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The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Network Contracting Office 22 (NCO 22) is conducting a market survey and is seeking potential sources for the delivery and dis... The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Network Contracting Office 22 (NCO 22) is conducting a market survey and is seeking potential sources for the delivery and dispensing of laundry chemicals for the Phoenix Arizona VA Health Care System via a Base Plus Four Year Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract. This Sources Sought Notice is issued for information and planning purposes only. This is not a solicitation or a request for proposal and shall not be construed as an obligation or commitment by the Government. An award will not be made on any offers submitted in response to this notice, and it shall not be implied the Government is committed to providing any solicitation or award following this notice. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this request, nor will the Government compensate a respondent for any costs incurred in developing the information provided. Responses shall be submitted to shannon.mcniel@va.gov NLT August 31st, 2020 @ 1630 AZ time. This notice is intended strictly for market research. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to determine interest and capability of potential qualified sources of supply and determine the socioeconomic size classification of the supplier and manufacturer of the end item. PURPOSE To provide all labor, material, tools, parts, equipment, operating and/or Technical/maintenance manuals, training, delivery, and accessories necessary to furnish and install washroom chemicals in the Carl T. Hayden, Veterans Administration Medical Center Laundry department. This project includes but is not limited to the following work elements; all labor, equipment, materials and incidentals to be furnished by the Contractor necessary to meet the terms and conditions of this contract. This includes installation of equipment necessary to deliver the correct chemical formulas to the following equipment which includes: (4) Four 650 Lb. Pellerin Milnor Washer-Extractors (1) One 450 Lb. Pellerin Milnor Washer-Extractor (2) Two 95 Lb. Pellerin Milnor Washer-Extractors (1) One Cart Washer. No alterations, additions or deletions shall be made unless prior written approval is given by the Contracting Officer (CO). The Contractor shall thoroughly review the request for constructability and advise of possible problem areas prior to submitting a cost proposal. The Contractor shall provide supervision for the full duration of the project. Contractor shall provide a Quality Assurance (QA) person and shall inspect, test, and perform duties consistent with the Contractor s submitted quality assurance program. The Contractor shall submit a list of all products used (including any Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)) to the COR before any and all items are brought or installed on projects. DESCRIPTION OF WORK This project will consist of the following elements: The establishment of all labor and materials necessary for storage and installation of equipment for the following: Supply and Installation of the mounting equipment. Chemicals shall be stored in day tanks in the provided cage. The Contractor is responsible for devising an adequate storage system to house chemicals in the space provided. The distribution off chemical hoses from the chemical storage area to the washers using approved braided hoses housed in a leak proof trough from the entry point of the building to the washing machines. A check linen quality and production flow Check for rewash rate in % Evaluate rewash in terms of stains, soil types, ironer, dryer, finisher issues Check machine and dryer loading & identify any bottleneck in production flow Check finishing quality, compare with agreed targets Evaluate topics for improvement in terms of operational efficiency and flow Ask for standard quality topics (test fabrics, ISO documentation etc.) A check production figures: HELMS, PMR s, Water and Energy Collect batch numbers and loading Evaluate production data and compare with standard & previous periods Print productivity reports and prepare for management discussion A check and recording of the following on a monthly basis Water softness Chlorine strength Wash titrations verifying each formula on the machine pH testing of washed linens water temperatures. Evaluate the average chemical cost of the laundry over all linen categories and compare with targets Regular Consumption and Inventory Report for Accounts compared with agreed targets Establish product consumption vs. washed linen volume Evaluate these parameters: Total chemical consumption for each product Total chemical consumption per cwt Average chemical consumption in cwt for each product Chemical cost per cwt Additional information if required Service Check Points Water quality (hardness and heavy metals) Check press or extract water of all washer-extractors (conductivity, pH-value, temperature) Machinery check (water levels, leaks, temperature gauges, run times) Safety Equipment Check (MSDS, Personal Protective Equipment etc.) Work with engineering to identify and solve problems Identify issues, determine measures to solve them, document and report to laundry manager Identify action list and agree target date for completion in coordination with laundry & engineering dept., report to laundry manager upon completion Dispenser Check repair and document Leaks, operation, safety issues Check for operational efficiency of sensors, pick-up probes, membranes, valves etc. Repair faults and document them Perform titrations and calibrations per industry standards of all dispensers Check all relevant wash processes Check all critical wash processes Washer extractors if needed Complete documentation of service visit Look for details, document all issues and determine who is responsible for what Notify management on all issues to solve or improve What value was delivered and was money saved? Targets achieved? Report to Laundry Management Report all relevant issues Report about all activity of site visit go through action plan and objectives that are result of visit Establish the report and forward via email Review performance with Laundry plant manager action list next visit s objectives Present innovative solutions from your market knowledge Feedback interview with Laundry Plant Manager Every six months What has happened? Are both parties happy with service visits? Where are we? Where do we want to go? Are expectations being met? The Contractor shall provide documentation of all chemical formulas for linen classifications in a book to be used to verify formulas on a random basis. PROJECT SCOPE The government assumes that for all intents and purposes most like-chemicals are the same and customer service is the vital portion of the contract. The Contractor shall recognize that the award of this contract is a partnership and that the government will rely on the Contractor expertise to make suggestions to improve laundry operations. Examples include but not limited to: Recommendations of new or alternate chemicals that will extend the life span of the linens The supply and maintenance of a modern chemical delivery system that provides proof of delivery to each washer and can be monitored over the internet. The chemicals expected to be provided are the minimum requirements; chemicals may be substituted for higher quality/higher performing chemicals. Periodic touring the production floor to see the linens under different lighting conditions monitoring stain, discoloration, Linting, Tensile Strength etc. and determine if the issue is chemical, mechanical or operator error. Relevant suggestions to give the facility the opportunity to keep pace with recent industry standard changes. Recommendations in either processes or formulas to assist the government to reduce utility usage. The installation and maintenance of all dispensing equipment. Equipment shall be capable of providing complete and accurate formula summaries, daily totals of formulas processed, total amount of chemical used, total of wash formulas processed, total poundage processed, proof of delivery for all wash formulas and wash steps, automated calibration of each chemical delivered to the wash aisle, no peristaltic pumps, and water flush on each chemical delivery. Any changes to the building to accommodate performance of the system will at the Contractor s expense The service and maintenance of equipment including monitoring chemical levels monthly. It is the responsibility of the government to report to the Contractor any issues regarding washed linen and equipment malfunction. It is the Contractor s responsibility to respond to any call with-in (1) one hour and have someone on site with-in (4) four hours of the call. The vendor shall provide the government with a phone number to access technical support from qualified technical support personnel, (7) seven days a week, (24) twenty-four hours a day. Technical Support is defined as support provided by the vendor to the government to address items such as (but not limited to): Chemicals not reaching the washers Linen not being washed to acceptable standards (examples include but not limited to grey linens, stains, streaking) Excessive lint Excessive static DELIVERABLES Reports: The reports shall contain at a minimum the following information: Perform and record the following on a Monthly basis. Water Softness Chlorine strength Wash titrations verifying each formula on each machine PH testing of washed linens Tensile Strength Whiteness Retention Water temperature must be maintained at or below 140 degrees F. Consumption and inventory reports Equipment condition reports Account summary reports Perform and record the follow Linen testing on a quarterly basis. All textile testing IAW ALM current test procedures Textile clean testing IAW TSRA hygienically clean standards Conduct microbiological analysis of cleaned linen items Stained linen is a reality in a laundry environment however the rate of stain should always be below 2%. The Contractor shall monitor and: Document and report stain Percentage Document and report type of stain and use whatever testing necessary to determine a solution maintaining the linen replacement to at or below 10% Perform chemical formula modification to reduce stain rates to acceptable levels. Equipment: The chemical dispensing equipment will be the sole exclusive property of the Contractor. Contractor must furnish, install, calibrate and service laundry dispensing equipment at no charge. Contractor must guarantee that the product sold under this agreement shall meet manufacturer s standard specification then in effect and shall be fit for the uses and purposes described in the SOW. Contractor must provide general and specific use instructions on use of the products. Protection The successful Contractor must provide and periodically replace the necessary Personal Protective Equipment to protect government employees from injury during chemical transfer to include face shields, protective footwear and protective aprons/gowns as required. The Contractor is responsible to ensure the MSDS for each chemical provided. The Contractor shall provide any protective methodology or devices necessary to protect from damage due to electrical power problems, including brownouts, emergency power interruptions, electrical surges, sags and electrical storms, and data loss. Training: The Contractor is responsible for providing on-site orientation and training of using personnel in operation and care of the equipment furnished. This training shall include actual demonstration and operation of the equipment, preventive maintenance, and any adjustments or other actions which may be undertaken by operating personnel in the event of failure of equipment, provided that such adjustment or action shall in no way jeopardize the Government' rights under contract guarantee clause. Upon completion of installation, this training shall be given by qualified Contractor representatives on a date to be determined by the Contracting Officer s Technical Representative. The Contractor shall provide one-on-one or one-on-many training on an as-needed basis to support the government s regular use. Training may include water softness, wash formula titration and PH testing and minor maintenance to minimize down time. BRAND NAME or EQUAL Chemicals to be used: (the quantities are estimates ONLY: Luminate Alkali, 55 GL drum Product must be NSF registered Product must be free of EDTA, Phosphates, and NPEs Product must have a blend of surfactants to ensure linens are left smelling fresh and clean Product must be safe on today s fabrics spun poly, poly/cotton blends, micro-fibers & colors Remedy, detergent, 55 GL drum Product must have a unique blend of liquid non-ionic detergents so it can lift tough soils from cotton & polyester blends. Product must have fluorescent brighteners Product needs to have deep cleaning & emulsifying action to help prevent graying & yellowing of fabrics Product needs to be formulated to give a high level of detergency without the use of phosphates or NPE's Product needs to be effective on all fabrics Product needs to be designed for the demands of tunnel washers, providing effective cleaning over a wide range of temperatures without over foaming Turbobrite, Bleach, Chlorinated 10.0%, 55 GL Drum Product must be a high-purity, stabilizer that is hypochlorite-based stain remover designed for use with liquid injection systems. Product needs to be compatible with detergents and alkalis so that the product can combine the bleach and wash steps to be more efficient and a time-savings. Product must be a concentrated oxidizer that has a low viscosity that makes it easy to pump and efficient to use. Product must be a free-rinsing formula Advacare Disinfectant Sour, 55 GL Drum Product must have a Proven5-log kill (99.999%) rate Product must help prevent cross-contamination in wash water Product must be a powerful stain removal that does not set stains caused by antiseptic antimicrobial Product must have effective performance at 140°F (60°C) to help reduce energy costs Advacare Resid Bacstat, 55 GL Drum Product must prevent the spread of pathogens Product must eliminate odors Turbofresh, Softener, 55 GL Drum Product must be a concentrated fabric softener. Product must speed extraction and drying to help reduce wrinkles and static cling Product must fluff and refresh terry fabrics TurboTex, Antichlor, 55 GL Drum Product must be a highly concentrated liquid rinse additive developed for automatic liquid dispensing systems where an antichlor is needed to neutralize bleach residues. Product must prevent chlorine damage Advacare Fluid Repellant, 15 GL Drum Product should create an invisible, fluid-resistant shield for an added layer of safety Product must make soiled laundry easier to disinfect Product must be able to withstand steam-heat sterilization Mikro-Quat Detergent, 1 Gallon 4/Case Product is a quaternary detergent, germicide and deodorizer  Product provides an excellent detergent action, suspends and emulsifies grease and difficult soils. Product must also be an excellent deodorizer that neutralizes unpleasant odors and destroys odor causing bacteria. Rinse/Dry Agent Cart Wash, 1 Gallon 4/Case Product should consistent performer in soft to hard water conditions Product must be gentle on plastic Product should be spotless and promotes sheeting action and faster dry times Base Year Line Item Description QTY 0001 Liquid Alkaline Builders 55 Gallon Drum 34 0002 Liquid Detergent 55 Gallon Drum 26 0003 Liquid Bleaches 55 Gallon Drum 8 0004 Liquid Disinfectant/Sour 55 Gallon Drum 36 0005 Liquid Bacteriostatic 55 Gallon Drum 8 0006 Liquid Softener 55 Gallon Drum 5 0007 Liquid Antichlor 55 Gallon Drum 5 0008 Liquid Fluid Repellant 15 Gallon Drum 15 0009 Mikro-Quat Cart wash Detergent 1-gal 18 0010 Rinse / Dry agent cart wash 1-Gal 18 Option Year One Line Item Description QTY 0001 Liquid Alkaline Builders 55 Gallon Drum 34 0002 Liquid Detergent 55 Gallon Drum 26 0003 Liquid Bleaches 55 Gallon Drum 8 0004 Liquid Disinfectant/Sour 55 Gallon Drum 36 0005 Liquid Bacteriostatic 55 Gallon Drum 8 0006 Liquid Softener 55 Gallon Drum 5 0007 Liquid Antichlor 55 Gallon Drum 5 0008 Liquid Fluid Repellant 15 Gallon Drum 15 0009 Mikro-Quat Cart wash Detergent 1-gal 18 0010 Rinse / Dry agent cart wash 1-Gal 18 Option Year Two Line Item Description QTY 0001 Liquid Alkaline Builders 55 Gallon Drum 34 0002 Liquid Detergent 55 Gallon Drum 26 0003 Liquid Bleaches 55 Gallon Drum 8 0004 Liquid Disinfectant/Sour 55 Gallon Drum 36 0005 Liquid Bacteriostatic 55 Gallon Drum 8 0006 Liquid Softener 55 Gallon Drum 5 0007 Liquid Antichlor 55 Gallon Drum 5 0008 Liquid Fluid Repellant 15 Gallon Drum 15 0009 Mikro-Quat Cart wash Detergent 1-gal 18 0010 Rinse / Dry agent cart wash 1-Gal 18 Option Year Three Line Item Description QTY 0001 Liquid Alkaline Builders 55 Gallon Drum 34 0002 Liquid Detergent 55 Gallon Drum 26 0003 Liquid Bleaches 55 Gallon Drum 8 0004 Liquid Disinfectant/Sour 55 Gallon Drum 36 0005 Liquid Bacteriostatic 55 Gallon Drum 8 0006 Liquid Softener 55 Gallon Drum 5 0007 Liquid Antichlor 55 Gallon Drum 5 0008 Liquid Fluid Repellant 15 Gallon Drum 15 0009 Mikro-Quat Cart wash Detergent 1-gal 18 0010 Rinse / Dry agent cart wash 1-Gal 18 Option Year Four Line Item Description QTY 0001 Liquid Alkaline Builders 55 Gallon Drum 34 0002 Liquid Detergent 55 Gallon Drum 26 0003 Liquid Bleaches 55 Gallon Drum 8 0004 Liquid Disinfectant/Sour 55 Gallon Drum 36 0005 Liquid Bacteriostatic 55 Gallon Drum 8 0006 Liquid Softener 55 Gallon Drum 5 0007 Liquid Antichlor 55 Gallon Drum 5 0008 Liquid Fluid Repellant 15 Gallon Drum 15 0009 Mikro-Quat Cart wash Detergent 1-gal 18 0010 Rinse / Dry agent cart wash 1-Gal 18 ***Interested companies shall provide, at a minimum, the following information with their response*** Company Name and Address: Point of Contact (POC) Name: Email Address: Phone Number: DUNS Number: The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 325611 Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing. Mark if your firm is eligible for participation in one of the following small business programs. If so, please indicate the program: [ ] yes [ ] no - Small Business (SB) [ ] yes [ ] no - HUBZone [ ] yes [ ] no - Small Business 8(a) [ ] yes [ ] no - Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) [ ] yes [ ] no - Women-Owned (WO) Small Business [ ] yes [ ] no - Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) [ ] yes [ ] no - Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) [ ] yes [ ] no - Large Business [ ] yes [ ] no - Other (please specify) Please answer the following questions: [ ] yes [ ] no - Does not exceed 500 employees [ ] yes [ ] no - Is primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sells the type of item being supplied; [ ] yes [ ] no - Takes ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice (identify how this occurs); and [ ] yes [ ] no - Will supply the end item of a small business manufacturer, processor or producer made in the United States, or obtains a waiver of such requirement pursuant to paragraph (b)(5) CFR 121.406. Note: Do not include Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information in responses. In addition to providing the information requested above, responding companies are encouraged to include any relevant information (specifications, cut sheets, brochures, capability statement, past experience etc.) to confirm the company s ability to meet the requirements outlined in this request. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract or agreement. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation, or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued.