Inactive Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)

Request for Quote (RFQ) #: 36C25924Q0800 EXAM TABLES, MONTROSE VA CLINIC This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as su... Request for Quote (RFQ) #: 36C25924Q0800 EXAM TABLES, MONTROSE VA CLINIC This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The Government reserves the right to make no award from this solicitation. * The deadline for all questions is 3:00pm MST, 13 Sep 2024. All questions must be submitted in writing to eric.ayers@va.gov no later than the question cut-off date marked above. All questions will be answered officially through an amendment to the solicitation. ** Quotes are to be provided to eric.ayers@va.gov no later than 3:00pm MST, 16 Sep 2024. Quotes shall not be hand carried. Faxed quotes shall not be accepted. Emailed quotes are the only method of submitted quotes (4MB email limit). The Government reserves the right to make award solely on initial Quotes received. Offerors bear the burden of ensuring that all portions of the offer (and any authorized amendments) reach the designated office before the deadline specified in the solicitation. This RFQ shall be completed in its entirety, and signed and dated, failure shall not be considered for award. This is a Request for Quote (RFQ) and the solicitation number is 36C25924Q0800. The government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed price contract resulting from this solicitation. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-07 effective August 29, 2024. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 339113 with a small business size standard of 800 Employees. This solicitation is a 100% set-aside for Small Businesses. List of Line Items; Line Item Description Quantity Unit of Measure Unit Price Total Price 0001 Model 630 Procedure Table (or equivalent), Programmable w/Receptacle, w/o top 4 EA $ $ 0002 Model 630 Top Premium 32 in Mineral 832, Standard Upholstery (or equivalent 4 EA 0003 Model 630 Chair Arms, 32 in Mineral 832, Standard Upholstery (or) equivalent 4 EA 0004 Model 630 Casters Set of 4 (or equivalent) 4 SE Grand Total $ Description of Requirements for the items to be acquired: SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS Barrier free entry/exit with height adjust at least as low as 18 Height adjustable at least up to 40 650 lb weight capacity Automatic adjustment/profiling for head and back support for increased patient comfort Powered footrest extension Footrest cradles feet for comfort Seat tilt angle range 0*-80* Back Support Angle Range: 0*-80* Foot support angle range: 0*-90* Positions include at minimum lithotomy, elevated flat, Trendelenburg 32 wide seat 31 wide back 12 wide articulating headrest, rectangular shaped 23 wide footrest Patient support surface length in flat position: at least 72 -76 Stirrups included Electrical rating: 115/ 230 VAC, 9/4.5 A, 50/60 Hz Programmable positions: 4 Hand and foot wireless controls 2 Hospital grade duplex outlets 350* table rotation Procedure chair is used by multiple disciplines for a variety of outpatient procedures Delivery and acceptance are to be F.O.B Destination (FAR 52.247-34) at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, located at: Western CO HCS                Attn: Montrose CBOC                2121 North Ave, Warehouse, bldg. 7                Grand Junction, CO 81501 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors--Commercial Items applies to this acquisition ADDENDUM to FAR 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS COMMERCIAL Gray market items are Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) goods sold through unauthorized channels in direct competition with authorized distributors. This procurement is for new OEM medical supplies, medical equipment and/or services contracts for maintenance of medical equipment (i.e. replacement parts) for VA Medical Centers. No remanufactures or gray market items will be acceptable. Offeror shall be an OEM, authorized dealer, authorized distributor or authorized reseller for the proposed medical supplies, medical equipment and/or services contracts for maintenance of medical equipment (i.e. replacement parts), verified by an authorization letter or other documents from the OEM, such that the OEM s warranty and service are provided and maintained by the OEM. All software licensing, warranty and service associated with the medical supplies, medical equipment and/or services contracts for maintenance of medical equipment shall be in accordance with the OEM terms and conditions. The delivery of gray market items to the VA in the fulfillment of an order/award constitutes a breach of contract. Accordingly, the VA reserves the right enforce any of its contractual remedies. This includes termination of the contract or, solely at the VA s election, allowing the Vendor to replace, at no cost to the Government, any remanufactured or gray market item(s) delivered to a VA medical facility upon discovery of such items. Western CO HCS                Attn: Montrose CBOC                2121 North Ave, Warehouse, bldg. 7                Grand Junction, CO 81501 Any award made as a result of this solicitation will be made on an All or Nothing Basis. State if quoted items are available and priced through offerors existing Government-wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC), GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, or VA-wide Acquisition Contract. If the acquisition is set-aside for SDVOSBs/VOSBs, their socioeconomic status must be VIP verified and visible in the VA Vendor Information Pages (VIP): https://www.vip.vetbiz.gov/ at the time of quote submission AND award, or will be considered non-responsive, and will NOT be considered for award. Offerors are warned against contacting any VA personnel other than the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist prior to placement of any award made resulting from this RFQ. If such contact occurs and found to be prejudicial to competing contactors, the offeror making such contact may be excluded from award considerations. All proprietary information shall be clearly and properly marked. If the Offeror submits annexes, documentation, attachments or the like, not specifically required by this solicitation, such will count against the Offeror s page limitations unless otherwise indicated in the specific volume instructions below. All information shall be confined to the appropriate file. The offeror shall confine submissions to essential matters, sufficient to define the quote and provide an adequate basis for evaluation. Offerors are responsible for including sufficient details, in a concise manner, to permit a complete and accurate evaluation of each quote. Submission of quote shall include the following volumes: (I) Technical capability or quality of the item offered to meet the Government requirement; (II) - Completion of Attachment - VAAR Clause 852.219-75/6 VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting-Certificate of Compliance for Services/Supplies and Products (DEVIATION) ; and (III) Price; and (IV) Delivery Lead Time Volume I - Technical capability or quality of the item offered to meet the Government requirement The offeror shall submit specifications, cut sheets, or brochures confirming the equal products, including equal products of the brand name manufacturer submitted, meets or exceeds the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristic specified in this solicitation. The product(s) quoted must be identified by brand name, if any, and make or model number. Volume II - Completion of Attachment - VAAR Clause 852.219-75/6 VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting-Certificate of Compliance for Services/Supplies and Products (DEVIATION) The offeror shall complete the Attachment - VAAR Clause 852.219-75/6 VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting-Certificate of Compliance for Services/Supplies and Products (DEVIATION) and submit as part of the quote. Volume III Price Price - The offeror shall complete the pricing schedule provided in Section (v) above: Price/Cost Schedule. Volume IV Delivery Lead Time The offeror shall state the required number of calendar days to deliver the item, to include installation, if applicable.Use sparingly - Only use if delivery is of such importance the partner is willing to pay additional price. If used, update volume number. Otherwise - delete (End of Addendum to 52.212-1) 52.212-2, Evaluation--Commercial Items applies to this acquisition ADDENDUM to FAR 52.212-2 EVALUATION COMMERCIAL ITEMS: The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government considering price and other factors. The following factors shall be used to evaluate quotations: Factor 1. Technical capability or quality of the item offered to meet the Government requirement Factor 2. Completion of Attachment - VAAR Clause 852.219-75/6 VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting- Certificate of Compliance for Services/Supplies and Products (DEVIATION) Factor 3. Price Factor 4. Delivery Lead TimeUse sparingly - Only use if delivery is of such importance the partner is willing to pay additional price. If used, update Factor #. Otherwise - delete Evaluation Approach. The Government will evaluate quotations using the comparative evaluation process outlined in FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), where quotations will be compared to one another to determine which provides the best benefit to the Government. The Government reserves the right to consider a quotation other than the lowest price that provides additional benefit(s). Quotations may exceed minimum requirements of the solicitation. The Government reserves the right to select a quotation that provides benefit to the Government that exceeds the minimum requirements of the solicitation but is not required to do so. Each response must meet the minimum requirements of the solicitation. The Government is not requesting or accepting alternate quotations. The evaluation will consider the following: Factor 1. Technical capability or quality of the item offered to meet the Government requirement: The quotation will be evaluated to the extent to which it can meet and/or exceed the Government s requirements as outlined in the solicitation and based on the information requested in the instructions to quoters section of the solicitation. Factor 2. Completion of Attachment - VAAR Clause 852.219-75/6 VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting-Certificate of Compliance for Services/Supplies and Products (DEVIATION) : The Government will evaluate the responses an offeror makes to Attachment - VAAR Clause 852.219-75/6 VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting-Certificate of Compliance for Services/Supplies and Products (DEVIATION) for completeness. If an offeror fails to complete Attachment - VAAR Clause 852.219-75/6 VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting-Certificate of Compliance for Services/Supplies and Products (DEVIATION) their quote will be determined ineligible for award. Factor 3. Price: The Government will evaluate the price by adding the total of all line item prices, including all options. The Government may use various price analysis techniques and procedures to make a price reasonableness determination. Offers that do not meet or exceed the technical capability or quality of the item offered to the Government requirement shall not be selected regardless of price. Factor 4. Delivery Lead Time: The Government will evaluate delivery lead time and select the quoter/offer whose delivery lead time is most advantageous to the Government. The Government may consider an award to other than the lowest priced quoter/offeror if it s in the best interest of the Government.Use sparingly - Only use if delivery is of such importance the partner is willing to pay additional price. If used, update Factor #. Otherwise - delete (End of Addendum to 52.212-2) 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website located at https://www.sam.gov/portal in accordance with FAR 52.212-3, Offerors Representations and Certifications Commercial Items. If paragraph (j) of the provision is applicable, a written submission is required. Offerors must be registered in SAM at time of offer submission. 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items applies to this acquisition 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items (JUL 2020) applies to this acquisition FAR 52.212-5 applies to this acquisition with the following FAR clauses incorporated by reference; FAR 52.204-10 Reporting Executive Compensation & First-Tier Subcontract Awards (JUN 2020) FAR 52.204-16 Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (AUG 2020) FAR 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (OCT 2020) FAR 52.209-6 Protecting the Government s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (JUN 2020) FAR 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (NOV 2020) FAR 52.219-28 Post Award Small Business Program Representation (NOV 2020) FAR 52.219-33 Nonmanufacturer Rule (MAR 2020) FAR 52.222-3 Convict Labor (JUN 2003) FAR 52.222-19 Child Labor Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (JUL 2020) FAR 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015) FAR 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (SEP 2016) FAR 52.222-35 Equal Opportunity for Veterans (JUN 2020) FAR 52.222-36 Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (JUN 2020) FAR 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Veterans (JUN 2020) FAR 52.222-40 Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (DEC 2010) FAR 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons (OCT 2020) FAR 52.223-18 Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (JUN 2020) FAR 52.225-1 Buy American Supplies (JAN 2021) FAR 52.225-13 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (JUN 2008) FAR 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer System for Award Management (Oct 2018) Additional contract requirements or terms and conditions: 52.217-6 Option for Increased Quantity (MAR 1989) The Government may increase the quantity of supplies called for in the Schedule at the unit price specified. The Contracting Office may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor prior to receipt of all items. Delivery of the added items shall continue at the same rate as the like items called for under the contract unless the parties otherwise agree. 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting (a) This clause does not apply to the unrestricted portion of a partial set-aside. (b) Definition. Similarly situated entity, as used in this clause, means a first-tier subcontractor, including an independent contractor, that (1) Has the same small business program status as that which qualified the prime contractor for the award (e.g., for a small business set-aside contract, any small business concern, without regard to its socioeconomic status); and (2) Is considered small for the size standard under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code the prime contractor assigned to the subcontract. (c) Applicability. This clause applies only to (1) Contracts that have been set aside for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3); (2) Part or parts of a multiple-award contract that have been set aside for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3); (3) Contracts that have been awarded on a sole-source basis in accordance with subparts 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, and 19.15; (4) Orders expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold and that are (i) Set aside for small business concerns under multiple-award contracts, as described in 8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F); or (ii) Issued directly to small business concerns under multiple-award contracts as described in 19.504(c)(1)(ii); (5) Orders, regardless of dollar value, that are (i) Set aside in accordance with subparts 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, or 19.15 under multiple-award contracts, as described in 8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F); or (ii) Issued directly to concerns that qualify for the programs described in subparts 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, or 19.15 under multiple-award contracts, as described in 19.504(c)(1)(ii); and (6) Contracts using the HUBZone price evaluation preference to award to a HUBZone small business concern unless the concern waived the evaluation preference. (d) Independent contractors. An independent contractor shall be considered a subcontractor. (e) Limitations on subcontracting. By submission of an offer and execution of a contract, the Contractor agrees that in performance of a contract assigned a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for (1) Services (except construction), it will not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities. Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count towards the prime contractor's 50 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded. When a contract includes both services and supplies, the 50 percent limitation shall apply only to the service portion of the contract; (2) Supplies (other than procurement from a nonmanufacturer of such supplies), it will not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance, excluding the cost of materials, to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities. Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count towards the prime contractor's 50 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded. When a contract includes both supplies and services, the 50 percent limitation shall apply only to the supply portion of the contract; (3) General construction, it will not pay more than 85 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance, excluding the cost of materials, to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities. Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count towards the prime contractor's 85 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded; or (4) Construction by special trade contractors, it will not pay more than 75 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance, excluding the cost of materials, to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities. Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count towards the prime contractor's 75 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded. (f) The Contractor shall comply with the limitations on subcontracting as follows: (1) For contracts, in accordance with paragraphs (c)(1), (2), (3) and (6) of this clause  By the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end of each subsequent option period; or  By the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract. (2) For orders, in accordance with paragraphs (c)(4) and (5) of this clause, by the end of the performance period for the order. (g) A joint venture agrees that, in the performance of the contract, the applicable percentage specified in paragraph (e) of this clause will be performed by the aggregate of the joint venture participants. (1) In a joint venture comprised of a small business protégé and its mentor approved by the Small Business Administration, the small business protégé shall perform at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. Work performed by the small business protégé in the joint venture must be more than administrative functions. (2) In an 8(a) joint venture, the 8(a) participant(s) shall perform at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. Work performed by the 8(a) participants in the joint venture must be more than administrative functions. (End of clause) 52.225-1 Buy American Supplies (OCT 2022) Definitions. As used in this clause Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item (1) Means any item of supply (including construction material) that is A commercial product (as defined in paragraph (1) of the definition of commercial product at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101; Sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace; and (iii) Offered to the Government, under a contract or subcontract at any tier, without modification, in the same form in which it is sold in the commercial marketplace; and Does not include bulk cargo, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 40102(4), such as agricultural products and petroleum products. Component means an article, material, or supply incorporated directly into an end product. Cost of components means For components purchased by the Contractor, the acquisition cost, including transportation costs to the place of incorporation into the end product (whether or not such costs are paid to a domestic firm), and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free entry certificate is issued); or For components manufactured by the Contractor, all costs associated with the manufacture of the component, including transportation costs as described in paragraph (1) of this definition, plus allocable overhead costs, but excluding profit. Cost of components does not include any costs associated with the manufacture of the end product. Critical component means a component that is mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States and deemed critical to the U.S. supply chain. The list of critical components is at FAR 25.105. Domestic end product means For an end product that does not consist wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both An unmanufactured end product mined or produced in the United States; An end product manufactured in the United States, if The cost of its components mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States exceeds 60 percent of the cost of all its components, except that the percentage will be 65 percent for items delivered in calendar years 2024 through 2028 and 75 percent for items delivered starting in calendar year 2029. Components of foreign origin of the same class or kind as those that the agency determines are not mined, produced, or manufactured in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of a satisfactory quality are treated as domestic. Components of unknown origin are treated as foreign. Scrap generated, collected, and prepared for processing in the United States is considered domestic; or The end product is a COTS item; or (2) For an end product that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, an end product manufactured in the United States, if the cost of foreign iron and steel constitutes less than 5 percent of the cost of all the components used in the end product. The cost of foreign iron and steel includes but is not limited to the cost of foreign iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the end product and a good faith estimate of the cost of all foreign iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners. Iron or steel components of unknown origin are treated as foreign. If the end product contains multiple components, the cost of all the materials used in such end product is calculated in accordance with the definition of cost of components . End product means those articles, materials, and supplies to be acquired under the contract for public use. Fastener means a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. Examples of fasteners are nuts, bolts, pins, rivets, nails, clips, and screws. Foreign end product means an end product other than a domestic end product. Foreign iron and steel means iron or steel products not produced in the United States. Produced in the United States means that all manufacturing processes of the iron or steel must take place in the United States, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, except metallurgical processes involving refinement of steel additives. The origin of the elements of the iron or steel is not relevant to the determination of whether it is domestic or foreign. Predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both means that the cost of the iron and steel content exceeds 50 percent of the total cost of all its components. The cost of iron and steel is the cost of the iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the product and a good faith estimate of the cost of iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners. Steel means an alloy that includes at least 50 percent iron, between 0.02 and 2 percent carbon, and may include other elements. United States means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas. (b) 41 U.S.C. chapter 83, Buy American, provides a preference for domestic end products for supplies acquired for use in the United States. In accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1907, the domestic content test of the Buy American statute is waived for an end product that is a COTS item (see 12.505(a)(1)), except that for an end product that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, the domestic content test is applied only to the iron and steel content of the end product, excluding COTS fasteners. (c) Offerors may obtain from the Contracting Officer a list of foreign articles that the Contracting Officer will treat as domestic for this contract. (d) The Contractor shall deliver only domestic end products except to the extent that it specified delivery of foreign end products in the provision of the solicitation entitled "Buy American Certificate." Alternate I (OCT 2022). As prescribed in 25.1101(a)(1)(ii) substitute the following sentence for the first sentence of paragraph (1)(ii)(A) of the definition of domestic end product in paragraph (a): (A) The cost of its components mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States exceeds 50 percent of the cost of all its components. (End of Clause) 52.225-1 Buy American Supplies (OCT 2022) Definitions. As used in this clause Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item (1) Means any item of supply (including construction material) that is A commercial product (as defined in paragraph (1) of the definition of commercial product at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101; Sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace; and (iii) Offered to the Government, under a contract or subcontract at any tier, without modification, in the same form in which it is sold in the commercial marketplace; and Does not include bulk cargo, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 40102(4), such as agricultural products and petroleum products. Component means an article, material, or supply incorporated directly into an end product. Cost of components means For components purchased by the Contractor, the acquisition cost, including transportation costs to the place of incorporation into the end product (whether or not such costs are paid to a domestic firm), and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free entry certificate is issued); or For components manufactured by the Contractor, all costs associated with the manufacture of the component, including transportation costs as described in paragraph (1) of this definition, plus allocable overhead costs, but excluding profit. Cost of components does not include any costs associated with the manufacture of the end product. Critical component means a component that is mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States and deemed critical to the U.S. supply chain. The list of critical components is at FAR 25.105. Domestic end product means For an end product that does not consist wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both An unmanufactured end product mined or produced in the United States; An end product manufactured in the United States, if The cost of its components mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States exceeds 60 percent of the cost of all its components, except that the percentage will be 65 percent for items delivered in calendar years 2024 through 2028 and 75 percent for items delivered starting in calendar year 2029. Components of foreign origin of the same class or kind as those that the agency determines are not mined, produced, or manufactured in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of a satisfactory quality are treated as domestic. Components of unknown origin are treated as foreign. Scrap generated, collected, and prepared for processing in the United States is considered domestic; or The end product is a COTS item; or (2) For an end product that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, an end product manufactured in the United States, if the cost of foreign iron and steel constitutes less than 5 percent of the cost of all the components used in the end product. The cost of foreign iron and steel includes but is not limited to the cost of foreign iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the end product and a good faith estimate of the cost of all foreign iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners. Iron or steel components of unknown origin are treated as foreign. If the end product contains multiple components, the cost of all the materials used in such end product is calculated in accordance with the definition of cost of components . End product means those articles, materials, and supplies to be acquired under the contract for public use. Fastener means a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. Examples of fasteners are nuts, bolts, pins, rivets, nails, clips, and screws. Foreign end product means an end product other than a domestic end product. Foreign iron and steel means iron or steel products not produced in the United States. Produced in the United States means that all manufacturing processes of the iron or steel must take place in the United States, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, except metallurgical processes involving refinement of steel additives. The origin of the elements of the iron or steel is not relevant to the determination of whether it is domestic or foreign. Predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both means that the cost of the iron and steel content exceeds 50 percent of the total cost of all its components. The cost of iron and steel is the cost of the iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the product and a good faith estimate of the cost of iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners. Steel means an alloy that includes at least 50 percent iron, between 0.02 and 2 percent carbon, and may include other elements. United States means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas. (b) 41 U.S.C. chapter 83, Buy American, provides a preference for domestic end products for supplies acquired for use in the United States. In accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1907, the domestic content test of the Buy American statute is waived for an end product that is a COTS item (see 12.505(a)(1)), except that for an end product that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel ...