8960--Sources Sought Notice - Emergency Water

DISCLAIMER: THIS NOTICE IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS RFI OR REIMBURSE ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS RFI.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Solicitation, an Invitation for Bids, a Request for Proposal (RFP), a Request for Quotation (RFQ), or an indication the Government will contract for the items contained in this announcement. All information received in response to this RFI marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned.

This is a Sources Sought Notice for Emergency Water with 10+ years shelf-life processed and/or produced specifically by a Small Business concern in support of the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital (JAHVH) located at 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612. Information collected during this Sources Sought may be used to rationalize a small business set-aside. Any resulting Solicitation will be done so in accordance with Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-07, effective 08/29/2024. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) number is 312112 (Bottled Water Manufacturing) and the Small Business Size Standard is 1,100 Employees.

This is not a Request for Quote. All interested parties shall respond no later than 4/17/2025 at 10:00am EST. Submit responses to via email to LeTray Womble; letray.womble@va.gov. Telephone responses will not be accepted.

FOB Delivery: Destination

Delivery Address:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Tampa VA Medical Center Warehouse

4913 W. Laurel St.

Tampa, FL 33607

GENERAL: All capable Small Business Vendors that process and/or produce Emergency Water with 10+ years shelf-life processed are welcome to respond to this notice. Provide a brief capability statement that covers the information in the Statement of Need. Your response must address capabilities specific to the required supply items listed in the Statement of Need and must include the following:

REQUEST COMPANY INFORMATION TO INCLUDE:

a. Company Name:

b. SAM CAGE & Unique Entity ID under which the company is registered in www.Sam.gov/:

c. Company Address:

d. POC Name:

e. POC Phone:

f. POC Email:

g. Socioeconomic Representations: (i.e. SDVOSB, VOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SB, etc.)

h. Company Small Business Size Status:

i. Names and types of current federal contracts and/or contract vehicles that can be utilized to procure supply item:

**SEE STATEMENT OF NEED BELOW**

STATEMENT OF NEED

Emergency Water

James A. Haley Veterans Hospital

Tampa, FL

BACKGROUND:

James A Haley Veterans Hospital (JAHVH) Supply Chain Management (SCM) Service is responsible for providing water to an estimated 500 Inpatient Veterans and 1,000 VA employees. The required water supply will support emergency events but mainly to posture for inclement weather in the Tampa area and the need for a strong emergency plan with multiple tertiary contingencies for resources. Currently, the JAHVH will only be able to provide emergency services for a 1.5-day sustainable period without a viable supply of drinking water if normal supply chain operations are total disrupted.

PURPOSE:

To ensure the continuity of operations and patient care during emergencies, a 4-day (12,760 gallons) water supply is critical for medical facilities due to the following reasons:

Uninterrupted patient care

Emergency Preparedness

Staff and Facility Support

Regulatory Compliance

Mitigating Public Health Risks

Resilience Against Prolonged Disasters

Community Dependence

By ensuring a robust, long-term water supply, the facility safeguards its ability to provide life-saving care, maintain essential operations, and protect the health and safety of patients and staff during emergencies.

SCOPE:

Develop a resilient and cost-effective supply chain for long-term water storage solutions with a shelf life of 10 years or more. The objective is to reduce costs and eliminate waste associated with traditional bottled or gallon water, which typically expires within 18 months to 3 years. The water must be capable of withstanding temperatures exceeding 70 degrees F for short period (3-5 days), ensuring stability in Florida s hot and humid climate, where power outages are a common risk. The selected solution should maintain water quality, comply with safety regulations, and support long-term emergency preparedness and operational efficiency. Supply Chain requires approximately 5,848 gallons of water to meet the required amount to support the medical facility.

Product Specifications:

10 years or more water shelf-life

Ability to withstand temperatures of 70° F or more for a short period, approximately 3 5 days

Compliance with FDA safety regulations

Bacteria free

Is not soft, opaque, or plastic jugs as the materials are not rated for long-term storage and break down.

Water shall be contained in corrosion resistant aluminum cans or box (box must be verified that no breakdown shall occur during the shelf-life) is acceptable if the product meets all product specifications.

SHELF-LIFE GUARANTEE:

Warranty shall cover drinkability as established by FDA standards and determined by an FDA certified lab. Additionally, the warranty shall cover manufacturer s defects in materials and workmanship in the packaging.

DELIVERY SCHEDULE: All water supplies shall be delivered within 30 days After Receipt of Order (ARO).

*All deliveries shall occur during normal business hours Monday - Friday 7:30AM to 4:00PM EST except for Federal Holidays. Delivery during Federal Holidays will not be accepted.

PLACE OF DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE:

Tampa VAMC Warehouse

4913 W. Laurel Street

Tampa, FL 33607