J046--Copper-Silver Ionization Water Treatment Services, Award Notice and JOFOC

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through Network Contracting Office 21, has awarded a firm-fixed-price service contract to Liquitech, Inc. for Copper-Silver Ionization Water Treatment Services at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. This is a sole-source acquisition justified under 41 USC §3304(a)(1), as Liquitech is the original equipment manufacturer with exclusive control over the proprietary copper-silver ionization system used for Legionella and bacterial control in domestic hot water. No other responsible source can provide compatible maintenance, calibration, flow cell rebuilding, or bi-monthly laboratory testing required to ensure compliance with VA healthcare safety directives. The contract spans five years, beginning on July 1, 2026, and extending through June 30, 2031, with four one-year option periods, each valued at $199,607.82, for a total estimated value of $998,038.80. An additional six-month extension is possible under clause RFO 52.217-8. All work must be performed on-site at five buildings within the VA Palo Alto facility by Liquitech-certified technicians, as unauthorized personnel would void warranties and compromise system integrity. The acquisition qualifies as a total small business set-aside under FAR 19.5, though Liquitech’s size status was not formally self-certified. No packaging, marking, or MIL-STD requirements apply, as this is a service contract with no physical delivery. The contracting officer is Cynthia E. Diezel, with Angela Gerlitzki and John Waldrip serving as key points of contact. The notice of intent was issued December 30, 2025, and the award was made on May 22, 2026, following a single response due January 12, 2026, via email. Performance is governed by OEM-authorized protocols and VA health and safety standards, with no formal evaluation factors or competitive scoring used due to the non-competitive nature of the procurement.