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THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation for bids, proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. The responses received from interested contractors will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office (NCO) 20, is conducting market research to identify potential sources which can provide the following in support of the Boise VA Medical Center (Boise VAMC):
Boise VAMC has a need for a service agreement contract for its Bio-Rad ChemiDoc MP Imaging System to be purchased for their Research Services.
STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)
Statement of Work. Service agreement for a Bio-Rad ChemiDoc MP Imager System
Background. Research Services at the Boise VAMC has a Bio-Rad ChemiDoc MP Imager which is used by researchers to analyze and document gels and western blots. To date, this instrument has not required any servicing, but as aged-related issues begin to arise, it will need a service plan to maintain its functionality. The manufacturer requires that all service work must be performed by a Bio-Rad trained and certified technician to not void any existing warranties.

Scope. The site of the work will be in Research Services, building #117, room 224. Because the instrument has not been on a service contract, it must be put on a one year, ON-SITE, out of coverage plan. This plan will repair any pre-existing problems and recertify the unit which then qualifies the instrument for complete service support for the remainder of the contract.
Specific Tasks.
Initial visit to recertify instrument. Pre-existing problems will be repaired. Labor and travel costs included.
If replacement parts are required to repair any pre-existing problems, they are provided at 25% off list price.
After recertification, complete support will be provided. This includes priority service call scheduling, unlimited repairs, inclusive of travel, parts, and labor.
Note: preventative maintenance is not included
Hours of Coverage & Federal Holidays. The contractor will be required to work during normal Boise VA Medical Center s business hours. Those hours are defined as Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. All visits must be scheduled in advance with Research Services.
Services will not be performed on the following legal government holidays:
New Year s Day Jan 1st
Martin Luther King Day 3rd Monday in January
President s Day 3rd Monday in February
Memorial Day Last Monday in May
Juneteenth June 19th
Independence Day July 4th
Labor Day 1st Monday in September
Columbus Day 2nd Monday in October
Veteran Day November 11th
Thanksgiving 4th Thursday in November
Christmas December 25th
Technical Point of Contact. The point of contact (POC) will be a Research staff member familiar with the operation of the imager. The POC is NOT a Contracting Officer Representative (COR).
Performance Monitoring. The POC will escort the contractor while in the Research facility and will be available to respond to inquiries by the contractor. The contractor will review all services performed on the instrument with the POC and provide an electronic copy of the service report for Research s records. The POC will notify the AO of Research Services of all work completed by the contractor.
Security Requirements. The contractor will not have the need or have access to the VA internet system or patient information and will not require routine access to VA Facilities. No security clause is required. The C&A requirements do not apply, and a Security Accreditation Package is not required.
The contractor will require intermittent access to the building only during scheduled visits and will be escorted by a VA Research employee while visiting the Research facilities. No background investigation is required.
Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI). No GFE or GFI will be needed or provided, since the imager system is a stand-alone instrument. The contractor does not require access to any additional equipment or materials.
Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations. The contractor must be Bio-Rad trained and authorized to repair and provide service to this system according to the manufacturer to avoid invalidating existing warranties.
a. Identification of Possible Follow-on Work
Repairs that cannot be completed during the initial visit.
b. Identification of Potential Conflicts of Interest (COI)
It has been determined by the AO that no conflict of interest exists with the contract.
c. Inspection and Acceptance Criteria
With the contractor present, the POC will verify that the contractual work has been performed and will relay the information to the AO of Research.
Risk Control. The Research building 117 is designated as a BSL-2 facility. The rooms are marked to denote specific hazards that are currently in use. In the rooms where the work will be performed, the PPE requirements will be noted, as per policy and PPE will be available. Additionally, there are no patients, nor patient care in the research buildings.
As per contractor s requirements, the instrument will be cleaned and disinfected, if necessary, before work commences.
Place of Performance.
Boise VAMC
Research Building #117
500 W. Fort Street
Boise, ID 83702

Payment. The invoice for the service contract must be submitted via the Financial Services Center Mandatory Electronic Invoice System, Tungsten, on an annual basis. If necessary, the invoice for replacement parts will be paid as a P-card micro-purchase and submitted directly to the AO of Research. All invoices must include the following information: contractor name, service contract/PO number or the parts purchased. Payment of submitted invoices will be approved by the AO of Research.

Period of Performance. The period of performance will be for 1 year following the signing of the contract.

Delivery Schedule.
Task
Timeline
Documentation
Initial repair and recertification visit
Within 1 month after the contract is awarded
Service Report will be provided to the POC within 2 weeks of the visit
Invoice for contract

1 copy to POC and submission to Tungsten
Additional visits
As needed
Service Report will be provided to the POC within 2 weeks of the visit. There will be no charges for services after recertification.

Potential candidates having the capabilities necessary to provide the above stated supplies at a fair and reasonable price are invited to respond to this Sources Sought Notice via e-mail to Nazanin Kreiner at nazanin.kreiner@va.gov no later than July 20, 2023, 4:30PM MDT. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.
RESPONSES SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: Company name, address, SAM UEI and business size; point of contact name, phone number, and e-mail address; whether services are presently offered on a current GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract. NAICS Code 811210 Size Standard: $34 Million is applicable to determine business size standard. Any questions or concerns may also be directed via email to Nazanin Kreiner at nazanin.kreiner@va.gov.
Disclaimer and Important Notes: This Sources Sought Notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. The Government will treat any information received as proprietary and will not share such information with other companies. Any organization responding to this Sources Sought Notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. The Government may or may not issue a solicitation as a result of this announcement. There is no solicitation available at this time.

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