Description
DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS GREAT LAKES ACQUISITION CENTER NETWORK CONTRACTING OFFICE 12 Date: June 17, 2016 From: Farrukh Daniel, Contracting Officer, Great Lakes Acquisition Center (69D/GLAC) Subj.: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION 1. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Department of Veteran Affairs is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFQ or RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 1. Bread and Bakery Products required for all seven (7) facilities in Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Contract will be for a one-year period. a. Delivery Locations: 1. Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave, Chicago IL 2. Capt. James A. Lovell FHCC, 3001 Green Bay Rd, North Chicago IL 3. Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, 5000 S. 5th Ave, Hines IL 4. Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center, 325 East H St, Iron Mountain MI 5. William S. Middleton VA Hospital, 2500 Overlook Terrace, Madison WI 6. Tomah VA Medical Center, 500 E. Veterans St, Tomah WI 7. Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee WI b. Delivery Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. c. Delivery Frequency: Up to five days per week: Monday thru Saturday d. Delivery expectation: 1. Daily deliveries will be at or about the same time each day and within the established delivery hours. If a delivery date falls on a federal holiday, the vendor must establish an alternative delivery date and inform the VA Hospital of the new date(s). 2. Contractor-owned delivery trays/racks and wheeled carts, etc. shall be in clean condition at delivery time; if they are not, contractor personnel will be required to transfer the bread delivery to government owned holding racks. 3. The government will hold contractor-owned trays/racks, wheeled carts, etc., utilized in delivery for pick up by the contractor for reuse. Contractor is required to pick up empty, contractor owned delivery trays/racks, and wheeled carts, etc., from previous deliveries, upon each delivery of new product. Empty equipment shall not be allowed to accumulate at the VA facility in storage rooms, warehouses, loading docks, or any other areas on the VA property. 2. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards and guidelines: All current USDA standards and guidelines must be met throughout the entire production, packaging, labeling and delivery process. Contactor is responsible for handling food products in accordance with VHA Handbook 1109.04, Food Services Management Program. 3. Product Freshness - a. Production of bread shall not precede delivery by more than twenty four (24) hours. b. Bread/bakery items must be freshness dated in either of the following methods: 1. Production date or freshness expiration date directly marked on packaging or twist tie/plastic closure. 2. Production date or freshness expiration date color coding or similar type markings on packaging or twist tie/plastic closure. 3. SPECIAL NOTE: Production date on individually wrapped items 4. SPECIAL NOTE: bread slice packages to include use by date markings which must be no more than 4-5 days after delivery date. 4. Orders a. Authorized personnel from Nutrition and Food Service will place all delivery orders. b. Orders should be placed by phone. c. Order is based on facility needs and amounts will increase or decrease in conjunction with demand. 5. Failure to Deliver a. If the contractor fails to deliver the requested item(s) or acceptable substitute, or to deliver during the required time period, the Government may purchase the item from other source(s). The contractor will be held liable for any additional costs associated with procuring item(s) from non-contract sources. Responses Interested parties are requested to fill out the information below: (Contractor's Name) ______________________________________ (Address) ______________________________________ (City-State-Zip) ______________________________________ (Point of Contact/Title) ______________________________________ PHONE NUMBER ______________________________________ FAX NUMBER ______________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS ______________________________________ DUNS NUMBER NO. ______________________________________ FSS/GSA/CONTRACT NO. ______________________________________ Expiration Date of Contract: ____________________________________ . Other Requested Information: 1. Business type (large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a)-certified small disadvantaged business, HUBZone small business, woman-owned small business, very small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business) based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541512, Computer Systems Design Services. "Small business concern" means a concern, including its affiliates that are independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size standards in 13 CFR part 121. Summary THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide Bread and Bakery Products for ALL seven hospitals in Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 12.