8940--Request for Information - Dietary Supplements

January 14, 2025

Department of Veterans Affairs

VA National Acquisition Center

P.O. Box 76, Building 37, Hines IL 60141

89 89 Dietary Supplement Products, Tube Feeding Products, and Thickeners and Pre-thickened Beverages

Sources Sought

Synopsis:

The Department of Veterans Affairs, National Acquisition Center (NAC) and the Nutrition & Food Service Dietary Supplement Standardization Committee are requesting manufacturers of the nutritional products listed herein to provide information on their products and product lines in anticipation of a new solicitation to be issued Spring 2025.

This notice will serve as market research to obtain information about the product types listed herein. This notice is not a formal solicitation but a request for interested parties to provide product information.

Interested parties are requested to make a presentation on the scope of their product lines, categorization of their products, salient product characteristics and future product developments in the commercial nutritional supplement and tube feeding field. Current dietary supplement contract holders are asked to present only those products that are new to the marketplace. The presentation and question period will not exceed 60 minutes per vendor and 40 minutes for vendors presenting 10 or less products. Presentations will be held at the VA National Acquisition Center, 1st Ave, 1 Block North of Cermak Road, Bldg. 37, Hines IL 60141 on February 11-13, 2025. Only primary manufacturers of the product types listed herein will be scheduled to present information. All interested offerors will have an opportunity to submit a proposal once the solicitation is posted at www.SAM.gov

Pre-registration for presentations is required. Time slots will be offered on first come basis for all day Tuesday Thursday February 11-13 (9:00AM 3:00PM). All interested parties are requested to register no later than 3:00PM CST on January 30, 2025. Please submit a complete product list at time of pre-registration to Bonita.Smith@va.gov

The following are the types of products to be reviewed.

Commercial Nutritional Supplements (food products not pills):

Formulations

Basic nutritional profile

Complete list of ingredients

Nutrient specific profiles for disease specific problems

Examples include but are not limited to: Calories, protein, specific amino acids, elemental products, enhanced fiber or low residue, fat modifications or enhancers, electrolyte modifications; enriched vitamin and mineral products, product thickeners, etc.

Types

Oral beverages: Liquid ready-to-use, liquid or powder concentrates, all package sizes including preop carbohydrate loading and oral immune modulating.

Gelatin and/or pudding style products: Ready-to-use, individual portions, all package sizes

Thickening agents and premixed ready to use thickened beverages, all package sizes.

Tube Feeding Products: Liquid ready to use.

Blenderized Tube feeding products: Real Food tube feeding ready to use.

Therapeutic Modular Products: Protein, fiber, Pre/Pro-biotics food-based products, MCT oil, oral hydration solutions etc. Liquid ready to use, liquid or powder concentrates, all package sizes.

Interested vendors should provide the following information at time of presentation: 1) your interest in this procurement; 2) product brand name; 3) capacity capabilities; 4) nutritional composition; 5) commercial list/catalog price; 6) shelf life; 7) product lifecycle; 8) any other commercial practices, issues or concerns; and 9) 5 copies of product catalogs/literature, and documented research in efficacy of product use.

Point of Contact:

Primary Point of Contact

Bonita Smith

Contract Specialist

(708) 786-5175

Bonita.Smith@va.gov

Presentations will be held at:

Department of Veteran Affairs/ National Acquisition Center

1st Ave, 1 Block North of Cermak Rd.

Bldg. 37

Hines, IL 60141