SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Service Area Office - Central (SAOC), is seeking sources for the supply, and tank installation of Medical Grade Liquid Bulk Oxygen for the entire Central Region. The following states fall within SAOC: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky. Ohio, West Virginia, Texas. CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS: VA/VHA/SAOC 708 South 3rd Street Suite 108E Minneapolis, MN 55415 INTRODUCTION: This is a SOURCES SOUGHT TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION to determine the availability and technical capability of any qualified, capable & responsible business/source; to include small businesses (including the following subsets, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, HUBZone Firms; Certified 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Woman Owned Small Business) to provide the required products and/or services. DISCLAIMER: THIS SOURCE'S SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. BACKGROUND: Medical Grade Liquid Bulk Oxygen is required by Supply Processing and Distribution (SPD) for Clinics, Wards, Surgery, and Pharmacy Services. The medical-grade oxygen being procured on this solicitation is classified as a drug and must meet USP specifications. Bulk oxygen tanks are classified as a drug delivery device, and all contractors must be registered with the Food and Drug Administration. Orders will be placed on an "on demand/as needed" basis throughout the contract period. Quantities as listed are an estimated yearly usage. REQUIRED CAPABILITIES: The purpose of this sources sought is to identify possible firms that are capable of becoming a committed source of supply of medical-grade liquid bulk oxygen for the facilities included that will be included in the solicitation (Central Region Facilities). If the Government facility does not own its own bulk oxygen tank, the contractor shall also provide a contractor-owned tank with an appropriate back-up system (i.e., reserve tank or cylinder bank). SOURCES SOUGHT: The anticipated North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) for this requirement is 325120 - Industrial Gas Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) selected for this procurement is 6830 - Gases: Compressed and Liquefied. The Small Business Administration has issued a "non-manufacturing" waiver for the selected NAICS code. Interested small are encouraged to submit the following information in response to this sources sought. SUBMISSION DETAILS: Responses should include: 1. Please provide your company's name, address, DUNS, and point of contact to include phone number, email address, and size of business. 1.1 Please identify your firm's socio-economic status? 2. If your firm is a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) or a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), is your firm registered and verified in the Vendor Information Pages (VetBiz) as a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small or Veteran-Owned small business? 3. Does your company currently have or have past experience providing bulk gas to the Department of Veterans Affairs? 3.1 If so, how many VA Medical Centers did you support concurrently within a single contract? 3.2 If your firm does not have current or past experience providing bulk oxygen to the Department of Veterans Affairs, please list relevant past experience providing bulk oxygen. 4. What is the highest total quantity of bulk oxygen that your firm can deliver in one month? 5. What is the highest contract value for the delivery of bulk oxygen that your firm has been awarded and managed? 6. What is the largest number of states for which you can provide bulk oxygen, currently? 7. Does your firm currently have the necessary resources to provide bulk oxygen to cover the entire Central Region? 7.1 If not, would your firm be able to obtain the necessary capital, human resources, management staff, equipment, and supplies within 30 days of contract award? 8. Please describe your supply chain process? 9. In the commercial market place, how is pricing established? 10. Is your company a manufacturer or a distributor? 10.1 If a distributor, who do you distribute from, do you have an agreement/contract in place with the manufacturer? 11. Does your company hold a GSA Federal Supply Schedule that includes bulk oxygen? 11.1 If so, what is the contract number? 12. Does your firm provide the bulk oxygen tank (including installation services)? 13. What are the size(s) of the bulk oxygen tanks your firm provide? 14. Any other pertinent information necessary. Small businesses are strongly encouraged to submit their responses. Responses to the sources sought must be submitted via email to the following:
[email protected], Contract Specialist by the time and date outlined in the FBO announcement. Not addressing all the requested information may result in the Government determining the respondent is not capable of performing the scope of work required. Marketing brochures and/or generic company literature may also be sent (electronically). Depending on the response to this Sources Sought, the Government may issue additional Requests' for Information (RFI). Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All government and contractor personal reviewing RFI responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use and protection from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information as described 41 USC 423. The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified.