99--Sources Sought to Identify Market for Supply Sheridan VA Medical Center CBOC Dry Ice

This is a Sources Sought Notice. This notice is a mechanism for obtaining feedback from industry in regard to the general requirement stated below. THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP). Rather, it is a market research tool to determine potential sources for WEEKLY DELIVERY OF DRY ICE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FROZEN SPECIMENS SENT FOR LABORATORY PROCESSING. The Government is not obligated to, nor will the Government pay for any information received from potential sources of this Sources Sought Notice. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to the announcement or any follow-up information requests. No proposals are being requested or accepted at this time. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, SAO West, NCO 19 Rocky Mountain Acquisition Center, 4100 E. Mississippi Avenue, Suite 900, Glendale, CO 80246, on behalf of the Sheridan VA Medical Center, is seeking interest from potential sources of weekly dry ice deliverables (shipping, packaging and packing supplies) for the preservation of frozen specimens sent for laboratory processing from the following Sheridan VA Medical Center Community Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs): GILLETTE WY WORLAND WY CASPER WY ROCK SPRINGS WY AFTON WY EVANSTON WY RIVERTON WY The dry ice will be delivered as need but generally no less than weekly in average shipment to the respective CBOCs as follows: GILLETTE 484 LBS. WORLAND 430 LBS. CASPER 421 LBS. ROCK SPRINGS 416 LBS. AFTON 411 LBS. EVANSTON 353 LBS. RIVERTON 305 LBS. The cost will include the cost for Hazmat and energy. Interested vendors should submit their capabilities to include specifications of their product, relevant past performance information, price, delivery time and customer support. This information will be reviewed by the Government's technical representatives for consideration for future requirements. A future acquisition is anticipated and the type of solicitation issued will depend upon the responses to this Notice. The intended contract period will be for one base year, with four one-year option periods commencing from date of award in Fiscal Year 2012. This Notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The purpose of this announcement is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and information from qualified vendors. The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsive vendors. The responses to this announcement will assist in determining the socio-economic set-aside if feasible. The Veterans Administration is required by Public Law 104-9 to give first priority to SDVOSB and VOSB concerns if there should be sufficient firms available to compete under a set aside. Interested parties should submit with their response the following information no later than 5PM (EST), Tuesday, November 15, 2011, and include POC information, Duns & Bradstreet No., and business size pursuant to the following questions: 1.) Is your business small; 2.) If small does your firm qualify as a small disadvantaged business; 3.) If disadvantaged please specify under what group and if you are Section 8a certified; 4.) Is your firm a certified "Hub zone" firm; 5.) Is your firm a woman-owned business 6.) Is your firm a certified Service-disabled veteran owned small business, or veteran owned small business? Responses to this notice shall be emailed to the attention of Heather Vogt, Department of Veterans Affairs at contact@example.gov . Responses must be received no later than 5:00 P.M. EST Tuesday, November 15, 2011. All questions should be addressed to contact@example.gov or +1 (555) 000-0000.