Bagged salt / bulk road salt

The Department of Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System is conducting market research through a Sources Sought Notice for the procurement of bulk and bagged road salt products. The agency seeks to acquire two distinct components: 1,764 bags of 50-pound Ice Beeter Ice Melt (or equivalent) and 350 tons of bulk road salt for winter road maintenance operations. The salt products must meet specific performance requirements, including effectiveness at temperatures as low as 0-10 degrees Fahrenheit, contain corrosion inhibitors, and be supplied in pellet or granular form. This market research effort is designed to identify qualified vendors and assess market capabilities prior to issuing a formal competitive solicitation. Interested vendors must submit their responses by September 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time to the Contracting Point of Contact, Andrea Aultman-Smith, via email.

This procurement opportunity is set aside for small businesses operating under NAICS code 325998 (All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing) with a size standard of 800 employees. The delivery schedule requires the bagged salt to be delivered to the VAPHS Warehouse in October, while the bulk road salt will be delivered in two phases: 175 tons in October and the remaining 175 tons in mid-January. The document does not specify current incumbents or provide estimated contract values, as this is a preliminary market research phase. Vendors responding to the Sources Sought Notice are required to provide comprehensive information about their company capabilities, manufacturing locations, delivery lead times, and business classifications. The VA emphasizes that this is strictly a market research effort and not a formal solicitation, with the agency reserving the right to seek alternative vendors if contract terms are not satisfied in future procurement actions.