), workflow slowdowns, and elevated patient/staff safety risk. Equal-product offerors bear the burden of demonstrating, through specification sheets, test data, and narrative explanation, that their proposed product achieves equivalent performance across each of these characteristics — general or genericized claims of "cardiac compatibility" are not sufficient.

2.2 Deliverable: Bed Quantities and Optional Features

Four (4) Echocardiography Cardiac Exam Beds (Upholstery Color: Blue), each including the following optional features:

· Power Wedge

· Power Drop Section

· Foot Controls – 3 Function Set

2.3 Location of Deliverable

Delivery shall be dock-to-dock (FOB Destination) to:

George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Salt Lake City, Utah Customer Responsibilities for Shipping:

· Provide accurate receiving dock information.

· Ensure dock availability during delivery window.

· Provide personnel to accept and sign for delivery.

· Move equipment from dock to final location (not included in vendor scope).

2.4 Task: Packaging and Handling

Deliverable: The Contractor shall ship each exam bed fully assembled or partially assembled depending on manufacturer requirements. All packaging shall meet industry standards for medical equipment. The materials handling fee is included for proper securing, palletizing, and protection of the equipment during transport.

2.5 Task: Warranty Support

Deliverable: Warranty according to manufacturer policy, with accompanying warranty documentation provided at delivery.

2.6 Task: Quality Assurance and Acceptance Testing

Deliverable: Prior to shipment, the Contractor shall:

· Conduct full mechanical and electrical testing

· Verify performance of powered functions

· Confirm installation of optional features

· Inspect the bed for cosmetic defects

· Document serial numbers and warranty registration A quality certification or inspection report will be included upon request.

The product will be considered accepted when:

· The exam bed arrives undamaged at the customer's dock

· All ordered standard and optional features are included

· The delivered product matches the salient characteristics in Section 2.1 and any approved equal-product determination

· Documentation matches purchase order specifications

· The customer signs the delivery receipt Any discrepancy must be reported within the vendor's stated inspection window of 5 days.

2.7 Task: Regulatory Compliance

The Contractor shall comply with all applicable FAR and VAAR requirements applicable to medical equipment procurement, including brand name or equal procedures under FAR 8.405-1(e).

2.8 Reporting Requirements

· Deliverables at Shipment: Packing list and documentation, warranty documentation, shipping/handling confirmation, and factory quality assurance (QA) inspection report.

· Packaging and Labeling: All items shall be packaged to prevent damage during shipment and labeled in accordance with manufacturer standards and any applicable VA receiving requirements.

SECTION 3 — PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Requested lead time of no more than 12 weeks from award, followed by dock-to-dock delivery and a 5-day inspection/acceptance window (see Section 2.6). Warranty period per manufacturer policy from the date of final acceptance.

End of Statement of Work