This is a SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. It is neither a solicitation announcement nor a request for proposals or quotes and shall not obligate the Government to award a contract. The purpose of this Sources Sought Announcement is for market research to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources interested and capable of performing the work and obtain their size classification (Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, 8(a), HubZone, Women Owned Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, etc.) relative to the North American Classification System (NAICS) Code 446130 with a size standard of $19.0 Million. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has an ongoing program to provide eyeglasses to Veteran beneficiaries in six (6) medical centers (Asheville VAMC, Durham VAMC, Fayetteville HCC, Hampton VAMC, Richmond VAMC, Salem VAMC and Salisbury). In addition, services will also be needed at Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and Health Care Centers (HCC) that provide optical services. The VA currently operates CBOCs or HCCs; in Charlotte, NC, Kernersville, NC, Hickory, NC, Greenville, NC, Wilmington NC and Morehead City. The VA will provide a designated space to the contractor for an Optical Shop within each VAMC to provide services to eligible Veterans entitled to Government provided eyeglasses and retail sales to the public including VA employees, volunteers and visitors. The contractor shall ensure that two licensed Opticians work at each VAMC to measure and fit Veterans prescription by the physicians in the VA Eye Clinic. These services shall typically be required Monday Friday, 8:00 am 5:00 pm except for Federal holidays. The contractor must possess all licenses, permits, accreditations and certificates as required by law and shall meet all Federal, State, and local fire and life safety codes. The contractor shall be responsible for coordinating, supervising, monitoring, and evaluating the care and service provided. The contractor, at no charge to the VA shall provide display cases consisting of forty (40) men s frames, thirty (30) women s frames, twenty-five (25) unisex frames, and five (5) safety frames (unisex frames) in available temple, eye, bridge sizes, and colors. Frame selection will include a mix of metals and plastic, all with spring hinges. Frames sizes will need to include large frames (54-60). The display cases shall be placed in the designated space at each VISN 6 Medical Center to enable Veteran beneficiaries the opportunity to make their choice on frame selection. The contractor shall provide minor eyeglass repair service to entitled Veteran beneficiaries who require replacement screws or nose pads for current prescription eyeglasses, at no cost to the Veteran or Government. The contractor shall maintain repair kit tools and associated supplies (replacement screws and nose pads) necessary to complete those repairs to Government purchased frames at no additional cost to the Government. All lenses shall be fabricated and provided in accordance with the current standards set forth in the current edition of American National Standards Institute for Ophthalmic Lenses - Recommendation ANSI Z80.1, or latest edition. All ophthalmic lenses shall be in accordance with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regulation (2) CFR, Parts 3 and 4 for impact resistance, unless otherwise specified in the order. Glass ophthalmic lenses shall be chemically or heat strengthened for impact resistance. All glass and plastic ophthalmic lenses shall be corrected curved lenses. Ophthalmic lenses with cylinder power of less than 1.5D or greater than 1.5D shall be fabricated in minus cylinder form, unless positive cylinder form is specified for the order. All lenses shall be UV coated unless otherwise specified. All frames shall be provided in accordance with the current edition of the American national Standard Requirements for Dress Ophthalmic Frames ANSI Z80.5 or latest edition. If the manufacturer discontinues a frame during the contract period, the contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer with an approved substitute frame within two (2) working days. All frames offered by the contractor shall be listed in either frames/fax or frame catalogs and not be on any discontinued models. The contractor shall provide completely assembled eyeglass frames placed in standard alignment and include mounting of lenses. In addition, the contractor shall furnish one eyeglass case for each pair of eyeglasses at no charge to the VA. Eyeglass cases shall be the sliding style or snap style at the discretion of the Veteran beneficiary. Instructions for cleaning and care will be included with each set provided to Veteran beneficiary. Potential Sources who are interested and have the capability of providing the above services must demonstrate their experience and knowledge of the required services and the capability to provide such services. Potential sources should identify business name, point of contact, business size and business socio-economic category (i.e. Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, 8(a), Hub Zone, Women Owned Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, etc.), service capability statement, information from recent and relevant projects similar in nature, DUNS number, company address and any additional information felt to be pertinent. Responses to this synopsis will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this Sources Sought Announcement, a solicitation announcement may be published at www.fbo.gov website. Responses to this Sources Sought Announcement are not considered adequate responses to any solicitation announcement that may result from this notice. Interested offerors should respond to this Sources Sought announcement and to any resulting solicitation for this requirement. Responses to this notice should be limited to five (5) pages and Reference Sources Sought (VISN 6 Prescription Eyeglass Supply and Service 2019 , be in PDF or Word format and send via email to
[email protected]. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than 1:00 pm (EDT), October 31, 2018. This notice is to assist the VA in determining sources only. A solicitation is not currently available. Once a solicitation is issued, it will be announced separately from this announcement. NOTE: Businesses must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) and SDVOSB and VOSB must be registered in VetBiz at http://www.VetBiz.gov.