7G21--Nurse Call System Replacement RFI - Notice of Planned Acquisition Strategy

The Department of Veterans Affairs is pursuing a procurement strategy to replace existing nurse call systems across its medical facilities by issuing a combined synopsis and solicitation for the Hill-Rom Voalte Nurse Call System, with integration capabilities that connect directly to existing Hill-Rom hospital beds without middleware to capture comprehensive patient and room data for display on nurse station dashboards. This acquisition is structured as a firm-fixed price purchase order and is 100 percent set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, with the NAICS code 541519 and a small business size standard of 150 employees. The requirement encompasses full system deployment including equipment such as graphical room stations, call buttons, communication cabling, power supplies, and nurse call software, along with staging, cable installation, termination, testing, labeling, device installation, and warranty services. All deliverables must meet strict VA-specific standards including Section 508 accessibility compliance, adherence to the VA Trustworthy AI Framework, Zero Trust architecture, IPv6 support, and compliance with VA security controls related to medical device cybersecurity and information systems. Offerors must respond to this RFI by email only, with a submission limit of 10 pages, within a tight window, and are required to provide their Unique Entity Identifier, business size status, SDVOSB certification if claimed, and confirm compliance with the VA’s Contractor Rules of Behavior and security protocols. Security requirements are extensive and non-negotiable: all contractor personnel must undergo background investigations aligned with Tier 1, 2, or 4 risk levels, submit SF-85, SF-85P, or SF-86 forms through DCSA eAPP, pass fingerprinting procedures, and sign the VA Information Security Rule of Behavior prior to access. Personnel must be U.S.-based, and all VA data must be strictly segregated from other information. Contractors are obligated to submit and maintain a current staff roster with full personal identifiers and background tier levels, update it within 24 hours of any personnel change, and provide a Statement of Attestation for AI use if applicable. System installations must comply with UL 1069 for safety, VA TRM, and VA Directive standards, and any delivered devices must be malware-free, support remote patching, and be configured with approved antivirus or whitelisting tools. Deliveries are FOB destination with packaging required to include VA IFCAP Purchase Order number and sequential container labeling, although no MIL-STD packaging or preservation requirements are mandated. The