6640--Microscope Slide Printer

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration (VA) is seeking to procure a microscope slide printer system for the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System in California. This pre-solicitation notice is a Request for Information (RFI) aimed at identifying potential suppliers of a specialized printer capable of printing directly on 25mm x 20mm slide surfaces with a print rate under 4-5 seconds per slide. The system must include a printer unit, 50-slide stacker, and ribbon with spools, with a footprint under 6" x 12" and the ability to program constant and incremental information. Vendors are required to submit detailed capability statements that include business size status, manufacturer/distributor information, Buy American Act compliance, delivery timeframes, FDA clearances, federal contract vehicle information, and general pricing details. Responses must be submitted via email to Bridgett Sharma by December 17, 2024, at 4:00 PM Pacific Time, with the primary objective of conducting market research for future procurement planning.

The pre-solicitation notice does not indicate any specific set-aside designations, and the opportunity is open to vendors of various business sizes within the Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (NAICS 334516) category. While the VA references the Matsunami ESPO Slide Printer system as a branded reference product, they are open to equivalent solutions that meet the specified requirements. The procurement is for a single microscope slide printer system, with no explicit mention of the potential award value or budget range. Vendors are expected to provide pricing information as part of their market research response, though this is not a formal solicitation. The place of performance is the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, and the contract falls under Product Service Code 6640 for Laboratory Equipment and Supplies. The VA's approach suggests a comprehensive market research effort to understand potential vendor capabilities and market readiness for this specialized laboratory equipment.