Department of Veterans Affairs, Acquisition Opeations Service (93A), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420

B -- FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR POINT-OF-USE EQUIPMENT SOL RFC 101-02-00 DUE 041400 POC Dennis Maloney (202) 273-8792 WEB: VA Business Opportunities, http://www.va.gov/oa&mm/busopp.htm. E-MAIL: Contracting Officer, dennis.maloney@mail.va.gov. The following is a Request for Comment (RFC); a synopsis of information for planning purposes, and does not constitute a Request For Proposals (RFP), a Request For Quotes (RFQ) or an Invitation For Bids (IFB). The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is in the process of revising the Statement Of Work (SOW) for a Feasibility Study on Point-of-Use (POU) Equipment. The proposed feasibility study will determine whether Point-of-Use Equipment provides operational improvements to Medical Center Supply Management and if it is economically justifiable. Two approaches will be studied: 1) examine the feasibility of a consignment arrangement in which the medical supply distributor provides the POU equipment and stocks it on a consignment basis, charging VA only for the products that are used; and 2) determine the feasibility of machines when stocked by in-house VA personnel using traditional replenishment methods. To effectively proceed with this effort, industry comments are solicited on this initiative. The purpose of this RFC is to afford industry an opportunity to identify any perceived issues regarding the initiative and to allow the Government an opportunity to receive the benefit of industry comment. The Government's purpose in providing this opportunity for industry comment is to identify potential problem areas and provide recommendations to enhance the success of the proposed initiative. The Government believes industry feedback is important, and is receptive to any and all ideas which would limit unnecessary constraining requirements, identify cost savings, identify omissions or highlight potential technical problem areas associated with the initiative (SOW revision). Comments provided should be viewed as an opportunity to improve the current SOW for the Feasibility Study. Comments, both supportive and critical, are earnestly solicited. Comments received from industry may or may not be used to revise the current SOW and resulting solicitation document. Replies will be separate from, and have no bearing on,subsequent formal RFP. The Government will not critique a potential offeror's comments and the RFC should not be used by an offeror to market their products. The Government does not intend to pay for the information solicited and will not recognize any cost associated with submission of the RFC. A pre-solicitation synopsis will be issued prior to release of solicitation. Responses to this RFC are due no later than April 14, 2000. To receive a copy of the current SOW please contact Mr. Dennis Maloney (93A1), 810 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20420. All requests for SOWs and RFC submissions may be directed to Mr. Maloney at (202) 273-8792 or via email dennis.maloney@mail.va.gov. Posted 03/09/00 (W-SN432969). (0069)

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