8710--Research Grade Animal Food and Bedding in support of VA Portland Healthcare System, Veterinary Medical Unit Portland, OR

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation for bids, proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. The responses received from interested contractors will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method.

The intended contract is a firm-fixed price.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office (NCO) 20, is conducting market research to identify potential sources which can provide the following in support of VA Portland Healthcare System, Veterinary Medical Unit, 3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Rd, Portland, Oregon 97239-2964.

The Boise VA Medical Center has a need for a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for research grade animal food and bedding. This is a brand name requirement. No substitutions will be accepted. For detailed information, please see below.

Should a set-aside be deemed appropriate, VAAR 852.219-76, VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting or FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting shall apply as prescribed.

Full text of clauses available here:

VAAR 852.219-75: https://www.va.gov/oal/library/vaar/vaar852.asp#85221976

FAR 52.219-14: https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/far-part-deviation-guide/far-overhaul-part-52#FAR_52_219_14

Potential candidates having the capabilities necessary to provide the stated services at a fair and reasonable price are invited to respond to this Sources Sought Notice via e-mail to Jennifer Robles at jennifer.robles1@va.gov no later than August 4, 2026, 1PM, Mountain Time. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.

RESPONSES SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: Company name, address, SAM UEI, and business size; point of contact name, phone number, and e-mail address; whether services are presently offered on a current GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract, NASA SEWP, or any other Federal contract. NAICS Code 311111, 1,250 employees, is applicable to determine business size standard. Please indicate whether you are able to comply with the Limitations on Subcontracting should a set-aside be issued. Any questions or concerns may also be directed via email to Jennifer Robles at jennifer.robles1@va.gov.

Background.

Portland VA Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) is in need of a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for laboratory animal food, bedding, enrichment and other necessary care items. Reliability and reproducibility in research outcomes are the hallmark of excellent scientific research, and all these items have major implications for the interpretation and reproducibility of study results in animals (Tuck, et al, Nature, 10, 17784, 2020). In order to maintain consistent intestinal microbiome, and provide reliable data results, laboratory animals require the same source of rodent diet and bedding consistently.

Diets and bedding must be irradiated and maintained under strict quality control from manufacture through endpoint delivery in order to prevent disease transmission. To maintain the necessary integrity and consistency of research, we must therefore use a distributor who can furnish the exact items listed in the quote. Items provided CANNOT be equivalent and MUST be directly delivered to the Portland VMU by the distributor. Included in this contract is a component to deliver food and bedding in the event of a disaster and to remove contaminated waste in the event of a natural disaster.

3. Scope.

This contract covers the supply of animal food, bedding, environmental enrichment, and other care items for the VA Portland Health Care System Portland campus VMU only. It also includes the delivery of these products to the animal colony as well as removal of contaminated animal waste in the event of a natural disaster.

4. Specific Tasks.

Task 1: Contractor will deliver products on a regular basis, as ordered by Veterinary Medical Officer or Animal Facility staff. Contractor will provide exactly the types, brands and amounts of animal food, bedding, and enrichment items as ordered, with no substitutions. Items must be irradiated for infection control. Quantities ordered per week will vary based on current needs. Contractor must deliver animal food, bedding and enrichment items within one week of order for routine situations. Contractor must deliver animal food, bedding and enrichment items within one day of order in emergency situations. List of items to be ordered on contract:

Task 2: In order to maintain products under the strict quality control conditions that are necessary to prevent disease transmission, contractor will directly deliver (no third-party couriers) animal food, bedding and enrichment items to the VA Portland Health Care System Portland campus VMU. Contractor will provide pallets for item delivery. Contractor will deliver pallets to loading docks B103 and B101.

Task 3: In the event of a natural disaster whereby roadways are impassable, food and bedding will be delivered via helicopter, and animal waste will be removed.

Performance Monitoring (if applicable).

The Facility POC or Animal Facility Staff will inspect the delivered items upon arrival, to make sure that the delivered items are exactly those ordered, with no broken items or compromised packaging, and with no substitutions. The Facility POC or Animal Facility Staff will compare order dates to delivery dates to ensure that delivery was made in a timely manner.

Security Requirements.

The contractor employees shall not have access to VA sensitive or computer information and will not require routine access to VA Facilities. No background investigation is required.

Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI).

No GFE or GFI will be required to satisfy this contract.

Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations.

To maintain the necessary integrity and consistency of research, we must use a distributor who can furnish the exact items listed in the quote. Items provided CANNOT be equivalent and MUST be directly delivered to the Portland VMU by the distributor.

a. No follow-on work is necessary.

b. No conflicts of interest

No COI

e. Inspection and Acceptance Criteria.

The Animal Facility Staff will inspect shipments of animal food, bedding and enrichment items to ensure that the delivered items are exactly those ordered, with no broken items or compromised packaging, and with no substitutions.

The Animal Facility Staff, or Facility POC if needed, will inspect warehouse where feed and bedding are stored bi-annually.

Risk Control.

These products are not harmful to humans, irradiated, and will be delivered/used in research specific areas, therefore no patients will be exposed to risk.

Place of Performance.

Products will be delivered to a government site the VAPORHCS, Portland campus VMU, Bldg. 101 loading dock and Bldg. 103 loading dock.

Period of Performance.

Five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement with the following ordering periods:

Base Period: 01/01/2027 12/31/2027

Ordering Period 1: 01/01/2028 12/31/2028

Option Period 2: 01/01/2029 12/31/2029

Option Period 3: 01/01/2030 12/31/2030

Option Period 4: 01/01/2031 12/31/2031

12. Delivery Schedule.

Orders will be placed on an as-needed basis. Contractor must deliver within one week of routine orders, and within one day of orders placed in emergency situations.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: This Sources Sought Notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. The Government will treat any information received as proprietary and will not share such information with other companies. Any organization responding to this Sources Sought 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. The Government may or may not issue a solicitation as a result of this announcement. There is no solicitation available at this time.