V119--ABQ 501-22-1-337-0002 Customs Broker (VA-22-00000649)

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS ONLY. This is not a solicitation announcement. The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources Customer Broker and Transportation services.

BACKGROUND: The VA Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center requires Customs Brokerage and transportation services for import of shipments of pharmaceutical products (drugs, devices, or other related products) destined for Albuquerque, New Mexico. These materials are used in the conduct of clinical trial studies and in some cases may require special handling such as cold chain management.

REQUIREMENTS: Vendor will act as liaison between the VA Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center (CSPCRPCC), US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or any other required agency for the purposes of importing and clearing import/export shipments of pharmaceutical products.

Vendor must be certified to handle shipments that may include Schedule I-V controlled substances.

Vendor will maintain a continuous bond throughout each contract period. During each follow-on year if contract option is exercised, vendor will renew bond. Any changes to the bond impacting the user will be communicated to the user. The expected countries of origins based on best data at the time of the initial contract solicitation are:

Europe

India

Vendor will provide import and transportation services from the United States port of entry to CSPCRPCC located in Albuquerque, NM. Transportation services will include ability to provide appropriate temperature controls for freight as required by the specific freight (some products require temperature logging devices).

Vendor will perform US Customs and Border Protection and US Food and Drug Administration (CBP and FDA) clearance and handling services to include duties, taxes, and fees for multiple imports during each specified period of performance. Responsibilities can include the following:

Vendor will be responsible for insuring freight during transit.

Vendor will provide a centralized point of contact (either phone number, email address, or fax number) for user to transmit shipment details.

Prior to formalizing transportation of any cargo, vendor will contact user with cost estimate so user can ensure adequate funds are available and take action to add funds to the purchase order if necessary.

Expected imports:

Planned Import month

Product

Qty Importing (#of tabs/caps/etc)

Estimated Nbr of Pallets

Â

Nov-2021

AFQ056 (Mavoglurant) and placebo

115 kits (800 bottles AFQ056/800 bottles placebo)

2

Most likely 1 pallet

Mar-2022

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Mar-2022

NAC effervescent tablets and placebo

560K tablets/560K placebo

16

Â

Jul-2022

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Feb-2023

AFQ056 (Mavoglurant) and placebo

115 kits (800 bottles AFQ056/800 bottles placebo)

2

Most likely 1 pallet

Jan-2023

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Apr-2023

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Aug-2023

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Nov-2023

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Feb-2024

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Mar-2024

NAC effervescent tablets and placebo

560K tablets/560K placebo

16

Â

Jun-2024

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Oct-2024

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Feb-2025

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Jun-2025

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Oct-2025

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Feb-2026

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

Jun-2026

Metformin and placebo

1.8M Metformin/1.8M placebo

31

Â

OTHER: These types of services typically require the using agency (in this case Department of Veterans Affairs {VA}) to provide a Power-of-Attorney (POA) for the vendor to act on behalf of the using agency. The POA will require coordination between VA legal and vendor to ensure both parties agree to terms and conditions contained in the POA.

INSTRUCTIONS TO INTERESTED VENDORS:

If you are interested and capable of providing the required services, please provide the requested information as indicated below.

Provide a detailed capability document that explains how your company could meet the requirements listed in this notice and provide your business size and status? (Large business, small business, veteran owned small business)

Send responses to this notices to Lynn.Portman@va.gov and David.Older@va.gov by Wednesday, April 28th at 12pm EST.

This notice is to assist the VA in determining sources only. After review of the responses to this sources sought synopsis, a solicitation announcement may be published on beta.sam.gov. All interested offers will have to respond to the solicitation announcement, in addition to responding to this sources sought announcement. Responses to this synopsis will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions.