The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System intends to negotiate on a Sole Source basis with Working Walls, Inc., 100 Hayes Dr. Suite B, Cleveland, OH, to purchase their Acoustical Panels, for the following reasons: The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System needs to purchase Acoustical Panels made by Working Walls, Inc, since they possess the following unique features that are not available in any other manufacturer's similar product: Acoustical Panels that are made by other manufacturers help absorb sound reflected off the walls in a room making that room less reverberant or "echo-ey." While they help to make the specific room they are in quieter, they do nothing to keep sound from escaping through the panel, through the wall behind it and out of the room, disturbing people outside the room. The Acoustical Panels made by Working Walls, Inc. not only have sound absorptive like above, which is essential to the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, but their acoustic panels are also made with a "double modification" process that adds an additional layer of material to the back of each panel that acts as a barrier to keep much of the sound from penetrating the panel and escaping the room, which is also essential to the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, since they are going in an audiology area where testing and other measurements are taken, and it is especially critical not only for each room to be quiet, but the sound from one room should not be escaping and interfering with the work done in other rooms, and the double modification process in the Working Walls, Inc. acoustic panels is necessary to prevent this, and since no other manufacturer makes acoustical panels with this additional needed feature. Working Walls will perform acoustical calculations and design and install acoustical panels per the calculations to minimize reverberation and other acoustical problems in the ACC. It is also essential to purchase the above mentioned acoustical panels made by Working Walls, Inc., off the GSA Federal Supply Schedule, on a Sole Source basis, since they are the sole exclusive seller and installer, of their acoustical panels, on the GSA Federal Supply Schedule. (GSA Contract No. GS-28F-7062G). In addition, it is essential to purchase the above mentioned Working Walls, Inc. Acoustical Panels, from Working Wallls, Inc., and have them install them as well, using their local authorized dealer/installer Burke and Michael, since Working Walls, is the sole exclusive seller and installer of their Acoustical Panels, and Burke and Michael is their authorized delivery and installation subcontractor, and since it is essential that the company performing the delivery and installation are located locally within the Pittsburgh, PA area, and since this requirement represents the minimum need of the government and requires a turnkey job. This Notice of Intent is NOT a request for competitive proposals. Parties may identify their interest; accompanied by supporting literature, to the Contracting Officer no later than 01/14/2013 COB. Responses should be sent to
[email protected]. No telephone responses will be accepted. Information received will be for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. The determination to conduct a competitive procurement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer. The NAICS Code for this item is 337214, and the small business size standard for this NAICS Code is 500 Employees. Contracting Office Address: Attn: Department of Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Contracting Officer, 1010 Delafield Road, (90C-A), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15215-1802 Point of Contact(s): Point of Contact - Ronald S. Mazzei, Contract Specialist, Ph: (412) 822-3770.