This is Not a Solicitation Announcement. This is a Request for Information Only. This Request for Information (RFI) is intended for information and planning purposes only at this time; and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since this is Request for Information announcement, no evaluation letters and or results will be issued to respondents. No solicitation exits. Therefore, do no request a copy of the solicitation. The Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 4, Network Contracting Office 4 (NCO 4), is seeking information and potential qualified/verified Small Businesses capable of meeting requirement and salient characteristics below for the Brand Name or Equal purchase of Champion Model EUCC8 or equivalent Commercial Dishwasher. This piece of equipment is heavily used three times daily for approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours each time, so we are relying on it upwards of 6 hours per day. The ability to wash and effectively sanitize plates, trays, and cutlery is essential to eliminate any risk of foodborne illness. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS: REQUIREMENTS Dishwasher will replace the existing unit in form, fit, and function. Include installation. Proposals shall be the Champion Model EUCC8 Steam or equivalent. CAPABILITIES Up to 16,495 dishes per hour Conveyor speed 12.6 fpm Water consumption (max) 141 gph Temperatures (min, F) Wash 150 Power Rinse 160 Aux Rinse 165 Final Rinse 180 Automatic fill tank Steam booster heater Door safety switches SPECIFICATIONS Steam 365 lbs/hr Stainless steel construction 480v/60/3-ph Sections: 2.5 load 2.5 prewash section with external scrap tank with basket 4 wash 4 rinse 2 dual rinse 4 blower 6 unload Length 25 Width 50 including plumbing clearances. (see installation below) 24 side peg belt Idle pump shut off Dual rinse Blower Left to right operations. Hot water connection 3/4 NPT Drain 2 NPT Exhaust connected to building vent Load end 300 CFM Unload end 800 CFM Responses to this RFI should include company name, address, point of contact, phone number, and point of contact e-mail, DUNS Number, Cage Code, size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification code (NAICS) 333318, Other Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing. The Small Business Size Standard for this NAICS code is 1000 employees. Please answer the following questions (1) Please indicate the size status and representations of your business in accordance with the NAICS code 333318, such as but not limited to: Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), Hubzone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.) (2) Is the required equipment available on a Federal Supply Schedule or Government Wide Acquisition Contract?  If so, please include the schedule number.  (3) Are you the manufacturer, distributor, or an equivalent solution to the items being referenced above?  If not, provide additional information shown below.  This is to confirm compliance with the non-manufacturer rule IAW 13 CFR 121.406(b) Nonmanufacturers.  Does your company exceed 500 employees  Primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sells the type of item being supplied;    Take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice;   Provide the items of a small business (4) If your company is a large business, do you have any authorized small business distributors? If so, please provide their company name, telephone, point of Contact and size status (if available).  (5) If your company is a small business and you are an authorized distributor/reseller for the items identified above or an equivalent solution, do you alter; assemble; modify; the items requested in any way? If you do, state how and what is altered; assembled; modified?  (6) If you intend to subcontract any work on this contract, what portion of the total cost will be self-performed/will be performed by your organization? Please provide estimated detailed percentage breakdowns related to subcontracted work and completion of job.  (7) General pricing of your products/solution is encouraged. Pricing will be used for the purpose of market research only. It will not be used to evaluate for any type of award.  (8) Please submit your capabilities in regard to the salient characteristics detailed above and any information pertaining to equal to items to establish capabilities for planning purposes?  (9) Please review salient characteristics/statement of work (if applicable) and provide feedback or suggestions. If none, please reply as N/A.  (10) Please provide your DUNS number.  *** Submissions addressing number (10) should show clear, compelling and convincing*** evidence that all equal to items" meet all the salient characteristics.  This RFI will be conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses must be received via email to [email protected] no later than 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time on April 28, 2021. This notice will help the VA in determining available potential sources only.  Do not contact VA Medical Center staff regarding this requirement, as they are not authorized to discuss this matter related to this procurement action.  All questions will be addressed by the Contractor Officer, Andrea Aultman-Smith.   All firms responding to this Request for Information are advised that their response is not a request for proposal, therefore will not be considered for a contract award.     If a solicitation is issued, information will be posted on the Contracting Opportunities web site for all qualified interested parties at a later date and interested parties must respond to the solicitation to be considered for award.  This notice does not commit the government to contract for any supplies or services.  The government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Request for Information.  Information will only be accepted in writing by e-mail to Contracting Officer Andrea Aultman-Smith at [email protected] DISCLAIMER   This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly.  Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.  Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.   

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