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 in any way. 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 (Optical Goods Stores) with a size standard of $19.0 Million. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking potential sources to provide eyeglasses to Veteran beneficiaries at VA Medical Centers (VAMC) and Outpatient Clinics located in Asheville NC, Beckley WV, Durham NC, Fayetteville NC, Hampton VA, Richmond VA, Salem VA, and Salisbury NC.V The Government will provide a designated space for an Optical Shop within each VAMC in order to provide prescription eyewear and fitting services to eligible Veterans entitled to Government provided eyeglasses and to provide retail sales to the general public including VA employees, volunteers and visitors. All prescription eyeglasses must be ordered through the Government AbilityOne mandatory source. The contractor will be required to provide two licensed Opticians at each VAMC to measure, fit and order Veterans eyewear utilizing the prescription designated by the physicians in the VA Eye Clinic. Services will be required Monday through Friday, 8:00AM through 5:00PM with the exception of 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 shall provide display cases consisting of forty men's frames, thirty women's frames, twenty-five unisex frames, and five 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. Frame sizes will need to include large frames (54-60). The display cases shall be placed in the designated space at each VAMC 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 provide 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. 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 or Veteran beneficiary. 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. Frames and Eyeglass Manufacturing: All prescription eyeglasses must be ordered through the Government AbilityOne mandatory source. 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 Regulation (2) CFR, Parts 3 and 4 for impact resistance, unless otherwise specified in the order. Glass ophthalmic lenses shall be chemically 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 at no charge to the Government. 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. All frames offered by the contractor shall be listed in either frames/fax or frame catalogs and not be discontinued models. Potential Sources who are interested and capable of providing the above services must demonstrate their experience and knowledge of the required services and the capability to provide such services. Potential sources must identify business name, point of contact, business size and any applicable business socio-economic category (i.e. small business, SDVOSB, VOSB, SB, etc), service capability statement, information for recent and relevant projects similar in nature, DUNS number, address and any additional information felt to be pertinent. Responses to this Sources Sought Announcement will be used by the Government to make an appropriate acquisition decision on business size and applicable business socio-economic category. 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 will not be considered adequate responses for any solicitation announcement that may result from this notice. Responses to this sources sought notice shall be electronically mailed in PDF or word format to
[email protected] and
[email protected] and with Subject Line designation as: "Eyeglass Sources Sought Response (Co Name)" or a hard copy mailed to: US Department of Veterans Affairs, Hampton VAMC, VISN 6 CAS, 100 Emancipation Drive, Bldg. 27, Attn: Ms. Marchelle Peyton/Larry Lapp, Hampton, VA 23667. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than 1:00 PM (EST), 02/28/2013. This notice is to assist the VA in determining sources only. A solicitation is not currently available. If a solicitation is issued, it will be announced separately from this Sources Sought Announcement.