This market research notice is being conducted by Network Contracting Office (NCO) 17 VHA Regional Procurement Office-West (RPOW) 1901 Veterans Memorial Dr. Building #171 Temple, TX 76528 for the procurement of Emergency Response Carts for Patient Care Areas. Background and Requirement: As part of the Department of Veteran Affairs (VHA) efforts to optimize patient safety for those requiring resuscitation, the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 674 (CTVHCS) is seeking to update and standardize crash carts throughout the healthcare system. Current crash carts reached their end-of-life expectancy approximately fifteen years prior to this proposal prompting the facility to conduct a Lean Six Sigma Rapid Process Improvement Workgroup (RPIW) to compare up-to-date market offerings. The RPIW hosted a vendor fair and utilized evaluation data from Nurses, Providers, and Respiratory Therapists working in the Intensive Acute Care Units, Intensive Care Unit, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Day Procedure, the Emergency Department, and Education Service to develop the scope of work and equipment needs. SPECIFIC INSTRUMENT REQUIRED: Emergency Response Carts for Patient Care Areas.See attached Statement of Work. Each individual unit of the requested equipment needs to have all of the following attributes and capabilities: Constructed of steel Exterior color: red Drawer color: red Central lever locking system for use with breakaway seals White plastic top Drawer pulls on each drawer 5 casters with 2 locking casters High-impact stabilizer bumper Pre-threaded holes to assist in mounting accessories Dual ergonomic push handles Auto-closing full extension drawer slides One side mounted slide out shelf Drawer dimensions should be 22 W x 16.5 D Overall dimensions should be 29 W x 24.5 D x 45 H Drawer configuration: Total drawer height of 30 in the following combination: Four 3 drawers One 6 drawer One 9 drawer Swivel, locking, monitor/defibrillator shelf that can hold approximately 25lbs and includes a strap to secure monitor or defibrillator Swivel shelf dimensions should be 15 W x 15 D x 9 above top of the cart Metal suction pump shelf Suction pump shelf dimensions should be 18 W x 8 D x 3 H Oxygen tank bracket with adjustable straps Metal sharps container bracket Cardiac board with two horizontal metal mounting brackets Hospital grade outlet strip with 15-foot cord and 6 outlets 2.5 tall plastic tray with adjustable dividers Divider system for 6 drawer that includes 3 front-to-back panels and 12 clips to create up to 4 compartments. Divider system for 9 drawer that includes 3 front-to-back panels and 12 clips to create up to 4 compartments. If this is an item your business can provide, please respond to this Sources Sought Notice by 3:00 PM Central Time on Monday, June 12, 2023. The intent of this notice is to establish sources to define the procurement strategy (e.g set-aside, sole source, unrestricted) for a solicitation that VA intends to post soon. Interested contractors are requested to respond in accordance with the following: a. If you have an existing GSA or VA, Federal Supply Schedule contract, include the contract details in your response. Please note that VA is particularly interested in determining the availability of Service Disable Veteran Owned Small Business/Veteran Owned Small Business or other Small Business manufacturers or authorized distributors that can provide this item. Respond to this notice if you can provide the exact brand name products listed in the table in the background and requirement section above. In the response, please cite your business size status. DISTRIBUTORS: You must provide proof that you are an authorized distributor. VA does not accept gray market items. Vendors are requested to submit estimated market research pricing with their responses. The estimated pricing will be considered when determining the procurement strategy for the future solicitation. (e.g. if CO determines that capable small businesses cannot provide fair and reasonable pricing, then the solicitation will not be set-aside). Responses should include: (1) Business Name (2) Business Address (3) Point of Contact - Name - Phone Number - E-mail Address (4) SAM UID Number (5) NAICS code (6) Business Size: SMALL or LARGE (7) Type of Business: SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED (SDVOSB), VETERAN OWNED(VOSB), 8A, HUBZone, WOMAN-OWNED (WOSB), etc. (8) Letter stating OEM authorized dealer, authorized distributor or authorized reseller for the proposed equipment and/or services if applicable (9) GSA/FSS Contract Number if applicable All businesses eligible to provide this item are encouraged to reply as this information may be used to determine potential set-asides for the above-noted requirement. Send responses to Abduel J. Sanford at Abduel.Sanford@va.gov. DISCLAIMER: This notice is issued solely for informational and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Department of Veterans Affairs to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this notice. Statement Of Work Crash Carts/Emergency Response Carts GENERAL GUIDANCE Title of Project: Emergency Response Carts for Patient Care Areas Background: As part of the Department of Veteran Affairs (VHA) efforts to optimize patient safety for those requiring resuscitation, the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 674 (CTVHCS) is seeking to update and standardize crash carts throughout the healthcare system. Current crash carts reached their end-of-life expectancy approximately fifteen years prior to this proposal prompting the facility to conduct a Lean Six Sigma Rapid Process Improvement Workgroup (RPIW) to compare up-to-date market offerings. The RPIW hosted a vendor fair and utilized evaluation data from Nurses, Providers, and Respiratory Therapists working in the Intensive Acute Care Units, Intensive Care Unit, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Day Procedure, the Emergency Department, and Education Service to develop the scope of work and equipment needs listed below. Scope of Work: The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS), 1901 S. 1st Street, Temple, TX, Nursing Service is requesting to purchase 45 crash carts and drawer organization systems. Crash carts are mobile containers used to rapidly transport large amounts of supplies, medications, and medical equipment to treat patients in emergencies within a healthcare facility. Crash Carts must allow for secure, yet easy access, to medications and offer adequate workspace for preparing medications during emergent situations. In addition, crash carts need to be capable of easy and quick maneuverability to reduce response times while also employing easy to unlock wheel locks. Request Crash Carts/Emergency Response Carts be delivered fully assembled. Description of Equipment: Each individual unit of the requested equipment needs to have all of the following attributes and capabilities: Constructed of steel Exterior color: red Drawer color: red Central lever locking system for use with breakaway seals White plastic top Drawer pulls on each drawer 5 casters with 2 locking casters High-impact stabilizer bumper Pre-threaded holes to assist in mounting accessories Dual ergonomic push handles Auto-closing full extension drawer slides One side mounted slide out shelf Drawer dimensions should be 22 W x 16.5 D Overall dimensions should be 29 W x 24.5 D x 45 H Drawer configuration: Total drawer height of 30 in the following combination: Four 3 drawers One 6 drawer One 9 drawer Swivel, locking, monitor/defibrillator shelf that can hold approximately 25lbs and includes a strap to secure monitor or defibrillator Swivel shelf dimensions should be 15 W x 15 D x 9 above top of the cart Metal suction pump shelf Suction pump shelf dimensions should be 18 W x 8 D x 3 H Oxygen tank bracket with adjustable straps Metal sharps container bracket Cardiac board with two horizontal metal mounting brackets Hospital grade outlet strip with 15-foot cord and 6 outlets 2.5 tall plastic tray with adjustable dividers Divider system for 6 drawer that includes 3 front-to-back panels and 12 clips to create up to 4 compartments. Divider system for 9 drawer that includes 3 front-to-back panels and 12 clips to create up to 4 compartments. Shipping & Installation: Equipment needs to be assembled. Delivery Address: Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive, Building 206, Warehouse, Temple, Texas 76504 Delivery hours are Monday - Friday 0800am to 0430pm. Deliveries shall not take place on Federal holidays or weekends unless directed by the Contracting Officer (CO). There are 10 Federal holidays set by law (USC Title 5 Section 6103) that CAVHS follows: Under current definitions, four holidays are set by date: New Year's Day - January 1 Independence Day - July 4 Veterans Day - November 11 Christmas Day - December 25 If any of the above falls on a Saturday, then Friday shall be observed as a holiday. Similarly, if one falls on a Sunday, then Monday shall be observed as a holiday. The other six holidays are set by a day of the week and month: Martin Luther King s Birthday Third Monday in January Washington s Birthday Third Monday in February Memorial Day Last Monday in May Labor Day First Monday in September Columbus Day Second Monday in October Thanksgiving Fourth Thursday in November CHANGES TO THE STATEMENT OF WORK The CO is the only individual authorized to approve changes or modify any of the requirements under this contract. The Contractor shall communicate with the COR on all matters pertaining to contract administration. The COR is designated to represent the CO in furnishing technical guidance and advice regarding the work being performed under this contract. The foregoing is not to be construed as authorization to interpret or furnish advice and information to the Contractor relative to the financial or legal aspects of the contract. Enforcement of these segments is vested in and is the responsibility of the CO. Only the CO is authorized to make commitments or issue changes affecting price, quantity, or performance of this contract. In the event the Contractor effects any such change at the direction of any person other than the CO, the change shall be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment shall be made in the contract price to cover any increase in cost incurred as a result thereof. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES The government shall provide a COR as the technical expert and Contractor's point of contact. The government shall provide escorts and reasonable access to equipment when required. The government shall cooperate with Contractor personnel so that service can be performed efficiently and without interruption. The government will provide escorted access to patient care areas and any sensitive areas. The Contractor shall coordinate access to all areas with the COR or Facility POC to minimize the negative impact on patient care. The government shall schedule, and coordinate install locations with the Contractor to minimize disruption to patients and patient care activities.
