6515--Sources Sought: Portable Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System.

THIS REQUEST IS FOR SOURCES SOUGHT AND IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION.

THE SUBMISSION OF PRICING, CAPABILITIES FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, AND OTHER MARKET INFORMATION IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED UNDER THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) FAR 15.201(e).

DISCLAIMER

This Sources Sought Notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this Sources Sought Notice is marked as proprietary and will be handled accordingly. IAW FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Sources Sought Notice.

SOURCES SOUGHT DESCRIPTION

This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a Sources Sought Notice only. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS code 334516 (size standard of 1,000 employees). Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this Sources Sought Notice, a solicitation announcement may be published. Responses to this sources sought synopsis are not considered adequate responses for a solicitation announcement.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 02 Network Contracting Office, is seeking sources that can provide the Portable Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System, or a non-brand equivalent that at a minimum meets the following salient characteristics for the VA James J. Peters VAMC:

The VA has a domestic preference for items manufactured in the United States.

The VA requires for the one-time procurement of four (4) AquaC 20 Amp portable reverse osmosis (RO) water purification systems with AAMI Water Profile Kit, or equivalent to. The systems are required to support hemodialysis operations and to ensure a safe, AAMI-compliant water supply for patient care. The current portables require immediate replacement due to frequent, high-level bacterial contamination. Despite rigorous, in-depth disinfection and ongoing maintenance, the units advanced age and deterioration prevent effective sanitization.

Scope:

Purchase of AquaC UNO RO 20 amp water purification system which includes equipment installation and training.

Specific Tasks

The contractor shall furnish and deliver the following equipment:

Four (4) AquaC 20 Amp Portable Reverse Osmosis Systems (Product No. 24-0970-1)

Four (4) AAMI Water Profile Kits (Product No. 24-AAMI-0)

The contractor shall provide complete installation of all four (4) AquaC RO units, including mounting on existing Marcor carts, plumbing connections, and system commissioning.

The contractor shall provide on-site or training-center technical training for Medical Center clinical staff in accordance with the following parameters:

Service: AquaC System Tech Training at Training Center (Product No. 111122)

Initial training shall consist of a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours, not to exceed forty (40) hours, for up to five (5) healthcare professionals.

One (1) follow-up training session is included within the contract price.

Training must be initiated within thirty (30) calendar days after system installation; the follow-up training must be initiated within ninety (90) calendar days after installation. Failure to initiate within these windows shall result in expiration of included training, and additional fees will apply.

Additional attendees beyond five (5) and any additional training beyond initial plus one follow-up session are not included in this SOW and will incur additional charges.

AquaC Salient Characteristics:

System Type

Portable, single-patient reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system

Configuration

Modular cart-mounted unit; compact design for bedside/in-unit placement

Height

500 mm (1.64 ft) unit only, excluding cart

Width

520 mm (1.71 ft)

Depth

195 mm (0.64 ft)

Weight (Empty)

Approximately 35 kg (77.2 lb)

Weight (Full)

Approximately 37.5 kg (82.7 lb)

Cart Compatibility

Must be compatible with Marcor cart platform; designed for mounting on AquaC Cart US option

Portability

Must be cart-mounted and portable within the clinical environment; no permanent plumbing required

Water Quality Standard

Must meet or exceed ANSI/AAMI RD52 hemodialysis water quality standards for bacteria, endotoxins, and chemical contaminants

Permeate Output

Minimum 85 L/h (±10%) at 15°C (59°F) water inlet temperature

Bacterial / Endotoxin Rejection

Greater than 99% rejection rate for bacteria and endotoxins

Dissolved Salt Rejection

Greater than 96% average rejection rate for dissolved salts

Membrane Type

Spirally-wound RO membrane

Yield (Low Hardness)

Up to 70% at feed water hardness 17.8 ppm CaCO3)

Concentrate Pressure (Max)

Maximum 290.1 psi

Noise Level (SUPPLY mode)

44 46 dB(A) measured at 1 meter distance

Permeate Output (Disinfection)

12 L/h (±10%) during ring heat disinfection cycle

Bacterial / Endotoxin Rejection

Greater than 99% rejection rate for bacteria and endotoxins

Dissolved Salt Rejection

Greater than 96% average rejection rate for dissolved salts

Membrane Type

Spirally-wound RO membrane

Yield (Low Hardness)

Up to 70% at feed water hardness 17.8 ppm CaCO3)

Concentrate Pressure (Max)

Maximum 290.1 psi

Noise Level (SUPPLY mode)

44 46 dB(A) measured at 1 meter distance

Permeate Output (Disinfection)

12 L/h (±10%) during ring heat disinfection cycle

Bacterial / Endotoxin Rejection

Greater than 99% rejection rate for bacteria and endotoxins

Dissolved Salt Rejection

Greater than 96% average rejection rate for dissolved salts

Membrane Type

Spirally-wound RO membrane

Yield (Low Hardness)

Up to 70% at feed water hardness 17.8 ppm CaCO3)

Concentrate Pressure (Max)

Maximum 290.1 psi

Noise Level (SUPPLY mode)

44 46 dB(A) measured at 1 meter distance

Permeate Output (Disinfection)

12 L/h (±10%) during ring heat disinfection cycle

Electrical Supply

120 V AC, 60 Hz, 20 Amp dedicated circuit

Nominal Power Variants

120 V 1000 VA or 120 V 1700 VA (per voltage variant)

Operating Mode

Continuous operation (Standby); SUPPLY mode used periodically during treatment

Electrical Safety Classification

Classified per EN 60601-1:2006 + A1:2013 / IEC 60601-1:2005 + A1:2012

Grounding Requirement

Must be connected to supply network with protective conductor (grounded outlet); no ungrounded connections permitted

Fuse Protection

Internal fuses for voltage component protection; replaceable only by trained/certified personnel

EMC Compliance

Compliant with applicable electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards; no stacked installation with other electrical devices

Interface / Connectivity

Fresenius hemodialysis device interface port; LAN port (RJ-45); compatible with Fresenius 2008T BlueStar dialysis machines

Thermal Disinfection Module

Module heat disinfection up to 82°C (179.6°F)

Thermal Disinfection Ring

Ring heat disinfection up to 90°C (194°F)

Membrane Service Life

Minimum expected life of 120 heat disinfection cycles

Chemical Disinfection

Compatible with peracetic acid solution (~0.2% effective concentration); system volume 2.5 L (0.66 gal)

Decalcification

Compatible with approximately 20% citric acid solution; automated decalcification program required

Rinse Interval

Automated rinse cycle: minimum every 4 hours; rinse volume 10 L (3 gal) or 10-minute rinse time

AutoSTART / AutoSTOP

System shall support automatic start in SUPPLY mode via communication cable connection to dialysis machine

Disinfection Validation

System must provide auditable disinfection reporting and daily operational data acquisition logs

Biocompatibility Standard

All components in contact with permeate must be biocompatible per DIN EN ISO 10993-1

Tubing / Piping Material

FEP, silicone, or stainless steel; food-grade with chemical resistance

Sensors

Titanium (Ti), Aluminum Oxide (Al O ), PBT

Module Tube

V4A stainless steel

Membrane Material

PSU/PA (polysulfone/polyamide)

Hydraulic Blocks / Valves

iPP, PVDF, Noryl GTX

Seals

EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)

Sampling Ports

Integrated permeate sampling ports for microbiological and chemical analysis

Permeate Connection

Permeate nipple; optional permeate coupling; compatible with Fresenius hemodialysis machine water inlet

Feed / Concentrate Flow

Feed flow: 0.0 20 L/min (±10%); Concentrate flow: 0.0 20 L/min (±10%)

Permeate Consumption

0 6 L/min (±10%) during normal supply operation

Drain Connection

System drain must connect to available outlet; no recontamination of permeate circuit permitted

Water Supply Hose

Must connect to potable water supply meeting pre-treatment feed water requirements

Installation Type

Portable; no permanent wall or floor mounting required; Marcor cart-based

Stacking / Adjacency

System must NOT be stacked with other electrical devices; minimum separation distances from radiation sources required per IFU

Operational Qualification

Vendor must perform Installation and Operational Qualification (IQ/OQ) at time of installation

Display

Integrated digital display with operating mode status bar; multilingual support

Permeate Conductivity Monitoring

Continuous real-time permeate conductivity measurement and display; alarm on out-of-range condition

Feed Water Conductivity

Continuous real-time feed water conductivity measurement and display

Temperature Monitoring

Permeate and concentrate temperature display; heater temperature 1.0 135°C (±1°C); concentrate temperature 1.0 135°C (±1°C)

Rejection Rate Display

Real-time rejection rate display: 0.0 99% (±1%)

Effective Yield Display

Effective yield display: 0.0 70% (±5%)

Alarm System

Audible and visual alarms for: no water supply, fault drain, conductivity fault, sensor error, and other abnormal conditions; alarm must halt dialysis supply automatically

Operational Data Logging

System must support manual and automated daily operational data acquisition and reporting per AAMI requirements

Visual Status Indicator

Green visual indicator must illuminate to confirm system is ready for treatment

Place of Delivery

The location of delivery and installation will be:

James J. Peters VA Medical Center

130 West Kingsbridge Road

Bronx, NY 10468

The information identified above is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive and to indicate the quality of the supplies/services that will be satisfactory. It is the responsibility of the interested source to demonstrate to the government that the interested parties can provide the supplies/services that fulfill the required specifications.

If you are interested and are capable of providing the sought out supplies/services, please provide the requested information as well as the information indicated below. Response to this notice should include company name, address, point of contact, size of business pursuant to the following questions:

Please indicate the size status and representations of your business, such as but not limited to: Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), Hubzone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.)?

(2) Is your company considered small under the NAICS code identified under this sources sought notice?

(3) Are you the manufacturer, distributor, or an equivalent solution to the items being referenced above?

(4) If you are a large business, do you have any designated distributors? If so, please provide their company name, telephone, point of Contact and size status (if available).

(5) If you re a small business and you are an authorized distributor/reseller for the items identified above or an equivalent solution, do you alter; assemble; modify; the items requested in any way? If you do, state how and what is altered; assembled; modified?

(6) If you intend to sub contract any work on this contract, what portion of the total cost will be self-performed/will be performed by your organization? Please provide estimated detailed percentage breakdowns related to sub contracted work and completion of job.

(7) Does your company have an FSS contract with GSA or the NAC or are you a contract holder with NASA SEWP or any other federal contract? If so, please provide the contract number.

(8) If you are an FSS GSA/NAC or NASA SEWP contract holder or other federal contract holder, are the items/solution you are providing information for available on your schedule/contract?

(9) General pricing of your products/solution is encouraged. Pricing will be used for the purpose of market research only. It will not be used to evaluate for any type of award.

(10) Please submit your capabilities in regard to the salient characteristics being provided and any information pertaining to equal to items to establish capabilities for planning purposes?

(11) Will the items you will be providing manufactured domestically in the United States or are they foreign manufactured items?

(12) Please review salient characteristics/statement of work (if applicable) and provide feedback or suggestions. If none, please reply as N/A.

(13) Please provide your Sam.gov Unique Entity ID number.

*** Submissions addressing number (10) should show clear, compelling and convincing*** evidence that all equal to items" meet all the salient characteristics.

Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to Jonatan.Rondon@va.gov telephone responses shall not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than July 27th, 2026, at 1600 EST. If a solicitation is issued it shall be announced at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this sources sought. Responses to this sources sought notice are not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation.