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Contract Opportunity

Notice of Sources Sought

The purpose of this Sources Sought Announcement is for market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential qualified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), Small Business Manufacturers, other Small Businesses interested and capable of providing items requested, as well as any large businesses. The results from this source sought notice will be used to determine set-aside.

The intended contract is a firm-fixed price supply purchase.

The SBA Non-Manufacturer Rule is applicable, and a waiver will not be sought for this potential acquisition.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, NCO20 is looking for BRAND NAME ONLY sources of the following with delivery arrangements specified in the Statement of Work below:

Description/Part Number
Qty
Unit Price (fill this out)
Total Amount (fill this out)
Anderson's 1/4" Bed-O-Cob 1.25cu ft/35 L bag
1,150
$
$
Northeastern Beta Chips 2.5 cubic feet package
7
$
$
Healthy Pet ¼ Bio-Fresh TOTE 37.5 cu/ft
44
$
$
Lab Diet Irradiated Formulab 5008 30lb
170
$
$
ClearH2O DietGel 76A - 2 oz/96 cups case
23
$
$
Clear H2O DietGel Recovery - 2 oz/96 cups
3
$
$
LabDiet 5326 High Fiber Rabbit 50lb
54
$
$
Grainland Select Premium Feed Grains - Cracked corn 50lb bag
22
$
$
Grainland Select Premium Feed Grains - Crimped oats 50lb bag
22
$
$
Lab Diet Irradiated Lab Rodent 30lb 5L0D Feed
1,150
$
$
ClearH2O Hydrogel - 8 oz case/ 55 cups
12
$
$
Clear H2O Boost 2oz cups - 2oz case/96 cups
1
$
$
Statement of Work:
1. Contract Title.
LAB ANIMAL FOOD AND BEDDING, DIRECT DELIVERY
2. Background.

This is a one-year contract for laboratory animal food, bedding and other necessary care items for the Portland VA Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU). Reliability and reproducibility in research outcomes are the hallmark of excellent scientific research, and diets have major implications for the interpretation and reproducibility of study results in animals (Tuck, et al, Nature, 10, 17784, 2020). In order to maintain consistent intestinal microbiome, laboratory animals require the same source of rodent diet consistently. Also, this diet and bedding has to be irradiated and maintained under strict quality control from manufacture through endpoint delivery in order to prevent disease transmission. To maintain the necessary integrity and consistency of research, we must therefore use a distributor who can furnish the exact items listed in the quote. Items provided CANNOT be equivalent and MUST be directly delivered to the Portland VMU by the distributor.
3. Scope.
This contract covers the supply of animal food, bedding other care items and environmental enrichment items for the VA Portland Health Care System Portland campus VMU only.
4. Specific Tasks.
Task 1: Contractor will deliver products on a regular basis, as ordered by Veterinary Medical Officer or Animal Facility Supervisor. Contractor will provide exactly the types, brands and amounts of animal food, bedding, and enrichment items as ordered, with no substitutions. Items must be irradiated for infection control. Quantities ordered per week will vary based on current needs. Contractor must deliver animal food, bedding and enrichment items within one week of order for routine situations. Contractor must deliver animal food, bedding and enrichment items within one day of order in emergency situations. List of items to be ordered on contract:
Description
Qty
Anderson's 1/4" Bed-O-Cob 1.25cu ft/35 L bag
1,150
Northeastern Beta Chips 2.5 cubic feet package
7
Healthy Pet ¼ Bio-Fresh TOTE 37.5 cu/ft
44
Lab Diet Irradiated Formulab 5008 30lb
170
ClearH2O DietGel 76A - 2 oz/96 cups case
23
Clear H2O DietGel Recovery - 2 oz/96 cups
3
LabDiet 5326 High Fiber Rabbit 50lb
54
Grainland Select Premium Feed Grains - Cracked corn 50lb bag
22
Grainland Select Premium Feed Grains - Crimped oats 50lb bag
22
Lab Diet Irradiated Lab Rodent 30lb 5L0D Feed
1,150
ClearH2O Hydrogel - 8 oz case/ 55 cups
12
Clear H2O Boost 2oz cups - 2oz case/96 cups
1

Task 2: In order to maintain products under the strict quality control conditions that are necessary to prevent disease transmission, contractor will directly deliver (no third-party couriers) animal food, bedding and enrichment items to the VA Portland Health Care System Portland campus VMU. Contractor will provide pallets for item delivery. Contractor will deliver pallets to loading docks B103 and B101.
5. Performance Monitoring (if applicable).
The COR or Animal Facility Supervisor will inspect the delivered items upon arrival, to make sure that the delivered items are exactly those ordered, with no broken items or compromised packaging, and with no substitutions. The COR or Animal Facility Supervisor will compare order dates to delivery dates to ensure that delivery was made in a timely manner.
6. Security Requirements.
The contractor employees shall not have access to VA sensitive or computer information and will not require routine access to VA Facilities. No background investigation is required
7. Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI).
No GFE or GFI will be required to satisfy this contract.
8. Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations.
To maintain the necessary integrity and consistency of research, we must use a distributor who can furnish the exact items listed in the quote. Items provided CANNOT be equivalent and MUST be directly delivered to the Portland VMU by the distributor.
a. No follow on work necessary.
b. No conflicts of interest: No COI

c. Inspection and Acceptance Criteria.
The COR or Animal Facility Supervisor will inspect shipments of animal food, bedding and enrichment items to ensure that the delivered items are exactly those ordered, with no broken items or compromised packaging, and with no substitutions.
9. Risk Control.
These products are not harmful to humans, irradiated, and will be delivered/used in research specific areas, therefore no patients will be exposed to risk.
10. Place of Performance.
Products will be delivered to a government site the VAPORHCS, Portland campus VMU, Bldg 101 loading dock and Bldg 103 loading dock.
11. Period of Performance.
01 January 2024 -30 November 2024
12. Delivery Schedule.
Orders will be placed on an as-needed basis. Contractor must deliver within one week of routine orders, and within one day of orders placed in emergency situations.

Required Information in Your Response to Sources Sought:
In order to be considered a valid source that can impact the set-aside determination of a possible future solicitation, potential contractors shall provide, at a minimum, the following information to peter.park2@va.gov:

1) Company name, address, and point of contact, phone number, e-mail address, and UEI.

2) Please identify your company s size in comparison to the anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 311111 Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing. To be considered a small business your company must have fewer than 1,000 employees. This notice is to determine the marketplace for this specific requirement. Please check one of the following:

[ ] yes [ ] no Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
[ ] yes [ ] no Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB)
[ ] yes [ ] no Small Business Manufacturers
[ ] yes [ ] no All other Small Business (SB)
[ ] yes [ ] no Other than Small Business

3) Any Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses or Veteran Owned Businesses who respond to a solicitation on this project must provide a SBA certification and be registered with U.S. Small Business Administration Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) located at https://veterans.certify.sba.gov/.

4) If not a manufacturer, only authorized representatives/providers/distributors of the manufacturer will be considered. Please provide a proof of authorized dealer or reseller letter from the manufacturer.

5) Please provide completed above courtesy quote in response to this request to evaluate price reasonableness for any set-aside determination.

The Government is not obligated to nor will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to this sources sought notice. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued.

Notice to Potential Offerors: All Offerors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System Award Management (SAM located on the web at www.sam.gov). It is desirable that any Offeror to have completed their business Online Representations and Certifications Application in the System for Award Management (SAM).
Shipping Address:
Portland VA Medical Center
3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd
Portland, OR 97239

Point of Contact:
Peter Park
Contracting Officer
peter.park2@va.gov

Response Deadline:
12/04/2023 by 3:00pm Pacific Time

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