6515--Epredia CryoStar NX70 for Asheville VAMC

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through the 246-NETWORK Contracting Office 6, is soliciting a firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of two Epredia CryoStar NX70 cryostats under a small business set-aside, with the NAICS code 334516. This procurement is designated exclusively for verified small business vendors, requiring all offerors to be registered and current in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and listed in the SBA database at veterans.certify.sba.gov. The contract will be awarded on a best-value basis, evaluating technical/management approach, past performance, and price, with non-priced factors rated as acceptable or unacceptable. The cryostats must meet specific technical specifications including a maximum chamber temperature of -60°C, precise temperature control with rapid response, multi-axis specimen orientation, motorized sectioning, and integrated touch screen interface, configured with Cold D and compliant with CE Marking and a Certificate of Hygiene, identified by vendor catalog number 957010L. Delivery is required to Asheville VAMC at 1100 Tunnel Rd, Asheville NC 28805, with a one-year period of performance from award date, and invoices must be submitted electronically upon delivery and receipt in accordance with VAAR Clause 852.232-72 and FAR 52.232-33. The solicitation incorporates numerous Federal Acquisition Regulation and Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation clauses addressing critical compliance areas including contractor employee whistleblower rights, prohibitions on compelled confidentiality agreements, personnel identity verification, combating trafficking in persons, sustainable products, equal opportunity for workers with disabilities, and prohibitions on contracting with inverted domestic corporations. Contractors must comply with VA-specific requirements for personnel vetting, including background investigations aligned with VA Directive/Handbook 0710, PIV card management, and flow-down of security requirements to subcontractors and business associate agreements. All information technology used must meet accessibility standards per VAAR 852.239-75, and any access to Sensitive Personal Information requires adherence to FISMA and OMB A-130. Proposals must be submitted via email by 10:00 AM EST on June 16, 2026, and include the completed SF 1449 with NAICS code and UEI, pricing, and three verifiable references of