SS 36C25626Q0660.pdf

Sources Sought Notice

Sources Sought Notice 36C25626Q0660

SUBJECT* Hyper-Chlorination Remediation Services

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE* 77056

SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C25626Q0660

RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE 04-20-2026 3:00 PM CENTRAL TIME,

CHICAGO, USA

ARCHIVE 7 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N

SET-ASIDE

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* H146

NAICS CODE* 541380

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Department of Veterans Affairs

Network Contracting Office 16 Galleria Financial Center 5075 Westheimer Road Suite 750 Houston, TX 77056-5643

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Tiffany Burks tiffany.burks@va.gov 601-362-4471 X56338

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

2002 Holcombe Blvd Houston TX

POSTAL CODE 77030

COUNTRY USA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL https://www.va.gov URL DESCRIPTION Department of Veterans Affairs

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL

ADDRESS

tiffany.burks@va.gov

EMAIL DESCRIPTION Sources Sought 36C25626Q0660

DESCRIPTION

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE / REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Hyper-Chlorination Remediation Services Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center – Houston, TX

DISCLAIMER:

This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This notice is not a Request for Quote (RFQ), Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or any form of solicitation as defined in FAR 2.101. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government’s acquisition strategy.

All information contained in this RFI is preliminary and subject to change. Responses are strictly voluntary; the Government will not reimburse any costs associated with providing information in response to this notice.

Respondents are requested not to submit proprietary or business-confidential information.

If a solicitation is issued at a later date, it will be published on the Federal Contract Opportunities website (SAM.gov) or the General Services Administration (GSA) portal. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring these sites for additional information.

1. Title Hyper-Chlorination Remediation Services

2. Purpose The purpose of this RFI is to identify qualified and capable sources that can support the Department of Veterans Affairs in determining an appropriate procurement strategy (e.g., set-aside, sole source, or unrestricted) for a forthcoming solicitation.

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston, Texas, has an upcoming requirement for Hyper-Chlorination Remediation Services in accordance with the Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS). The contractor shall provide services to perform hyper-chlorination remediation to remove and mitigate the proliferation of Legionella.

This market research will assist the Government in assessing industry capability, availability of competition, and potential socioeconomic participation. The anticipated NAICS code is 541380 – Testing Laboratories and Services, with a size standard of $19.0 million, and PSC H146 – Quality Control – Water Purification and Sewage Treatment Equipment. The Government anticipates awarding a single-award, firm-fixed-price contract with all services to be completed within 60 days ARO.

3. Responses Requested

Interested firms are requested to submit a capabilities statement responding to the items below. Failure to answer the questions may result in being considered non-responsive to this RFI.

A. Company Information Provide the following:

• Legal Business Name

• Point(s) of Contact

• Address

• Telephone Number

• Email Address

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

• CAGE Code

B. Business Size / Socioeconomic Status

Indicate whether your firm qualifies as any of the following under NAICS 541380:

• Small Business

• Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)

• Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)

• HUBZone

• 8(a)

C. Capability Questions

1. Does your company possess the capability to perform all required Hyper-Chlorination Remediation Services as outlined in the Draft PWS?

2. Can your company support all required equipment and associated hardware/software?

3. Can your company provide technicians/engineers who are trained, certified, and experienced with the relevant equipment and remediation standards?

4. Does your company currently provide similar services to other VA Medical Centers or federal facilities?

If yes, provide contract numbers and points of contact.

5. Provide estimated unit pricing or cost ranges for the service categories identified in the Draft PWS.

6. Identify any national service standards applicable to Hyper-Chlorination remediation and the organizations responsible for issuing those standards.

7. Describe industry best practices relevant to this type of requirement.

8. Indicate whether your company holds a contract vehicle such as:

• Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC)

• SEWP

• National Acquisition Center (NAC) vehicle

• GSA Schedule / FSS

• Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)

• Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)

Title of Project: Fisher House 1 Chronic Legionella - Hyper Chlorination March 25, 2026

1. Scope of Work: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) collects quarterly Legionella water samples in accordance with VHA Directive 1061 (2024). The FY 26 second quarter samples collected at the facility’s Fisher House 1 revealed several positive samples at the showerheads and sinks of the guests’ rooms, kitchen sink, and drinking fountain. The contractor shall provide services to perform hyper chlorination remediation of Fisher House 1 to remove and mitigate the proliferation of Legionella.

Legionella pneumophila is the bacterium that causes the severe illness legionellosis in the immunocompromised and elderly. The contractor will implement ANSI/AWWA C651- 14 disinfection protocols implementing a biocide concentration of no less than 200 parts per million for no less than four hours. The service includes hyper chlorination of Fisher House 1 cold and hot potable water systems, drawing the biocide to the potable system to the endpoints of showerheads and sinks of the guests’ rooms, kitchen sink, drinking fountain, ice machine, and visitor public washroom of Fisher House 1. To include the proper flushing and removal of residual biocide from the cold and hot potable water system of Fisher House 1 and all endpoints. Services include the proper storage, handling, and disposal of biocide provided by the contractor. In addition, the contractor shall concurrently measure and record the pH, level of biocide (total chlorine) in parts per million, and temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

• Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Blvd Houston, Texas 77030 is an acute care medical campus comprised of multiple buildings, each served by a separate cold water and hot water systems:

o Fisher House 1, Fisher House – two (2) story, 21-bed, patient and visitor overnight stay dwelling.

Municipal water is supplied by Houston Public Works which uses monochloramine as the primary disinfectant.

2. Hyper Chlorination of Fisher House 1 Cold and Hot Water Potable System

(a) Domestic Cold Water Injection Point A disinfectant injection point will be installed just after the backflow preventer near the point of entry of the facility for the domestic cold water. A 3” nipple into the main piping fit to a 3/4” full port threaded ball valve will need to be T’d in after the water softener and before any tee-offs to treat the entire system. This assembly will be used to directly insert a 12-16” corporation stop to inject the disinfectant. This injection point should be made before the cold water tees off anywhere. The disinfection will take place during the approved hours set by the facility. This injection location ensures that treated cold water will subsequently feed the domestic hot water system, allowing both the cold and hot water piping to receive disinfection simultaneously.

(b) Domestic Hot Water Injection Point

During the disinfection process, the domestic hot water heaters should be powered off and flushed by staff of MEDVAMC. Once flushed, the tanks and associated piping will be refilled with the treated cold water containing the disinfectant introduced at the main injection point. This approach allows the disinfectant to disperse efficiently throughout the hot water system, ensuring full coverage and effective microbial inactivation.

Reactivation of the hot water system should occur only after verification that disinfectant residuals have returned to acceptable potable water levels.

(c) Post Disinfection Sample Collection Samples will be collected, no sooner than seven (7) days after disinfection, to validate that the disinfection was successful. Legionella samples will be collected from all points of use to include showerheads and sinks of the guests’ rooms, kitchen sink, drinking fountain, ice machine, and visitor public washroom of Fisher House 1. In addition, the contractor shall concurrently measure and record the pH, level of biocide (total chlorine) in parts per million, and temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Qualifications of Contractor: The contractor shall be experienced, familiar with ANSI/AWWA C651-14 disinfection protocol and ASSE 12080 certified. The contractor shall be knowledgeable in measuring pH, biocide concentrations (total chlorine) in parts per million, and temperature in degree Fahrenheit. The contractor is to provide personnel, all biocides, vessels, biocide meters, testing material not limited to bottles or containers, preservatives, neutralizers, labels, and chain of custody forms. Contractor will properly transport, store, handle, and dispose of spent biocide. The COR will be provided with the tracking number and a copy of the chain of custody for storage and disposal of all materials.

4. Background: VHA Directive 1061 dated February 16, 2021, amended October 21, 2024, requires remediation of areas positive for Legionella greater than 1 colony forming unit per milliliter in hot and cold potable water samples.

5. Performance Period: 01 April 2025 to 01 December 2025

6. Type of Contract: Firm-fixed-price contract.

7. Evaluation Criteria:

Technical expertise – 40% Past performance – 40% Cost – 20%

Information Systems Officer, Information Protection: The contractor will not have access to VA Desktop computers, nor will they have access to online resources belonging to the government while conducting services.

The COTR and the Contractor will assure that-

A. No other information except what is in this contract will be shared with the contractor in any follow up communication.

B. None of the information in this contract includes Protected Health Information (PHI) or Individually Identifiable Information (III).

Privacy Officer: The contractor will not have access to Patient Health Information (PHI) nor will they have the capability of accessing patient information during the services provided to the VA.

Records Management:

1. Contractor shall comply with all applicable records management laws and regulations, as well as National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) records policies, including but not limited to the Federal Records Act (44 U.S.C. chs. 21, 29, 31, 33), NARA regulations at 36 CFR Chapter XII Subchapter B, and those policies associated with the safeguarding of records covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a).

These policies include the preservation of all records, regardless of form or characteristics, mode of transmission, or state of completion.

2. In accordance with 36 CFR 1222.32, all data created for Government use and delivered to, or falling under the legal control of, the Government are Federal records subject to the provisions of 44 U.S.C. chapters 21, 29, 31, and 33, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), as amended, and the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended and must be managed and scheduled for disposition only as permitted by statute or regulation.

3. In accordance with 36 CFR 1222.32, Contractor shall maintain all records created for Government use or created in the course of performing the contract and/or delivered to, or under the legal control of the Government and must be managed in accordance with Federal law. Electronic records and associated metadata must be accompanied by sufficient technical documentation to permit understanding and use of the records and data.

4. VANTHCS and its contractors are responsible for preventing the alienation or unauthorized destruction of records, including all forms of mutilation. Records may not be removed from the legal custody of VANTHCS or destroyed except for in accordance with the provisions of the agency records schedules and with the written concurrence of the Head of the Contracting Activity. Willful and unlawful destruction, damage or alienation of Federal records is subject to the fines and penalties imposed by 18 U.S.C.

2701.

In the event of any unlawful or accidental removal, defacing, alteration, or destruction of records, Contractor must report to VANTHCS. The agency must report promptly to NARA in accordance with 36 CFR 1230.

5. The Contractor shall immediately notify the appropriate Contracting Officer upon discovery of any inadvertent or unauthorized disclosures of information, data, documentary materials, records or equipment. Disclosure of non-public information is limited to authorized personnel with a need-to-know as described in the [contract vehicle]. The Contractor shall ensure that the appropriate personnel, administrative, technical, and physical safeguards are established to ensure the security and confidentiality of this information, data, documentary material, records and/or equipment is properly protected. The Contractor shall not remove material from Government facilities or systems, or facilities or systems operated or maintained on the Government’s behalf, without the express written permission of the Head of the Contracting Activity.

When information, data, documentary material, records and/or equipment is no longer required, it shall be returned to VANTHCS control or the Contractor must hold it until otherwise directed. Items returned to the Government shall be hand carried, mailed, emailed, or securely electronically transmitted to the Contracting Officer or address prescribed in the [contract vehicle]. Destruction of records is EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED unless in accordance with Paragraph (4).

6. The Contractor is required to obtain the Contracting Officer's approval prior to engaging in any contractual relationship (sub-contractor) in support of this contract requiring the disclosure of information, documentary material and/or records generated under, or relating to, contracts. The Contractor (and any sub-contractor) is required to abide by Government and VASOUTHCENTRAL guidance for protecting sensitive, proprietary information, classified, and controlled unclassified information.

7. The Contractor shall only use Government IT equipment for purposes specifically tied to or authorized by the contract and in accordance with VANTHCS policy.

8. The Contractor shall not create or maintain any records containing any non-public VASOUTHCENTRAL information that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract.

9. The Contractor shall not retain, use, sell, or disseminate copies of any deliverable that contains information covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 or that which is generally protected from public disclosure by an exemption to the Freedom of Information Act.

10. The VASOUTHCENTRAL owns the rights to all data and records produced as part of this contract. All deliverables under the contract are the property of the U.S.

Government for which VASOUTHCENTRAL shall have unlimited rights to use, dispose of, or disclose such data contained therein as it determines to be in the public interest.

Any Contractor rights in the data or deliverables must be identified as required by FAR 52.227-11 through FAR 52.227-20.

11. Training. All Contractor employees assigned to this contract who create, work with, or otherwise handle records are required to take VHA-provided records management training, Talent Management System (TMS) Item #3873736, Records Management for Records Officers and Liaisons. The Contractor is responsible for confirming training has been completed according to agency policies, including initial training and any annual or refresher training.