3449--Sources Sought Electric Button Making Machine

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through the Veterans Benefits Administration, is conducting market research via a sources-sought notice to determine the viability of setting aside a future procurement for small businesses, with a specific emphasis on Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB). The requirement is for an Electric Button Making Machine, specifically the Tecre Model 152, along with a 2x2 die set and consumables to produce 30,000 magnet buttons, under a brand-name-or-equal specification. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 339910, with a small business size standard of 700 employees. The Buy American Act applies, mandating domestic sourcing of supplies and requiring compliance with FAR Clause 52.225-1 and the submission of a Buy American Certificate under FAR Provision 52.225-2. If a small business set-aside is pursued, a preferential evaluation factor will be applied to SDVOSB/VOSB offerors, and the Nonmanufacturer Rule (FAR 52.219-33) will not apply; however, if SDVOSB/VOSB entities respond without qualifying under the Nonmanufacturer Rule, they are asked to indicate interest in a general small business set-aside. Offerors must self-certify their business size and socioeconomic status, explicitly stating whether they are small or other than small, and whether they hold SDVOSB or VOSB certification. No formal evaluation factors, pricing, delivery schedule, packaging requirements, or award methodology are defined at this stage, as this is a pre-solicitation market research action. Responses must be submitted by May 5, 2026, to Robert R. Mulheran, Contracting Officer, via email at Robert.Mulheran@va.gov or by phone at 612-970-5621, with no formal proposal format required beyond indicating interest and size status. The place of performance is the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1800 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, and no Contracting Officer’s Representative or detailed inspection criteria are specified.