This Sources Sought opportunity from Department Of Veterans Affairs was posted on May 5, 2026. The submission period has ended. Browse the details below for market research, or find similar active opportunities.
6515--ROTARY MICROTOME
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs, through its VISN 22 Network Contracting Office, is conducting market research via a Request for Information to identify qualified sources capable of supplying a Rotary Microtome Instrument for the VA San Diego Healthcare System. This RFI is not a solicitation and does not obligate the government to award a contract; it is issued solely for planning and acquisition purposes under FAR 15.201(e). Respondents must demonstrate the ability to provide a brand name or equal product that meets specific technical requirements, including an antistatic waste tray, semi-motorized operation with manual override, a coarse feed wheel with selectable direction, object head speed ranging from 200 to 1800 micrometers per second, a user-adjustable force balance system, compatibility with low and high profile blades, interchangeable blade holder components, a digital display, and dimensions not exceeding 477mm in width, 620mm in depth, and 295mm in height. The RFI references the Leica HistoCore MULTICUT as a descriptive benchmark but explicitly states that equal alternatives are acceptable provided respondents submit clear, compelling, and convincing evidence that their products meet all performance criteria. Respondents must be authorized resellers, distributors, or dealers of the Original Equipment Manufacturer and are prohibited from offering remanufactured or gray market items. They are required to disclose their business size under NAICS 339112 (with a 1,000-employee small business standard), socioeconomic certifications such as SDVOSB, VOSB, HUBZone, or WOSB, whether they manufacture or distribute the product, the country of origin, and whether they alter or modify equipment prior to sale. Additionally, respondents must indicate if they hold a federal contract such as GSA FSS, NASA SEWP, or NAC and confirm the availability of the equipment under those contracts. Pricing information must be submitted for market research only, with no expectation of binding commitments. Responses must be submitted electronically via email to the designated point of contact by the deadline of May 12, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and no telephone submissions will be accepted. This RFI does not include contract clauses, evaluation factors, payment details, delivery schedules, or inspection protocols—those will be developed only if a future solicitation is issued, and any interested party must respond separately to that formal solicitation.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Department of Veterans Affairs VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, AZ, 92161, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Submission Closed
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. IAW FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. SOURCES SOUGHT DESCRIPTION This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a RFI only. The purpose of this RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 339112 (size standard of 1000 Employees). Responses to this RFI will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After a review of the responses to this RFI, a solicitation announcement may be published. Responses to this RFI synopsis are not considered adequate responses for a solicitation announcement.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 22 Network Contracting Office, is seeking sources that can provide a Rotary Microtome Instrument that at a minimum meets the following salient characteristics with a brand name or equal product for the VA San Diego Healthcare System:
Must have an antistatic waste tray Must be semi-motorized with capability for manual operation. Must have coarse feed wheel with selectable turn direction. Must have the capability to move object head between 200um/s and 1800um/s. Must have user adjustable force balance system a. Must be capable of being used with both low and high profile blades.. Must have interchangeable parts that allow for the replacement of blade holder components individually. The dimensions of the equipment must not exceed the following, width 477mm x depth 620mm x height 295mm. Must have a digital display.Is a display needed? If yes, does it need to be digital? Yes, we need it be digital.
Brand name Info: BRAND PRODUCT DESCRIPTION PRODUCT # QTY Leica Microsystems
HistoCore MULTICUT Configuration
149MULTI0C1
1 Leica Microsystems
Power cord USA - 15 AMP
14041157009
1
The information identified above is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive and to indicate the quality of the supplies that will be satisfactory. It is the responsibility of the interested source to demonstrate to the government that the interested parties can provide the supplies/services that fulfill the required specifications. If you are interested and are capable of providing the sought-out supplies, please provide the requested information as well as the information indicated below. Response to this notice should include company name, address, point of contact, size of business pursuant to the following questions: (1) Please indicate the size status and representations of your business, such as but not limited to: Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), HUBZone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.)? (2) Is your company considered small under the NAICS code identified under this RFI? (3) Are you the manufacturer or distributor of the items being referenced above (or equivalent product/solution)? What is the manufacturing country of origin of these items? (4) If you re a small business and you are an authorized distributor/reseller for the items identified above (or equivalent product/solution), do you alter; assemble; modify; the items requested in any way? If you do, state how and what is altered; assembled; modified? (5) Does your company have an FSS contract with GSA or the NAC or are you a contract holder with NASA SEWP or any other federal contract? If so, please provide the contract type and number. (6) If you are an FSS GSA/NAC or NASA SEWP contract holder or other federal contract holder, are the referenced items/solutions available on your schedule/contract? (7) Please provide general pricing for your products/solutions for market research purposes. (8) Please submit your capabilities in regards to the salient characteristics being provided and any information pertaining to equal to items to establish capabilities for planning purposes? *** Submissions addressing Section (8) should show clear, compelling and convincing*** evidence that all equal to items" meet all required salient characteristics. Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to kahlfanie.carabon@gov. Telephone responses shall not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than Tuesday, May 12th, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. Pacific Time. If a solicitation is issued it shall be announced at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this request for information. Responses to this notice are not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. Notice: No remanufactured or gray market items/supplies will be acceptable. Interested parties of RFI must be an authorized reseller, distributor, or dealer of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Verification can be provided by an authorization letter or other documents from the OEM. Equipment shall be in accordance with the OEM terms and conditions.
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