SOURCE SOUGHT: MICROSCOPES, TULSA, OK

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Microscopes in Tulsa, OK

NOTICE ID: PKG053_CHIP-IN

NOTICE DESCRIPTION: Microscopes

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Eastern Oklahoma VA Healthcare System (EOVAHCS)

This is a Sources Sought Notice only; a request for information (RFI). This is a request for vendor expressions of interest for market research purposes, in accordance with FAR Part 10 and FAR part 15.201. This is not a request for quote, and this is not a solicitation. There is no guarantee this will eventuate to solicitation or a contract.

This notice is posted by the Acquisition Utilization Specialist (AUS) at EOVAHCS. The Acquisition Utilization Specialist is not the Contract Specialist and does not represent the Contracting Office.

This is not posted by the VA Contracting Office, and we are not warranted Contracting Officers and we have no authority to enter an agreement or contract.

Vendor emails must include subject line as "Microscopes”, as a minimum. Be sure to include your vendor’s name and UEI number in the body of the email.

Eastern Oklahoma VA Healthcare System is seeking vendors who have an interest and capability to provide the products and/or installation services outline below, to the Location(s) identified in this notice. 

This notice is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted because of this request.  The Government does not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred for responses to this RFI. The information provided may be used by VA in developing its acquisition strategy and Performance Work Statement (PWS).  Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary; however, any information received shall become the property of the Government and will not be returned to the respondent.  Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted, or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Product information, brochures, part numbers, and/or other description information may be included with the submission.  VA is under no obligation to provide feedback to the RFI respondent, or to contact the RFI respondent for clarification of any information submitted as part of the response.

PRODUCT REQUIREMENT: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), new Tulsa VA Medical Center (VAMC) has a brand name or equivalent requirement 10 microscopes delivered no earlier than September 1, 2025, and no later than November 30, 2025.

LOCATION: The new Tulsa VA Medical Center will be located at 440 S. Houston Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127.

BACKGROUND: A building in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is currently being renovated for the purpose of being used as the new Tulsa VA Medical Center (VAMC) in September 2025. 

SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

Contractor is required to provide the following products, brand name or equal. 

Item (Product) Description

1. Olympus BX43 -or- equivalent
   1. Modular components, including ergonomic observation tubes, rotating stage, condensers, nosepieces, objectives, and intermediate optics to allow for customization
   2. White LED with High Color Rendering—Equivalent to a 30 W Halogen Lamp with an estimated 20,000-hour lifetime
   3. Maintain Brightness when Changing Magnifications
   4. Advanced Optical Performance Accommodates Various Observation Styles
   5. Light intensity manager allows user to maintain brightness when changing magnifications
   6. Observation method
      • Brightfield
      • Darkfield
      • Phase Contrast
      • Fluorescence (Blue/Green excitations)
      • Fluorescence (Ultraviolet Excitations)
      • Differential Interference Contrast
      • Simple Polarized Light
   7. Illuminator
      • Transmitted Köhler Illuminator - LED Lamp
      • Fluorescence Illuminator - 100 W Mercury Lamp; Light Guide Illumination
   8. Focus
      • Focusing Mechanism – Stage Focus
   9. Intermediate Magnification Changer
      • Manual Terret
   10. Revolving Nosepiece
       • Manual – Coded (7 positions); Standard (7 positions)
   11. Stage
       • Mechanical
         • Oil Rectangular Stage with Right-Hand Control [X: 76 mm (3 in.), Y: 52 mm (2 in.)]
   12. Condenser
       • Abbe Condenser [NA 1.1/ W.D. 0.7 mm (oil) (4X–100X)]
       • Swing-Out Condenser [NA 0.9/ W.D. 0.17 mm (1.25X–100X)]
   13. Observation Tubes: Moves up and down, tilts, extends forward and back. Tilts 0-27 deg; Extends 55mm; Lifts 45mm
       • Widefield (FN 22)
         • Tilting Binocular
         • Tilting Trinocular
   14. Dimensions (W × D × H)
       • 274.5 mm × 362 mm × 410 mm (10.8 in. × 14.3 in. × 16.1 in.) (Standard configuration)
   15. Weight: 13.2 kg (29 lb) (Standard configuration)
   16. QTY: 10 (Configurations listed in Specifications table below)

Manuals: Contractor must provide electronic copies of the user manuals and repair manuals for each different model of product under the resultant contract, at no additional cost to the government.

SPECIFICATIONS (including SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS)

Contractor must provide products, brand name or equal, listed below:

1. 5 EA BX43 Configuration 1: Microscope with 10X, 40X, 50X (oil), and 100X (oil) lenses
2. 1 EA BX43 Configuration 2: Microscope with 10x, 20x, 40x, 50x (oil) lenses
3. 2 EA BX43 Configuration 3: Microscope with 2x, 4x,10x,20x,40x,100x (6-lens nosepiece) + polarizer (must be UPlanFl)
4. 1 EA BX43 Configuration 4: Double headed microscope with 10X, 40X, 50X (oil), and 100X (oil) lenses
5. 1 EA BX43 Configuration 5: Double headed microscope with 2x, 4x,10x,20x,40x,100x (6-lens nosepiece) + polarizer + left-handed stage (must be UPlanFl)

The Contractor shall furnish all contract oversight, management, Technically Trained Personnel, OEM authorizations to support provision and installation of OEM products, applicable licenses, uniforms, equipment, tools, materials, supplies, storage, insurances, shipping and delivery costs, and transportations necessary to provide the products, and associated installation, for EOVAHCS in accordance with this SOW. Any services associated with this product are considered non-personal services. The Contractor, its employees, agents, and subcontractors shall not be considered VA employees for any purpose of fulfilling the SOW and shall be considered employees of the Contractor.

QUALIFIED VENDOR: The Vendor shall be a qualified company to perform such services with capability to provide all personnel, supervision, equipment and other services deemed necessary to perform all work as defined in the description of services herein.

1. A qualified vendor is one who has provided same or equal products in the immediate past 3 years that are similar in size, scope and complexity to those outlined in this notice.
2. A qualified vendor will also have no obstacles with delivery timeframes.
3. A qualified vendor will also have non-IT products that have no obstacles or issues with regards to complying with the Buy American Act and/or Trade Agreements Act.

RFI Submission Instructions: VA requests a clear, concise, and complete response to this RFI. 

Page Limit: FIVE pages.

The Government will not review any other information or attachments included, that are more than the 5-page limit.  The Government will not review generic marketing materials that do not address the information contained herein or the attached documents.  

Responses and questions must be addressed by emailing monica.christopher@va.gov.

Vendors must reference the Sources Sought Notice ID and Notice Description in all communication and on the subject line of the response: “Microscopes PKG053_CHIP-IN”.

Communication or responses that do not address the Notice ID and Notice Description in the subject line may be lost in email traffic.

In your reply, please address the following questions and provide answers and responses as part of your 5-page RFI submission.

QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Company Name and POC Details (representatives name, title, phone, email, address).
2. Company UEI number.
3. It is anticipated that NAICS code 334516 ANALYTICAL LABORATORY INSTRUMENT MANUFACTURING will apply to this procurement. To determine a business as small, the SBA has capped the size standard for this NAICS code at 1,000 employees.
   1. What size is your company as it relates to the SBA size standard for NAICS 334516?
   2. Socioeconomic data: If a small business, what type of small business are you?
   3. Is your firm a small business under NAICS 334516? YES ______ NO ______
   4. Is your firm a Veteran-Owned Small Business? YES ______ NO ______
   5. Is your firm a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business? YES ______ NO ______
   6. Is your firm a 8(a) small business? YES ______ NO ______
   7. Is you firm a certified HUB Zone firm? YES ______ NO ______
   8. Is your firm a Woman Owned business? YES ______ NO ______
   9. Is your firm a Large Business? YES ______ NO ______
4. List your Company Qualifications. Explain briefly your company’s capability to provide the entire range of requirements. Specifically, please provide a brief summary of your technical approach to meet the requirements specified in this notice.
5. Does your company sell / distribute / install the products listed in this notice? Circle all the apply to your company: sell / distribute.
   1. If you are an authorized distributer and/or authorized installer, please provide signed documentation (e.g. letter from OEM’s legal department) demonstrating that you are authorized by the manufacturer to distribute and/or install their product.
   2. Who would be providing the products? (circle all that apply)
      1. Our firm would be the Primary Contractor providing products.
      2. Our Subcontractor would be providing products.
   3. Who would be installing the products? (circle all that apply)
      1. Our firm would be the Primary Contractor installing products.
      2. Our Subcontractor would be installing products.
6. List your company’s Recent Experience of Similar Size, Scope and Complexity to what is described in the notice. This can be US Federal contracted experience or experience providing products and performing services in the commercial sector. If listing your subcontractor’s experience, be sure to state this.
7. State if your company is able to comply with the following for non-IT products.
   1. Nonmanufacturer Rule per 13 CFR 121.406 (b)(1)(i), (b)(1)(ii) and (b)(1)(iii). What is the country of origin for the non-IT products you would be selling?
   2. Trade Agreements per FAR provision 52.225-5 and FAR clause 52.225-6. List details of how your non-IT products meet the Trade Agreements Act.
8. Do you have a GSA/FSS/NASA SEWP/NITAAC schedule for these items? YES______ NO______
   1. Schedule Number: ___________________ Expiration Date: _____________________

DISCLAIMER: This is a Request for Information (RFI) from industry in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e) and on the requirement, that exists for the VA Medical Center(s) identified in this RFI. This is not a request for quote and not a contract. This announcement is not a request for proposals; therefore, responses to the RFI are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. 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. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. No classified information should be included in the RFI response. Should you have concerns regarding this RFI you may email the sender of this RFI.

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