4510--Backflow Prevention Assemblies Full and Open Competition Brand Name or Equal

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through its Network Contracting Office 6, has issued a pre-solicitation notice for a one-time purchase of backflow prevention assemblies for the Salem VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia. The formal solicitation (number 36C24626Q0570) is anticipated to be released around June 2, 2026, with responses to the current request for information due by June 4, 2026. This acquisition is open to full and open competition under the NAICS code 238220, which covers plumbing, heating, and air conditioning contractors, with a size standard of $19 million. The requirement calls for the delivery of two 8-inch and two 6-inch Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) backflow prevention assemblies, specifically Watts Series LF909 (or LF909-FS for the 6-inch), constructed to lead-free standards with stainless steel internals, fused epoxy-lined checks, field-reversible relief valves, and OS&Y valves with replaceable seats. The assemblies must be new and unused, delivered within 30 calendar days of contract award to the Salem VA Medical Center loading dock, with coordination required with the Facilities Management Service Project Section. This notice serves strictly as a market research effort and does not constitute a solicitation or promise of contract award. No contract clauses, pricing, or award criteria are included, as it is a sources sought notice designed to identify interested firms and gather capability information. Offerors must submit required representations and certifications, including business size, socioeconomic status, and registration information such as DUNS or UEI numbers, exclusively via email to the designated Contract Specialist by the deadline, with telephone inquiries expressly prohibited. Packaging, marking, and bar-coding requirements are not detailed, suggesting compliance with standard federal delivery practices. Inspection and acceptance will occur upon delivery at the Salem VA Medical Center, with the government responsible for verifying compliance with technical specifications and warranty documentation. The document underscores that no contract will be awarded based on responses to this notice and emphasizes the need for contractors to self-register and prepare for a formal solicitation expected shortly after this market research phase.