6515--RFI Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), Storage and, Distribution, Services 36C10X23Q0040

Request for Information (RFI) The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this RFI in accordance with FAR 15.201(e). The agency does not intend to award a contract but rather gather information on capability, delivery and other market information pertinent for acquisition planning. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement and identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for the following: Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), Storage and Distribution, Services Request for Information Description: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is working to secure guaranteed access to critical medical supply items to ensure continuous supply chain resiliency in response to any major unexpected supply chain disruption, including internal emergencies, man-made emergencies, or natural disasters. The VHA has established two Regional Readiness Centers, located on the east and west coast, and is now working to establish a multi-year contract to utilize Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) providers to supply the personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical materiel required to ensure continuity of care across the VHA to the Regional Readiness Centers and/or any of the VHA s 171 hospitals, 1,093 outpatient healthcare facilities and other Fourth Mission partners on an enduring basis during times of increased demand or in response to other types of supply chain disruptions. The VA is looking for a guaranteed access type inventory where the VA does not take possession of materiel located within the VMI until it is pulled to be delivered to the VHA s network facilities. Attachment 1 shows a potential list of supply categories that the RRCs may require to be available. This list is intended only for preparing a response to the RFI and does not constitute a finalized draft. The purpose of this Sources Sought notice is to explore the availability and capability of business concerns that are interested in and can provide Vendor Managed Inventory services on a nationwide platform. Responses to this notice should include industry best practices and will be considered in determining the best approach for any potential future acquisition. Scope of Work: The intent of the program is to buy access to material by partnering with industry vice purchasing material and storing it in Government warehouses. The vendor would be responsible for ensuring items are available for distribution at the request of the VA, inventory controls, rotation which includes ensuring items remain unexpired without the VA taking possession, and second destination delivery in the event of a contract award. The vendor would be compensated for these services by receiving an inventory management fee to include costs related to managing the program (including, but not limited to, storage costs, inventory accounting, insurance, packing and labeling, costs associated with shipment, disposal, replenishment, contract execution, and stock rotation). THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capabilities information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. Your responses may be shared with all stakeholders, thus the information received will not be considered proprietary. Product Service Code: 6515 Medical and Surgical Instruments, Equipment, and Supplies NAICS code(s): 541614 Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services 493120 - Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage 493110 General Warehousing and Storage 504703 Medical Equipment and Supplies 624230 Emergency and Other Relief Services If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: Cover Sheet 1 page Please provide the following information: 1. Organization name, address, and web site. 2. Point of contact to include e-mail address and telephone number. 3. Business size (large or small). If small, please provide type of small business. 4. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) that best fits these task areas. 5. If applicable, GSA contract number, schedule, and SIN category. Index 1 page Please provide an index to assist the Government in identifying where you have addressed each question below in your Capabilities Statement and Market Information. Please provide question number and corresponding page and section heading and/or paragraph number. Capabilities Statement and Market Information Please respond to the following questions by providing a capabilities statement and market information. Please provide an overview of your company, including current and best practices, and examples of proven success with providing guaranteed access to inventory for customers nationwide and in U.S. territories, especially during times of major supply chain disruptions and force majeure impacts. If available, provide historical examples of scalability and flexibility based upon customers needs. If offering vendor owned/vendor managed stock, describe your pricing structure for storage and handling, access (including fees), schedule, and processes (i.e., fill rate, minimum order quantity, replenishment, and supply refreshment). If offering government owned/vendor managed stock, describe your pricing structure for storage and handling, access (including fees), schedule, and processes (i.e., fill rate, minimum order quantity, replenishment, and supply refreshment). Describe where your storage facilities are located? Are these facilities capable of providing continuous operations or after-hours operations as needed for emergency shipments? Please describe the maximum average receiving and distribution capacity by pallets from all combined locations daily. How are these facilities able to ramp up operations support to ensure continuous nationwide support during public health emergencies? Describe your ability to access/procure supplies identified in Attachment 1. Using Attachment 1, describe your ability to ensure stock remains fresh with at least 40% of shelf life remaining. What is the average fill fate capacity within 24 hours of order placement? Using Attachment 1, describe the average capacity of storage and distribution activities utilizing pallets as the unit of measure. Describe your capacity to receive/store/distribute medical supplies and other material requiring Special Handling processes, including hazmat material and cold chain management. Describe your current replenishment schedule in practice. Describe your current practice of receiving and processing deficient product and/or supply discrepancies in customer orders. Describe your relationship with the logistics provider (if other than your facility). Describe your ability to provide transportation tracking information from your facility to the designated location. The Veterans Health Administration serves over 171 hospitals, 1,093 outpatient healthcare facilities and other Fourth Mission partners. Describe your ability to distribute material to other parts of the United States (to include islands) that have these VA facilities, when shortages exist, to satisfy customer material requirements. And what is the turnaround time on this type of Cross Leveling effort? Describe your electronic data interchange system. Does your current system have integration capabilities? Describe current information exchanges (i.e., daily/weekly forecasts, stock levels, forecasting) between the vendor and current customers. Describe your ability to provide reports to customers on stockage levels, including unit of measure and quantity on hand by facility, and your ability to allow representatives to visit your facilities to count and inspect material being stored for a customer/s. Describe your ability to provide vendor recommendations as part of a review or risk mitigation strategy using Supply Chain Risk tools and techniques. Describe your ability to provide reports, forecast material shortages and provide/procure substitutes due to manufacture backlogs and shortages during emergency situations. Please provide examples. Describe your understanding of and capacity to follow all applicable regulations as administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Transportation (DOT), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and other Federal, State, or local laws and regulations as they may apply. Where would you invest in your supply chain to help meet future surges in demand? How would this investment impact supply availability and lead times? Investments might include (but are not limited to): Inventory Infrastructure Transportation assets Establish additional partnerships For a potential future surge in demand, what investments could be made to increase availability and reduce lead times for items that you manufacture or distribute? Investments might include (but are not limited to): Capital equipment/infrastructure Raw materials and/or other inventory Human resources Investments in industry partnerships What would be required to enable or incentivize you to enter into VMI agreements to hold inventory to respond to surge demand on behalf of the US Government? In a VMI scenario, what would be your strategy to manage product shelf-life or obsolescence and preventative maintenance (if required)? What would be your QA/QC strategy? STRUCTURE AND SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES Contractors should respond to this RFI by January 13th, 2023 by 4:00 PM ET via e-mail to David.Rupert@va.gov and Jaime.Belletto1@va.gov. Limit all responses to 20 pages. Subject line should state: Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), Storage and Distribution, Services 36C10X23Q0040. Questions in support of this RFI will not be entertained at this time.