S02 36C24924Q0258 RFI.pdf

Sources Sought Notice

*= Required Field Sources Sought Notice

SUBJECT* Automated Urine Chemistry and Urine Microscopy Analyzers

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE* 37129

SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C24924Q0258

RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE 04-26-2024 3:00PM CENTRAL TIME, CHICAGO, USA

ARCHIVE 45 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N

SET-ASIDE

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* 6632

NAICS CODE* 621511

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Department of Veterans Affairs

Network Contracting Office 9 (90C)

NCO 9

1639 Medical Center Parkway, Suite 400 Murfreesboro TN 37129

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer

COREY MALIK

COREY.MALIK@va.gov 615-225-6957

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS 1310 24TH AVENUE

NASHVILLE TENNESSEE

POSTAL CODE 37212

COUNTRY USA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

On behalf of the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS), Network Contracting Office

(NCO) 9 is issuing this sources sought notice (SSN) as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for automated urine chemistry and urine microscopy analyzers to process a high volume of testing and requests a year-long cost per test contract with a vendor that meets each said requirements. ). These requirements have been determined to ensure high quality care is rendered to patients through accurate and reliable test results, while integrating effectively with current P&LMS staffing and

VHA regulations. The contractor shall furnish three (3) primary automated urinalysis analyzers, two (2) back-up analyzers that use identical methodology as the primary analyzer, three (3) printers, an operator's manual, accessory kit, all reagents, all calibrators, necessary to operate the analyzers for the contracted tests. A firm-fixed-priced contract is anticipated. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. The period of performance will be from 1 Oct 2024 through 30 Sep 2025 with 4 option years included, see below. The following line items will encompass the resulting request for quotes:

Nashville Monthly Volume: estimated volume of reportables as follows: 2200 reportables per month on the Urine Chemistry Analyzer. 1400 reportables per month on the Microscopy

Analyzer.

Murfreesboro Monthly Volume: estimated volume of reportables as follows: 2450 reportables per month on the Urine Chemistry Analyzer. 1300 reportables per month on the Microscopy

Analyzer.

COPC Monthly Volume: estimated volume of reportables as follows: 1000 reportables per month on the Urine Chemistry Analyzer. 500 reportables per month on the Microscopy

Analyzer.

PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE FROM THREE SEPARATE PURCHASE ORDER

NUMBERS. All consumables are included in the cost per reportable and quantities will fluctuate for each site.

YEAR Dates Cost

BASE YEAR Oct 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025 cost per urinalysis 12 months

Option Year 1 Oct 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026 cost per urinalysis 12 months

Option Year 2 Oct 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2027 cost per urinalysis 12 months

Option Year 3 Oct 1, 2027 to Sept. 30, 2028 cost per urinalysis 12 months

Option Year 4 Oct 1, 2028 to Sept. 30, 2029 cost per urinalysis 12 months

The primary analyzer should have automation capable of processing a large volume of samples; the back-up analyzer must possess identical methodology as the primary analyzer.

The instrument should interface with our existing Hospital Computer System (Data

Innovations) and be capable of producing reliable ketones, urobilinogen, creatinine, glucose, leukocytes, nitrite, protein, blood, pH, bilirubin, specific gravity, color, and clarity determination.

Full description of requirement as follows:

Analyzer Requirements:

Primary Analyzer: The urine chemistry analyzer should have dry pad testing methodology

(reagent test strips) capable of producing reliable tests for ketones, urobilinogen, creatinine, glucose, leukocytes, nitrite, blood, pH, bilirubin, and protein. The instrument should also determine urine color, clarity, and specific gravity. The analyzer must possess a specimen bar code reader to eliminate patient information input while providing continuous specimen access.

The analyzer must possess built-in liquid level sensing for short samples and the ability to determine if a specimen needs microscopic analysis based on facility specific established criteria.

The analyzers and associated printers should have a small enough platform to fit into our laboratory and use our existing (power) facility capabilities. For the Chattanooga location only, the analyzer must fit in a space that is equal to or smaller than 142.5” in width and 29” in depth.

The integrated urine chemistry analyzer will offer the following features:

Automatic sample transport from one workstation to another to enable more efficient work processes.

Automatic verified results directly reportable to the LIS, to minimize technician follow up.

High on-board sample and reagent capacity to deliver the walkaway capability needed in busy lab environments.

Ability to process and complete of up to 100 urine chemistry tests per hour.

Ability to cross-check with urine chemistry leukocyte and nitrite results to increase confidence in UTI assessments.

The integrated urine microscopy analyzer will offer the following features:

Ability to be connected to the urine chemistry analyzer so the specimen can move from workstation to workstation to enable more efficient work processes.

Automatic verified results directly reportable to the LIS, to minimize technician follow up.

High on-board sample and reagent capacity to deliver the walkaway capability needed in busy lab environments.

Ability to process and complete up to 50 urine microscopic tests per hour.

Back-up Analyzers-

For Nashville and York campuses, the back-up analyzer(s) must be identical to the urine chemistry analyzer with matching features. This analyzer will serve as the back-up to the provided fully automated urinalysis analyzers. The back-up analyzer must provide seamless delivery of patient results in the event the primary analyzer instrument is undergoing service, being repaired, or malfunctioning.

The Chattanooga campus does not require a back-up analyzer.

Urinalysis Instrument software

Software must be provided that allows the following benefits to optimize the use of a fully integrated urinalysis testing system:

Auto-validation of results

Real-time data checking and automatic reflex testing

Delta checking and tracking of patient historical data by medical record numbers

Operator management function for validation and security access

Customized reports for audit trail

2. Maintenance and Repair:

Service includes: INITIAL SERVICE (MON-FRI 8AM-5PM EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS), EXTENDED SERVICE (MON-FRI 8AM-5PM EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS) AND 24 HR

UNLIMITED TECHNICAL PHONE SUPPORT.

The contractor will provide 24/7 technical phone support. The contractor will provide 24/7 emergency and routine maintenance service and all reagents, calibrators, controls, and consumables required to perform urinalysis testing. The contractor will provide all tools, parts and labor needed for emergency or preventive maintenance and incur all associated travel costs.

Billings:

A cost per test will be established for the instrument to include all reagents test packs, calibrators, rinse additive kit and controls. The ability to establish drop shipments of supplies will be available.

Billings for three urine analyzers will be arranged on three separate purchase orders.

Training Support:

TRAINING COSTS FOR THREE TO BE COVERED BY VENDOR INCLUDING

AIRFARE IF REQUIRED, ON-SITE TESTING PERFORMED FOR CROSSOVER

STUDIES, NORMAL RANGE AND CORRELATION STUDIES, LIS INTERFACE

ALLOWANCE UP TO $_________.

On-site technical service specialist will provide setup, method validation, and correlations with new analyzers. This does not apply to existing instruments.

The technical service specialist will also provide on-site training per instrument for each completed year of customer agreement when a new instrument is installed.

Orientation:

The contractor will be responsible for providing an orientation program to the clinical laboratory staff.

Place of performance is located at three locations of the Tennessee Valley Healthcare

System:

(1) Nashville Campus, 1310 24th Ave south

Nashville, TN 37212

(2) Alvin C. York Campus, 3400 Lebanon Pike, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

(3) VA Medical Lab Chattanooga

6401 Shallowford Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421

1. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for bids, proposals, or quotes; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; and the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

2. If your organization has the potential capacity to perform this requirement, please provide the following response:

a. Organization name, address, point of contact, email address, web site address, and telephone number.

b. Business size: small, small disadvantaged, woman-owned, Hub Zone, serviced-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), veteran owned small business (VOSB), large business, etc.

i. Business type under NAICS 621511, which contains a size standard of $41.5 million, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code and Data Universal

Numbering System (DUNS) Number.

c. Under which NAICS code does your company usually provide the requirements identified above - Please provide rationale for your answer if different from NAICS

621511.

d. Provide the following information as an attachment to your response:

i. Statement identifying what country the above lifts and motors are manufactured, and whether said products can be provided in accordance with the Buy American

Act and/or applicability with the Trade Agreements Act.

ii. Identify any other companies owned (wholly or in-part) by the owners of this business who provide goods or services under the same or a related NAICS codes.

iii. Identify any other companies owned (wholly or in-part) by the owners of this business who provide goods or services that are registered under the same or a related NAICS code with the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE); Provide the certification type (SDVOSB/VOSB), Federal Identification Number, and state of incorporation for each.

iv. Do you plan on responding to a solicitation for this requirement with a Joint

Venture utilizing multiple owned companies as majority or non-majority owner?

1. Yes ___No ___ If yes, please identify which companies are considering a

Joint Venture and the ownership of each company.

3. Be advised, the non-manufacturer rule does apply to this requirement. For more information, see the following: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9ae46569a00b2a72b4cda8c9accdc80a&mc=true&node=se13.1.121_1406&rgn=div8.

4. Response to this SSN shall not exceed 10 pages and should include all the foremost mentioned information. In addition, all submissions should be provided electronically in a Microsoft Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).

5. NOTE: Respondent claiming SDVOSB and VOSB status shall be registered and Center for

Veterans Enterprise (CVE) verified in VetBiz Registry https://vetbiz.va.gov/vip/.

6. Based on the responses to this SSN/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for

SDVOSBs, VOSBs, small businesses, procured through full and open competition, or sole sourced. Further, the requirement may be competed for brand name products only.

7. Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the services are invited to submit a response to this SSN by 1300 CT, April 26, 2024. All responses under this SSN must be emailed to Corey.Malik@va.gov. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

8. SAM: Interested parties shall be register in the System for Award Management (SAM) as prescribed in FAR Clause 52.232-33. SAM information can be obtained by accessing the internet at www.sam.gov or by calling 1-866-606-8220.

9. Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response to this SSN. The government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the government to determine the organization s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in the Government Point of Entry (GPE).

However, responses to this notice shall not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

10. Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9ae46569a00b2a72b4cda8c9accdc80a&mc=true&node=se13.1.121_1406&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9ae46569a00b2a72b4cda8c9accdc80a&mc=true&node=se13.1.121_1406&rgn=div8