6515--Parata ATP Pill Packaging System

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through its Network Contracting Office 19 in Greenwood Village, Colorado, has issued a firm-fixed price contract award notice for the Parata ATP Pill Packaging System, identified by solicitation number 36C25926Q0456 and NAICS code 339112, which is set aside exclusively for small businesses. The acquisition seeks the procurement and installation of 25 Parata ATP2 E320 Narrow packaging systems and 36 calibration kits, along with associated installation services and a comprehensive warranty and support agreement. Performance is required at the Rocky Mountain Regional Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado, where systems must be fully operational, integrated with VA’s VISTA/CPRS electronic health record system, and compliant with stringent packaging and labeling standards including BCMA-compatible barcodes, thermal printing, pouch verification using barcode and image recognition, and RFID-enabled autosensing canisters. All equipment must be new, represent the latest available technology, and meet throughput requirements of at least 50 single-dose and 40 multi-dose pouches per minute. Technical compliance is the primary evaluation criterion, functioning as a pass/fail gatekeeper—any offer failing to meet mandatory specifications, including vendor authorization as an OEM or authorized distributor and submission of the Buy American Certificate, will be eliminated regardless of price. Price is evaluated only among technically acceptable offers, with award based on overall value under a trade-off procedure rather than lowest-priced technically acceptable. The contract imposes extensive operational, security, and compliance requirements. All contractor personnel must comply with VA Directive 6500 and 6550 for information and privacy security, with software restricted to U.S.-based development and support unless a robust security plan is approved. Contractor staff require no criminal history, must wear visible identification on VA premises, and must be factory-trained for installation. A minimum 12-month warranty covering parts, labor, and travel is mandatory, along with detailed training materials and one full day of on-site end-user training. Privacy training, anti-trafficking compliance, Buy American Act adherence, and prohibitions on discriminatory DEI practices are embedded through multiple FAR clauses with alternates activated, including 52.222-54 and 52.222-90 (both effective April 2026). Electronic invoicing via SAM.gov is required, and accelerated payments to small business subcontractors are mandated. The contracting officer, Noaa Lanotte, is the