THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. This is not a request for proposals. A solicitation will not be issued at this time. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) has a requirement for a Clearvue (or equal) glass coverslipper. The intent of the procurement is to award a firm-fixed price contract. The Statement of Work (SOW) defines the effort required for the purchase and delivery of the equipment to the Tucson VA. The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service requires a fully automated glass coverslipper which will be used by both Histology and Cytology Technicians to apply glass coverslips to microscope slides on which patient specimens have been placed and stained. These two departments do not apply the same of mounting media when coverslipping. This instrument allows the Histology and Cytology departments to each store their own program for the amount of media, type and position of coverslip needed for their slides. The instrument chooses the appropriate program to use via optical camera recognition of the color of the basket that the slides were placed in when inserted in Coverslipper. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Due to limited bench space, the coverslipper must be free standing and have physical dimensions of approximately 23 L x 26 W x 20 H. EQUIPMENT FUNCTIONALITY Ability to coverslip two different sample types from histology and cytology without manually changing the mountant setting. Optical recognition and positioning of slides within the basket. Applies varying amount of mounting media based on basket recognition using optical camera. Slide grippers that do not interfere with paper labels which are used by both departments. Two position placement for 40 mm coverslips (far-end and central). Ability to load up to five baskets at a time. Able to hold up to eleven baskets at a time. Preloaded hoppers holding 500 coverslips. User interface with touch-screen technology. Battery back-up to complete work at-hand. Vapor control for mounting media fumes. SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE Vendor shall provide standard one-year warranty from date of shipment. Vendor shall define daily, weekly, monthly, and as needed maintenance and the time required to perform each maintenance task. Vendor shall indicate which tasks are user level and which are service level. TRAINING: The vendor shall provide on-site training for general use and maintenance of the special stainer for all Histopathology and Cytology Technicians that use the coverslipper. SOUTHERN ARIZONA VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM (SAVAHCS): VAMC: 3601 S 6th Ave, Tucson AZ 85723 The applicable NAICS code is 339113 Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing. Small Business manufacturers for this NAICS code have a size standard of 750 employees.  The resulting contract will be a firm fixed price order. The term of the contract is intended to be 30 calendar days ARO, with no options included. It is anticipated that a Request for Quotes will be issued in July, 2017. Award of a firm fixed price contract is contemplated by August, 2017. This notice is published to conduct market research to determine if there is a sufficient number of certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), or Small Businesses (SB) capable of performing the requirements to warrant a socio-economic set-aside or full & open competition. It is strongly recommended that interested parties register in the US Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Biz database and the Small Business Administration (SBA) database. Registration may be accomplished at http://www.vip.vetbiz.gov/ and www.sba.gov/, respectively. Interested parties responding to this sources sought request shall submit the following information at a minimum: (1) company name and address, point of contact with phone number, and DUNS number; (2) documentation relating to capability of performance of residential renovation projects (including references); (3) intentions of subcontracting program to include set-asides; (4) proof of registration in the VA Vet Biz or SBA web`sites or intention of registration prior to submission of offers to a solicitation; (5) documentation on company s bonding capacity and limitations; and (6) any other pertinent company documentation. The response date to this Sources Sought notice is July 26th, 2017 at 16:00 AZ time. This market research is for informational and planning purposes only to determine if a socio-economic set-aside, or full & open competition, or sole-source procurement is appropriate. The Government will not pay any costs for responses submitted. Electronic submissions are acceptable via [email protected]. Hard copy submissions are acceptable to VISN 18 Network Contracting Office; 777 E Missouri Ave, Suite #300, Phoenix AZ 85014. NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE OTHER THAN WHAT IS NOTED HEREIN. ALL FIRMS ARE INSTRUCTED NOT TO CALL THE INDIVIDUAL VA MEDICAL CENTERS REQUESTING MORE INFORMATION.

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