This is a Sources Sought for planning purposes only and shall not be considered as an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. Your response to this Sources Sought will be treated as information only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise because of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or the Government use of such information. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort.

The quality and quantity of responses to this Sources Sought will help inform whether this notice transitions to a to a Pre-Solicitation Notice.  The information provided may be used by the Department of Veterans Affairs in developing its acquisition approach, statement of work/statement of objectives and performance specifications. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to award a contract because of this Sources Sought Notice, or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Notice.

The purpose of this sources sought announcement is for market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential qualified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), 8(a), HubZone and other Small Businesses interested and capable of providing the services and/or supplies described below.

Documentation of technical expertise must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary functional area expertise and experience to compete for this acquisition. Responses to this notice shall include the following: (a) company name (b) address (c) point of contact (d) phone, fax, and email (e) DUNS number (f) Cage Code (g) Tax ID Number (h) Type of small business, e.g. Services Disabled Veteran Owned small Business, Veteran-owned small business, 8(a), HUBZone, Women Owned Small Business, Small disadvantaged business, or Small Business HUBZone business and (i) must provide a capability statement that addresses the organizations qualifications and ability to perform as a contractor for the work described below.

Specific to this Notice: Vendors should respond with any existing Indefinite Delivery Contract vehicles with the Contract number that they may already have established with the VA or other government agency contracts that allow multi-agency usage (i.e. SEWP, GSA Advantage, and DLA). This should include the existence of a Business Associate Agreement and Memo of Understanding if applicable.

The Network Contracting Office (NCO) 15 located at 3450 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, KS, 66048-5055 is seeking the availability of Contractors who can provide all labor, materials, and transportation necessary to provide for equipment/materials that meet at least the name brand equivalent of or similar of the following:

• Thermo Scientific Forma Series II 3110 Water Jacketed CO2 Incubator, 184 L, Polished Stainless Steel

Interested vendors should provide information that can exhibit minimum levels of technical capability. Information below should be provided:

1. Certification of authorized distribution or status as the manufacturer of Thermo Scientific Forma Series II 3110 Water Jacketed CO2 Incubator and other items listed or any name brand equivalent of similar items
2. If applicable, any government contract vehicles available with the same or similar items identified by Contract # and equipment or part number
3. Socio-economic Status for NAICS Code 334516
4. UEI number
5. Technical Statement with equipment and logistic capability.

Currently a full and open market acquisition is being considered. However, the quality and quantity of interest to this notice should help the Veteran’s Administration in their consideration of Public Law 109, Section 8127 Veterans Benefit Act and VAAR 808.002 (Class Deviation), Priorities for use of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and FAR 13.104 Promoting Competition to the maximum extent.

Notice to potential offerors: All offerors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM located on the web at www.sam.gov). Additionally, all Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses or Veteran Owned Businesses who respond must be registered with the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise VetBiz Registry located at http://vip.vetbiz.gov.

Any response to this source sought from Interested parties must be received NLT July 5, 2022. Attention:  Desmond Sysengchanh, Contracting Specialist.  Email:  [email protected]  Phone:  913-946-1986.