Commercial off-the-shelf Hearing Aid Boxes

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA)

DENVER ACQUISITION & LOGISTICS CENTER (DALC)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) VA791-17-N-0045

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS



I. INTRODUCTION

The Veterans Administration (VA) Denver Logistic and Acquisitions Center (DALC) require the acquisition of hearing aid boxes that will safely store and ship hearing aids and associated accessories.

II. BACKGROUND

The VA Denver Acquisition & Logistics Center (DALC) manages holistic supply chain management for the VA National Hearing Aid and Telehealth Programs and supports VA and other Government agencies with professional acquisition and logistical services.  Commodities managed include worldwide distribution of hearing aids and hearing aid accessories.

Vendors should note that responses to this RFI may in part be utilized by the Agency in a determination whether or not to set aside particularly listed Agency items or item exclusively for participation by various small business socio-economic concerns.





This is a Request for Information only. It is not an invitation to submit any offers or bids. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. Do not submit any offers or bids in response to this (RFI). Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Agency to form a binding contract. The Agency will not award a contract on the basis of this RFI nor will it pay for information or comments submitted to the Agency in response to this RFI. 



The results of this RFI will be utilized to determine if any Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business/Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB/VOSB) opportunities exist. However, this RFI is also being used to identify potential and eligible firms, of all sizes, prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation. All Small Business, Socioeconomic contracting programs (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB) will be considered. This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 322212, Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing. The size standard for this NAICS code is 750 employees.



As a result of this RFI, the VA DALC may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a contract. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

III. SCOPE

The VA DALC has a requirement for commercial off the shelf hearing aid boxes designed and built to specifications.

IV. OBJECTIVES

The Contractor shall design and deliver commercial off the shelf boxes that meet the minimum technical specifications for hearing aids and associated accessories.

V. DRAFT MINIMUM TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Boxes shall be single walled, rated at a minimum of 23ECT (Edge Crush Test).

External dimensions of the completed box are exact: 4 x 6.5 x 2.125

Contractor shall create or already have a die that allows the box to be constructed from a single sheet of cardboard.

The Contractor is not required to deliver constructed boxes. Box construction is handled internally by the Government.

Boxes shall have generally accepted standard coefficient of friction and wet strength for common shipping boxes (no wax or plastic coatings).

Boxes shall be composed of a single sheet and have self-locking ends. The box shall have a clam-shell type opening with a tab and slot closure mechanism that is centered on one end. The box shall be capable of being shipped without needing any tape or adhesive to prevent opening during shipment.

Contractor shall provide a sample of the box for inspection when submitting proposals/bids.

Contractor shall be capable of delivering boxes FOB: Destination to Golden, CO within 3-days of any delivery order being issued.



VI. INFORMATION REQUESTED AND QUESTIONS TO BEADDRESSED



We are requesting vendors offer the



What is your company name, address, and point of contact information?



Is your company a United States business? If not, identify the country?



Does your company offer a commercially available box that meets the draft minimum technical requirements? Please identify the product and provide a picture of the product in your response. Provide an on-line link describing the product if available.



Is your company the actual manufacturer of the item, or is you re a company a distributor of the item?



If your company is not the manufacturer, who is, and where is the product manufactured? Provide online link if available.



Submit a copy of your commercial retail pricing for the item.



7. Regarding the size of your company, is it more than 750 employees?



8. Is your company a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) as described by FAR Part 2?



9. Is your company a Veteran Owned Small business (VOSB) as described by FAR Part 2?



10. If your company is a (SDVOSB) or (VOSB), is it verified in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Vendor Information Pages? See https://www.vip.vetbiz.gov/



11. What is the socio economic status (See FAR Parts 2 and 19 for definitions) of your company?



12. Has your company completed representations regarding its socio-economic status on the https://www.sam.gov website?



IV. RESPONSES

Responses must be submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Denver Acquisition and Logistics Center, on or before 4:00 PM Mountain Time on Wednesday, December 21, 2016. Please e-mail responses. Note, however, that our e-mail function is very limited as to the size of file that it can receive, approximately 5mb per e-mail. Please e-mail RFI responses to: Miguel.Vasquez@va.gov with a copy to Kyle.Shaffer@va.gov. In the e-mail subject line please identify as an RFI response. Any questions must be e-mailed to Miguel Vasquez (see e-mail above) by 12:00 PM (noon) Mountain Time on Friday, December 16, 2016. E-mail communication must include the company name, address, point of contact name and title, e-mail address, and telephone number.