J065--Biosafety Cabinet and Hood Certification Services Cancellation of Solicitation for SDVOSB Set Aside

Amendment to Solicitation 36C24E23Q0004

This Solicitation is amended with answers to questions posed during original run of Combined Solicitation and Synopsis:

1. Could you please provide an equipment list so that we can identify the items to be tested?

2. Will the project manager of the service requires CETA and NSF 49 accreditation? The CETA accreditation is quite specific to Pharmacies in general and NSF 49 covers the field testing of Class II biological safety cabinets.

We will not need CETA, but the certification needs to be completed within the standards of NSF 49. We are the Research side of the VA; therefore, no pharmacy or related clean room.

There is an Animal Facility. Any equipment with a location of building 7, would be in the Animal Facility. A complete list of equipment will not be furnished for the solicitation.

3. How many facility escort officers will be provided while the contractor is onsite? Will we be able to work in multiple locations/buildings simultaneously?

One for certain, we may at time be able to provide a second. They will be able to work in multiple locations.

4. Are all units on the same test and certification schedule? If so, when is the certification to be completed by (what month)?

All units will be on the same schedule. It will be annually, from the date of the first certification.

5. Will all units be available to be tested and certified in one visit or will the test and certification require multiple visits?

We will strive for one visit; however, if any hoods fail, it will require a secondary, follow up visit after repairs are made.

6. Statement of Work states "Vendor needs to have capability to perform minor repairs or further maintenance if a cabinet/hood does not meet certification standards upon initial testing or describe the problem so a qualified technician can perform the repairs," generally we provide an quote if a BSC or Fume hood fails the certification. The quote would consist of parts, labor, and re-certification. Is this going to be the case and will there be a Line Item for the repairs/recertification?

The vendor provides one year warranty; therefore, responsible for addressing any issue on the first year. Yes, please include Not to Exceed estimate in the quote.

Additional comments the SME thought would be relevant:

1. All Fume Hood have Air Flow Velocity Meters install. Some are OEM to the hood, others are after market installation. All meters will need to be verified and calibrated as needed, to accurately show the operation of the Fume Hood.

2. The contractor will not be required to go up on the roofs of any buildings. Any inoperably blower motor/fan, located on the roof, relating to the Fume Hoods, i.e., burnt out motor, broken belts, those repairs will be performed by VA maintenance staff. Contractor, however, would be required to verify the proper operation of the hood after repairs have been made.

Submissions are still subject to all terms within original solicitation. Receipt of submissions is extended to NLT 11:59 EST, Friday, October 4, 2022, to ensure properly estimated quotes.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This is a Request for Quote (RFQ) and the solicitation number is 36C24E23Q0004. The government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed price contract resulting from this combined synopsis/solicitation. This solicitation is issued as a 100% set aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business concerns (To receive credit, an Offeror must be registered and verified in VetBiz.gov Vendor Information Pages (http://www.VetBiz.gov). This solicitation and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-89. It is the responsibility of the contractor to be familiar with the applicable clauses and provisions. The clauses may be accessed in full text at www.acquisition.gov.

STATEMENT OF NEED (SON)

CONTRACT DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS

The Regional Procurement Office (RPO) - East is seeking sources that can provide certification services for BioSafety Cabinets, Chemical Fume and Laminar Flow Hoods for the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System. A firm-fixed price contract will be awarded for the purchase of these services in accordance with all terms, conditions, provisions, specifications and schedule of this solicitation herein. Quotes shall contain the Offeror s best terms for cost/price and technical capabilities of the required services. The government reserves the right to award without discussions.

1.1 PRICING

The Offeror shall submit price quotes for the required services to the specifications listed in Section 1.2 below.

1.2 REQUIRED SERVICES & SPECIFICATIONS

Requirement is for annual maintenance on 80 biosafety cabinets, chemical fume hoods, and Laminar flow hoods in Research Department for Base Year plus four (4) optional periods.

a. Interested parties shall meet the following criteria:

i. Vendor must be certified to perform testing and certification on biosafety cabinets used for VA research, ranging from 4 to 6 feet in width.

ii. Vendor must be certified to perform testing and certification on chemical fume hoods used for VA research, ranging from 4 to 6 feet in width.

iii. Vendor must be certified to perform testing and certification on Laminar Flow Hoods used for VA research, ranging from 3 to 4 feet in width.

iv. Vendor must keep track of equipment by serial number (or other suitable method) to ensure cabinets/hoods are serviced before expiration dates and provide reports upon request of status.

v. Vendor needs to have capability to perform minor repairs or further maintenance if a cabinet/hood does not meet certification standards upon initial testing or describe the problem so a qualified technician can perform the repairs.

The evaluation of quotes and the determination shall be the responsibility of the Government and shall be based on information provided by the Offeror. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing any information not provided in the quotation by the Offeror. Offers that do not have descriptive material will not be considered for award.

Instructions to the Offeror

Basis for award resulting from this RFQ will made to the Best Value Offer that provides a complete package pursuant to the preparation requirements set forth in 52.212-1. FAR 52.212-2 (Evaluation - Commercial Items) will be incorporated in full text into the RFQ and will be evaluated on the following factors. Evaluations will be in accordance with FAR 13 Simplified procedures.

Evaluation Factors for Award:

Factor 1 - Technical Capabilities

All offerors must meet or exceed all requirements and salient features as listed in the Statement of Need.

Factor 2 - Past Performance - Past Performance will be based on the most current PPIPRS

Report.

Factor 3 - Price

The following FAR provision and clauses apply to this solicitation and are incorporated by reference. The solicitation document, incorporated provision and clauses are those in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-89, Effective July 2, 2015. It is the responsibility of the contractor to be familiar with the applicable clauses and provisions. The clauses may be accessed in full text at www.acquistion.gov. This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available.

FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial

FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Items

FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications

FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions

FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders Commercial Item

FAR 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011)

FAR 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Oct 2014)

FAR 52.233-3 Protest After Award (Aug 1996)

FAR 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal

FAR 52.233-2 Service of Protest

Quotes shall be submitted via email to millicent.covert@va.gov and Offerors must reference Solicitation 36C24E23Q0004 in the subject line of the email. No telephone request for information will be considered. Incomplete packages will be considered nonresponsive. All offers must be received by closing, no later than 11:59 AM EST, Friday, October 28, 2022.