6515--Ultralow -80 Freezers

The contract, identified by solicitation number 36C26226Q0853, is a firm-fixed-price award notice issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 22, for the procurement of ultralow -80°C freezers and associated equipment and services under a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set aside. The requirement calls for the delivery of two ultralow freezers, two CO2/LN2 backup systems, power cords, validation services, temperature calibration, and a five-year service package, with all items to be delivered no later than 180 days after contract award and installed at the VA Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center in Albuquerque, NM. The contract employs the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation method, meaning awards will be made solely to offers that meet all mandatory technical requirements—in particular, conformity with specified brand-name or equal items—and submit the lowest price, with no trade-offs based on technical superiority or past performance. The place of performance and delivery is fixed at the Albuquerque facility, with F.O.B. destination terms applying, meaning risk transfers to the Government upon delivery. All invoicing must be submitted electronically through the VA’s EIPP system, and payments will be processed via Electronic Funds Transfer to the Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center in Austin, TX. Compliance with a broad range of federal regulations is required, including provisions on whistleblower protections, ethics, prohibited contractors (Kaspersky and other covered entities), Buy American Act restrictions with multiple alternates, trade agreements, and restrictions on foreign purchases. Subcontracting limitations are strictly enforced with a 50% cap on the total contract value for non-VIP-listed SDVOSBs, and only VIP-listed SDVOSBs qualify as similarly situated subcontractors. The contractor must also adhere to the non-manufacturer rule for supply contracts, ensuring end items are produced by a domestic small business manufacturer unless exempted. Additional obligations include maintaining an active Unique Entity ID and SAM.gov registration, complying with reporting requirements for executive compensation and subcontract awards, submitting proposals of no more than 15 pages excluding pricing, and certifying SDVOSB status in accordance with 38 U.S.C. §8127 and related regulations. The contract includes clauses requiring privacy training, affirmative action for veterans and persons with disabilities, anti-trafficking measures, prohibitions on segregated facilities, and adherence to environmental standards