J036--CAVHS Laundry Maintenance and Services

The Department of Veterans Affairs through its Network Contracting Office 16 has awarded contract 36C25626Q0494 for comprehensive laundry equipment maintenance and services at two VA healthcare facilities in Arkansas: the Eugene J. Towbin VA Healthcare Center and the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans’ Hospital. This is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 811310 with a maximum five-year performance period consisting of a base year from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027, followed by four one-year option periods through August 31, 2031. The contract has a total potential value of $2,886,973.20 and is awarded using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation process. The contractor must provide a managed maintenance program for 84 pieces of government-owned laundry equipment, including Milnor washers and Chicago-branded ironers, dryers, and fabric handling systems, ensuring over 97% compliance with preventive maintenance tasks and responding to emergency requests within one hour of notification and arriving on-site within two business days. All work must adhere strictly to original equipment manufacturer specifications, and only OEM-certified technicians with documented credentials are permitted to perform maintenance; no aftermarket parts may be used, and contractor personnel must maintain current NFPA 70E safety certifications. Funding for the contract is processed electronically via VA’s Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System through the Tungsten Network, with no use of WAWF or physical invoices allowed. The contracting officer, Anthony Marion, is the primary point of contact, and while a designated contracting officer’s representative is referenced, no specific personnel have been identified in the documentation. Special requirements include mandatory OEM certification for every equipment brand listed, a post-award conference before commencing work, and strict adherence to security prohibitions under FAR 52.240-91, which excludes the use of certain telecommunications equipment linked to national security risks. Contractors must also submit proposals in two volumes: a technical volume containing evidence of OEM certifications and three years of prior VA laundry maintenance experience, and a price volume with fully completed and priced CLINs, where unpriced items result in automatic rejection. The contract includes two option clauses—one allowing for a six-month service extension and another permitting a total contract extension up to five years with a 60-day notice. Additionally