S209 – Hospital Laundry Services – Boise VAMC - Department of Veterans Affairs

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY.  This is not a solicitation for bids, proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.  The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.  The responses received from interested contractors will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office (NCO) 20, is conducting market research to identify potential sources which can provide the following services:

• Title: Hospital Laundry Services – Boise VAMC - Department of Veterans Affairs

• Special Considerations:
  • Contractor shall have facility within 100 miles of Boise VAMC, 500 W Fort St, Boise, ID, due to task of 24-hour turn-around time. The Government is not able to circulate additional VA owned laundry in order to allow 24+ turn-around time and requires strict delivery schedule in order to meet healthcare service to Veterans (even during adverse weather impacts, equipment/truck breakdown, etc.).
  • Contractor’s facility shall incorporate a "design for asepsis" whereby clean linen does not come into contact with soiled linens nor share the same physical space, thus avoiding cross-contamination or reintroduction of bacteria once processed. Facility will be subject to Government inspection.
  • Contractor’s facility laundry ventilation system shall be “designed for asepsis” whereby air flows from clean textile areas (positive pressure) to soiled areas (negative pressure) and is exhausted to the outside atmosphere. Physical separation of the soil-sort area is required in order to limit the potential for contamination of personnel or clean, processed textiles. Exhausting air to the outdoors prevents reintroduction of contaminants onto clean items and into clean work areas. Facility will be subject to Government inspection.

• Scope: Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, management, supplies, and facilities necessary to perform contractor owned/contractor operated bulk laundry services and tasks required for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 500 West Fort Street, Boise, ID. All services are to be performed in accordance with standard industry practices and quality control measures. The VA Medical Center will maintain and be responsible for repair/replacement services for all VA provided linen, unless damage/loss is caused by the Contractor. Service will be required Six (6) days per week, Monday - Saturday, excluding some federal holidays.
  • Specific Tasks:
    • The Contractor shall provide complete laundry services, including but not limited to hospital linens, employee uniforms, laboratory coats, cleaning rags and Swiffer mops. It is not expected that employee uniforms and laboratory coats will be wrinkle free.
    • The Contractor shall process all items with a 24-hour turn-around time.
    • After processing, laundered articles shall be in a serviceable and sanitary condition, meeting performance standards established by organizations such as NAILM and IFI, as well as complying with contractor's Washroom Standards and Linen Inspection Standards. Washing, extracting, and tumble-drying procedures shall ensure that the washed item is restored to its intended appearance, in a manner that will prevent damage to the items being processed. Shrinkage shall be no more than what can be called "natural" shrinkage. Tumbled work such as undershirts, socks, bath towels, laundry bags, blankets, and bathrobes shall be complete dry and soft. Flatwork shall be folded. Uniforms and laboratory coats will be washed, dried, and hung on hangers to minimize wrinkles. It is not expected that employee uniforms and laboratory coats will be wrinkle free.
    • The Contractor shall clean with a tuberculocidal germicide/disinfectant all carts after unloading the soiled linen and prior to loading carts with clean linen.
    • The Contractor shall clean chemotherapy bed linens and clothing (identified by yellow chemotherapy plastic bags) by pre-washing first, then washing with other linens.
• Items include VA owned and leased from contractor, consisting of the following:
  • Bed Sheet, flat – leased Robes – VA
  • Bed Sheets, OR/Surgical Unit – VA          
  • Tele Gowns - Leased
  • Bed Sheet, fitted – VA   
  • Pajama tops and Bottoms – VA
  • Pillowcases – VA and Leased      
  • Wash cloth – Leased
  • Scrubs – VA       
  • Bath Towel – Leased
  • Bibs – VA           
  • Huck Towels –VA
  • Dish Towels (with red stripe) – VA          
  • Restraints - VA
  • Bed Pads – VA   Slings - VA
  • Mattress Pads – VA       
  • Rags - VA
  • Bed Spread – VA            
  • Dust Mops- VA
  • Blanket, Thermal – Leased         
  • Wet Mops - VA
  • Blanket, Cotton (Bath) – Leased
  • Uniforms (Name on collar) - VA
  • Patient Gowns – VA       
  • Warm-Up Jackets (Name on collar), VA Shirts, trousers, coveralls, scrubs, lab coats - VA

• Location: Boise VAMC, 500 W Fort St, Boise, ID 83702

• NAICS Anticipated: 812320, Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin Operated), $8M Size Standard

• Type of Contract Anticipated: Time-and-Material and Firm Fixed-Price

• Period of Performance Anticipated: 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2029 (Base + 4 Option Years); additionally, 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services for an additional six (6) months is anticipated.

• Notes: Depending on the results of market research and socioeconomic set-aside decision, the appropriate limitation to subcontracting may be incorporated into resulting solicitation/contract.

• Potential candidates having the capabilities necessary to provide the above stated services are invited to respond to this Sources Sought Notice via e-mail to Danielle Carrico at danielle.carrico@va.gov no later than Wednesday, 21 February 2024 at 5PM MST. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.

RESPONSES SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: 

1. Company name
2. SAM UEID #
3. Address
4. Business size
5. Point of contact name, phone number and e-mail address
6. Capability statement
7. If applicable, current GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract

Disclaimer and Important Notes:  This Sources Sought Notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. The Government will treat any information received as proprietary and will not share such information with other companies.  Any organization responding to this Sources Sought Notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. The Government may or may not issue a solicitation as a result of this announcement.  There is no solicitation available at this time.