3426--Etching Laser

The contract is a solicitation for a NuTrace Laser Etcher System at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, issued under solicitation number 36C25226Q0417 with a response deadline of April 29, 2026. The effort involves procuring and implementing a complete laser marking and tracking system to etch up to 40,000 surgical instruments with unique device identifiers and GS1-compliant 2D Data Matrix codes, ensuring full traceability within the Censitrac system. Required deliverables include one NuTrace NUX-20 NG laser unit, ten NuTrace R+ scanners capable of reading micro-codes as small as .010 x .010 mm, professional etching services, installation, clinical training, data migration, and one year of extended service support. All work must be performed at the facility, with delivery under FOB Destination terms, and the Government retains sole authority to inspect and accept all items upon delivery. The solicitation emphasizes technical capability and integration with existing VA systems over price alone, allowing for trade-off evaluations where non-price factors may justify selecting a higher-priced quote. Contract compliance is governed by multiple Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses, including restrictions on subcontractor sales, whistleblower protections, prohibitions on internal confidentiality agreements, and mandatory disclosures regarding payments to influence federal transactions, with deviations noted for certain SAM and OFAC compliance certifications. The contractor must adhere to strict sanctions regimes, prohibiting business with Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Burma, and North Korea, and ban the use of specified covered telecommunications equipment and applications such as TikTok and Kaspersky. Markings must meet FDA and OSHA requirements, with packaging conforming to domestic shipment standards and labeling requiring permanent, machine-readable codes. The contracting officer, Steven M. MacDonald, serves as both the primary point of contact and contracting officer’s representative. Payment will be processed through the VA Financial Services Center in Austin, TX, with invoicing to follow electronic payment guidelines under FAR 52.212-4 and EFT compliance. The solicitation is open to small business concerns, with credit afforded for service-disabled veteran-owned or veteran-owned small business status, though no specific weights or scoring thresholds are provided. The period of performance is one year, with no fixed contract value disclosed, as pricing is to be submitted by offerors in response to the RFQ.