Inactive

This is a Sources Sought notice only. This is not a request for quotes and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. The Government will not provide any reimbursement for responses submitted... This is a Sources Sought notice only. This is not a request for quotes and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. The Government will not provide any reimbursement for responses submitted in response to this Source Sought notice. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.  If a solicitation is issued it shall be announced at a later date, and all interest parties must response to that solicitation announcement separately. Responses to this notice are not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation The purpose of this announcement is to perform market research to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 561720, (S201) with a size standard $19.5 million. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office 1 (NCO 1) is seeking to identify any vendor capable of providing Cleanroom cleaning at the Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury and Brockton VAMCs per the Performance Work Statement below.  This Sources Sought notice provides an opportunity for respondents to submit their capability and availability to provide the requirement described below. Vendors are encouraged to submit information relative to their capabilities to fulfill this requirement, in the form of a statement that addresses the specific requirement identified in this Sources Sought. Information received from this Sources Sought shall be utilized to facilitate the Contracting Officer s review of the market base, for acquisition planning, size determination, and procurement strategy. Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by 12PM EST, March 3, 2023. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to issa.shawki@va.gov with Sources Sought #36C24123Q0420 in the subject line. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Interested parties should complete the attached Sources Sought Worksheet. Parties may submit additional information related to their capabilities, provided it contains all the requirements contained in the Sources Sought Worksheet. Responses to this Sources Sought shall not exceed 8 pages. In addition, all submissions should be provided electronically in a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.      Attachment 1 Sources Sought Worksheet QUALIFICATION INFORMATION: Company / Institute Name: _______________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________ Phone Number: ________________________________________________________________ Point of Contact: _______________________________________________________________ E-mail Address: ________________________________________________________________ Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) #: ___________________________________________________ CAGE Code: __________________________________________________________________ SAM Registered: (Y / N) Other available contract vehicles applicable to this sources sought (GSA/FSS/NASA SEWP/ETC): __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS: VIP Verified SDVOSB: (Y / N)  VIP Verified VOSB: (Y / N) 8(a): (Y / N) HUBZone: (Y / N) Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business: (Y / N) Women-Owned Small Business: (Y / N) Small Business: (Y / N) NOTE: Respondent claiming SDVOSB and VOSB status shall be registered and Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) verified in VetBiz Registry www.vetbiz.gov. BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SDVOSB, VOSB, SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. CAPABILITY STATEMENT: Provide a brief capability and interest in providing the service as listed in Attachment 2 PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT with enough information to determine if your company can meet the requirement. The capabilities statement for this Sources Sought is not a Request for Quotation, Request for Proposal, or Invitation for Bid, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach, but rather the Government is requesting a short statement regarding the company s ability to provide the services outlined in the PWS. Any commercial brochures or currently existing marketing material may also be submitted with the capabilities statement. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Government will not pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Attachment 2 PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT Cleanroom Cleaning, Rental Garments and Consumable Supplies Introduction: The VA Boston Healthcare System currently prepares and compounds necessary intravenous medications (and other sterile products) to assigned patients. As a healthcare facility, the pharmacy is required to provide these compounded products according to all relevant USP compounding guidelines including USP 797/800. For this to be done, a multidisciplinary approach has been adopted to provide safe compounded medications. Included in this multidisciplinary approach is the requirement for cleanroom cleaning and related services. Cleanroom cleaning and related services (rental/laundered cleanroom garments and cleanroom consumable supplies) are required at 3 Boston area healthcare facilities. This must be accomplished according to Industry Standards, VA Boston Non-Hazardous Compounding Procedures standard operating procedure (SOP) and applicable USP guidelines. Background: The VA Boston Healthcare System has three separate campuses: VAMC Jamaica Plain, 150 South Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130, VAMC Brockton, 940 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301 and VAMC West Roxbury, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132. Each location has a compounding suite that adheres strictly to USP guidelines. Adhering to the applicable directives referenced below helps reduce the potential for bacterial contamination of compounded products. Scope: Contractor shall provide all necessary personnel, supervision, labor, equipment, materials (i.e. mops, low linting mop covers, low linting cloths, etc.), cleaning chemical solutions, training aids/supplies, disposal and all other supporting material (Including appropriate cleanroom garments for contractor personnel) necessary to successfully support the Boston VA Healthcare System (VABHS) USP Compounding areas. All services shall be performed in accordance with the Performance Work Statement, terms and conditions specified in the solicitation and the applicable directives described below. The resulting contract will cover a minimum of twelve (12) months from start date. The company must be able to provide primary services as called out in this performance work statement and the VA Boston Non-Hazardous Compounding Procedures Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The contractor (per evaluation by the Contracting Officer) must be financially responsible, show evidence of their reliability, ability and experience performing the required services in support of sterile compounding USP environments. The Contractor and personnel directly employed (or any employee/vendor supervised by the contractor) must render prompt, detailed service in accordance with the applicable directives referenced in this document. The Contractor shall be licensed by the State or local health authority in those localities where licenses are required. Contractor personnel shall be trained appropriately and deemed competent for performance of work under this contract. Each serviceman designated by the Contractor to perform work under this contract shall be cleared for access through restricted areas of customer s facilities. The Contractor shall conform to all Federal, State, VA and local regulations governing the required services in support of USP environments. This includes the use of any related chemicals and equipment. The company must furnish a copy of state certification to perform said service contracted. The company must provide competencies for all employee(s) who will be designated to perform cleaning and related services to the VA Boston Healthcare System. The company must provide documentation to the Contracting Officer prior to performing any work under the contract. The company must provide all chemical (MSDS) or control substance used to perform service with the Contracting Officer s Representative (COR) and the COR s on site representatives at each location or other on duty Pharmacy personnel from each campus. All company servicemen shall have their name (and their company s name) always indicated on their uniform and a VA contractor name badge. In cases when contractor has two or more employees reporting to work, one of these employees shall be designated as a supervisor/foreman. The supervisor shall be fully knowledgeable of the work site to perform cleaning procedures as outlined on the applicable directives. On each visit the company servicemen shall report to the COR or his designee prior to performing services. The employee(s) shall provide approved cleaning services on a routine basis without deviation. These services may be discussed and agreed upon by the employees of each department and the approved contractor. If services are interrupted the contractor must contact pharmacy management within the pharmacy department to provide a follow-up date and time to complete cleaning procedures per protocol. At time of contract award the Contractor will be supplied with a list of the COR s on site representatives for each location. Period of Performance: Base year plus 4 option years. Applicable Directives: USP 797 (Most Recent Version) USP 800, Hazardous Compounding (Most Recent Version) VA Boston Non-Hazardous Compounding Procedures (Revised 6/10/2015) Vendor will stay appraised of current related USP directives to ensure optimal cleaning and related services in support to VA Boston Health Care Facilities. Vendor will keep the COR informed on relevant changes to USP guidance to facilitate continuous improvement. Performance Requirements (Tasks): Description of Services: Cleanroom Cleaning and Related Services (Rental/Laundered Cleanroom Garments and Cleanroom Consumable Supplies) Clean Room Cleaning (Sterile Maintenance) The required cleaning is to be performed daily with an approved cleaning solution and monthly with a sporicidal. These services must be provided: Monday through Friday (excluding federal holidays) between the hours of 8:00 am 5pm, as negotiated with the COR s specific site representative. Emergency cleanings may be required outside of these regular hours. Emergency cleanings will be decided upon by the individual VA Boston campus employee(s) according to the environmental management reports (Environmental Monitoring /Reporting is outside the scope of this requirement). Contractor must log in when reporting into pharmacy cleanroom to perform service and log out after service is conducted. The contractor must provide written documentation of what service was provided (i.e. what cleaning solution was used) at the completion of each service. The contractor will provide a receipt of service prior to leaving the campus. All personal servicing VA BHS must complete appropriate clearance through VA BHS security process. Vendor workers must be on VA BHS access roster prior to entering Pharmacy Compounding space. All employee(s) designated by the contractor must be familiar with and adhere to the applicable directives for this requirement. The work and services include the following: Clean and sanitize ceilings, floors, walls, glass windows and all designated surfaces (i.e. benches, boxes, shelving units and carts) with approved solutions (by both the contractor and pharmacy department) using a low linting clean room spec mopping system. Areas include the exterior of the safety cabinets at each campus and the cabinet trays. The cleaning system (i.e. mops) must not leave the ante room. The solution used must address any presence of bacteria, mold, and yeast as observed on the monthly environmental surface and air sample examinations. If there are more than one solution used by the contractor these solutions must alternate on a weekly basis to address bacterial counts, species identified on quality monitoring reports. Solutions must be diluted on site and contain labeling with the appropriate beyond use dating. Any residue must be wiped with low linting wipes All solutions used in the compounding areas must be approved by the pharmacy department within the VA Boston Healthcare System. MSDS sheets must be provided and posted for all employee(s). Any changes in solutions must be approved by the pharmacy department within the VA Boston Healthcare System. Cleaning of ceilings, walls, and floors will be done with a sporicidal. This will be done once per month during a regular weekly cleaning. Cleaning includes 3 hoods in West Roxbury, 3 hoods in Jamaica Plain and 2 hoods in Brockton. (Interchangeable wording, Hoods = Cabinets). All cleaning is to be performed by trained personnel using the Contractor s equipment and supplies. Contractor will mix all chemicals on site and utilize a monthly cleaning log book to identify what was used and what space was cleaned. All diluents used to dilute solutions must be documented in the cleaning log upon completion of each clean. The correct beyond use dating will be used for all diluted solutions used to clean both ISO 7 and ISO 8 compounding areas. Contractor may utilize a bucket-less mopping system. A single bucket with cleanroom spec single use mop heads is also acceptable (which must not leave the ante room). Applicable directives listed above apply. Note: In the event that Environmental Monitoring identifies a high risk organism in one or more rooms of the compounding suites, the Contacting Officer s Representative (COR) or their site representative from the corresponding campus will coordinate the timing of the re-cleaning/re-testing of the affected area(s) with the respective Contractors and internal departments as necessary. Garment Supply/Laundering All gowns and equipment supplied by the contractor must be delivered to the inpatient pharmacy IV rooms. The contractor will provide the pharmacy department with a receipt of delivery. If the delivery of gowns is delayed (i.e. due to weather) a follow up date must be provided by the contractor in a timely manner. The contractor will provide the pharmacy department with a receptacle to contain both clean and used jumpsuits at each location. Cleanroom garments associated laundering and related consumable products will be needed as follows: Rental/Laundered Garments The contractor shall provide garments suitable for USP environments to all sites to include Brockton, West Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain. The total count of employees will be 55. Each employee will have 7 garments. To include monthly service, processing, pick-up, delivery, inventory management and standard stocking. Based on the numbers, the initial outfitting rental quantity of the following garment will be 385 Required Garments: White Maxima ESD Coverall w/zip front/knit cuffs or equal Contractor will visit the VAMC immediately after award and before the first delivery to measure each employee for the correct fit. The garments will be cleaned and maintained by the contractor. Provide replacement of dirty garment (laundry) as an established rotation. The contractor (at no charge to the Government) will replace any garments that require replacement due to normal wear. Garment quantities may be increased or decreased upon written or verbal request of VA COR. Upon the termination or expiration of any resulting contract, VA BHS agrees to return all remaining merchandise to the Contractor. If it is determined that garments have been lost or misplaced at VA BHS based on vendor product inventory cycles, the vendor is to contact the COR to establish and confirm that items are irretrievable before payment is made for lost or missing items. Quantities provided are estimated quantities. Quoted pricing will be provided on a per cost per unit basis at the estimated quantity levels provided. Monthly invoicing will be based on actual quantities processed each month. Consumable Cleanroom Supplies to be stocked and replenished by Contractor daily or as needed at each location (The quantities referenced below represent the combined quantities for all 3 locations): Contractor Personnel Security Requirements: Contractor employees who have access to the VA Boston Healthcare System shall be the subject of a background investigation and must receive a favorable adjudication from the VA Office of Security and Law Enforcement prior to contract performance. The requirement is applicable to all subcontractor personnel requiring the same access. If the investigation is not completed prior to the start of the contract, the Contractor will be responsible for the actions of the individuals who perform on the contract. Position Sensitivity - The position sensitivity has been designated as low risk. Background Investigation - The level of background investigation commensurate with the required level of access is National Agency Check with Written Inquiries. Agency Responsibilities: The Contracting Officer will initiate the Background Investigation request into the Security and Investigations Center (SIC). Vendor Responsibilities: The Contractor has two key responsibilities: getting all employees who will work in a VA facility electronically fingerprinted at a local VA hospital and having those same employees fill out the E-QIP questionnaire that will be emailed to them once the contracting officer initiates the investigation. When the request is submitted the Contractor Request Database will generate an "initial" email with the website link and instructions to all email addresses listed on the request worksheet. This email will indicate what level of investigation was requested and how to complete the process. This is not considered an initiated investigation at this point. A case is not initiated until we have received a complete security package from the contract employee and can forward that security package to OPM. e. Time Frames: Below is a breakdown by level of each investigation handled by the SIC. Times frames may vary due to OPM. Low Risk (NACI) The case is only open for 30 days except in rare occasions when something in the person's background requires an extension. This investigation is done by mail and that is why we must be so stringent with the paperwork. The average turn around on these cases is 45 days. Contractor Quality Control and Assurance Requirements: The Contractor will be required to provide their Quality Control and Assurance program. This program shall detail all steps required to maintain and continuously provide a clean room environment in accordance with published criteria for USP Sterile Compounding areas. The Government intends to take the Contractors Quality Control Plan and implement it in the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). Please see provision 52.212-2 for further instructions on how to submit to the Contracting Officer.