72 -- SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM PRODUCTSS

Notice Date

December 15, 2000

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs, National Acquisition Center, P.O. Box 76, Bldg. 37, Hines, IL 60141-0076

ZIP Code

60141-0076

Solicitation Number

VANAC-SSN-121500

Response Due

January 12, 2001

Point of Contact

Loretta Hendrix (708) 786-4933

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via (Loretta.Hendrix@med.va.gov)

Description

SUBJ: Sources Sought for Environmental Programs Products This is a Market Survey and Request for Samples to locate potential sources for the standardization of various medical/surgical items. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) desires to offer its customers, on a national basis, the best possible products and prices and to offer its contractors more opportunities within the system. The intent of the standardization program is to establish national mandatory sources for medical/surgical items to standardize VA's purchasing of products. BIDS/OFFERS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME. A formal solicitation or request for quotations will be issued at a later date. Companies interested in having their items evaluated for possible inclusion in the standardization process should carefully review the item descriptions listed below. If a company can provide these items, SAMPLES OF ALL ITEMS AVAILABLE THAT MEET OR EXCEED THE CRITERIA PROVIDED IN THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AT THIS TIME. Individual samples must be clearly marked with the name of the potential offeror, the product number, and the manufacturer's name. Potential offerors must also include any corresponding detailed product literature with the samples. Detailed product literature should include, but not be limited to, an indication of what materials the products are comprised of (e.g. latex, etc.), country of origin, and a listing of sizes, etc. available. If detailed literature is not received with the samples, the technical evaluation panel may be unable to fully evaluate the samples and the products could be eliminated from further consideration. **Please send samples (the number of samples required is included within the product description below) and corresponding detailed product literature to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Item Management Division (901S), ATTN: Mark Volin, Building 37, First Avenue -- One Block North of Cermak Road (22nd Street), Hines, IL 60141.** Companies submitting samples are also encouraged to obtain Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts for those products from the respective government contract office. VA has the option of awarding a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) against an FSS contract rather than issuing a formal solicitation for the purpose of standardization. Companies whose products are already included on an FSS contract should include a copy of their FSS price list with their product samples. The VHA Environmental Programs User Group, a group of VA Environmental Management Service experts, Facilities Management Service experts, Textile Care Managers, Nurses and Clinicians who have expertise and knowledge of the products, will review and technically evaluate any samples submitted. VA deems the members of the User Group to be subject matter experts. Therefore, they are qualified to determine which products are acceptable. SAMPLES AND PRODUCT LITERATURE MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 12, 2001. Companies not submitting samples by the above date may be eliminated from consideration on any subsequent procurement action for these items. For additional information regarding contracting issues please contact Loretta Hendrix (708) 786-4933, or Sue Proctor (708) 786-5182. For additional information regarding submission of samples please contact Mark Volin (708) 786-7807, or Carl Hunter (708) 786-7783. Products meeting the following minimum criteria are being considered at this time: DISPOSABLE PILLOWS (Samples Required: 2 of each pillow to be evaluated) **NOTE: Please submit samples of pillows from your commercial line that most closely approximate the following characteristics.** Salient Characteristics: 1. FLAME RETARDANT (Certify with literature; meets NFPA701 & NFPA260) 2. CONSTRUCTION (the finished bed pillow shall be rectangular in shape and made from ticking fabric cut with the edges parallel to the grain of the fabric and seamed together on the inside, leaving one end open for insertion of the fiberfill. The fiberfill shall be evenly distributed inside the ticking. Thread of a type appropriate for sleep pillow production and durable in appearance and function to repeated laundering shall be used. Thread color shall match the ticking fabric color. All seams shall be straight and uniform and shall prevent any migration of the fiberfill to the outside of the pillow. All stitching shall be uniform and evenly spaced. Ends of all seams and stitching, when not caught in other seams and stitching shall be secured to prevent unraveling. After filling, the open end of the pillow shall be closed so that no raw edges of the ticking are exposed. 3. COVERTING, TICKING (The ticking fabric shall be odor free, mildew resistant, and treated with a flame resistant finish. The fabric shall be colorfast to perspiration, shall be woven closely enough to allow the finished pillow to slip easily into an appropriately sized pillow case without dragging or bunshing. 4. SIZE (20" x 26" long) 5. DENSITY (19 oz.) 6. PATIENT COMFORT (Must be comfortable to the patient) 7. SYNTHETIC FILL 8. WORKMANSHIP (The finished pillow shall be clean, and free of: odor; objectionable sound and crackling noise when the head is rested on the pillow; soil, dirt, spots, stains, cuts, tears, mends, burns, or needle chews; thread pulls or other fabric defects; parts not aligned; any part assembled off grain; corners not square; uneven, twisted, puckered, or pleated seams; loose seams; tight stitch tension; raw edges of any length; or pieces of filler on the outside of the pillow. The pillow covering shall fit smoothly over the filling, shall not be pulled so tight that the fabric shows evidence of strain or that the stitching breaks or pulls loose, and shall fit so that the pillow is free to spread as required in use. No defects affecting appearance or serviceability shall be permitted. REUSABLE PILLOWS (Samples Required: 2 of each pillow to be evaluated) **NOTE: Please submit samples of pillows from your commercial line that most closely approximate the following characteristics.** Salient Characteristics: 1. FLAME RETARDANT (Certify with literature; meets NFPA701 & NFPA260) 2. CONSTRUCTION (the finished bed pillow shall be rectangular in shape and made from ticking fabric cut with the edges parallel to the grain of the fabric and seamed together on the inside, leaving one end open for insertion of the fiberfill. The fiberfill shall be evenly distributed inside the ticking. Thread of a type appropriate for sleep pillow production and durable in appearance and function to repeated laundering shall be used. Thread color shall match the ticking fabric color. All seams shall be straight and uniform and shall prevent any migration of the fiberfill to the outside of the pillow. All stitching shall be uniform and evenly spaced. Ends of all seams and stitching, when not caught in other seams and stitching shall be secured to prevent unraveling. After filling, the open end of the pillow shall be closed so that no raw edges of the ticking are exposed. 3. COVERTING, TICKING (The ticking fabric shall be odor free, mildew resistant, and treated with a flame resistant finish, with germicidal wipe. The fabric shall be colorfast to perspiration, shall be woven closely enough to allow the finished pillow to slip easily into an appropriately sized pillow case without dragging or bunshing. 4. SIZE (20" x 26" long) 5. DENSITY (19 oz.) 6. PATIENT COMFORT (Must be comfortable to the patient) 7. SYNTHETIC FILL 8. WORKMANSHIP (The finished pillow shall be clean, and free of: odor; objectionable sound and crackling noise when the head is rested on the pillow; soil, dirt, spots, stains, cuts, tears, mends, burns, or needle chews; thread pulls or other fabric defects; parts not aligned; any part assembled off grain; corners not square; uneven, twisted, puckered, or pleated seams; loose seams; tight stitch tension; raw edges of any length; or pieces of filler on the outside of the pillow. The pillow covering shall fit smoothly over the filling, shall not be pulled so tight that the fabric shows evidence of strain or that the stitching breaks or pulls loose, and shall fit so that the pillow is free to spread as required in use. No defects affecting appearance or serviceability shall be permitted.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001219/72SOL001.HTM (W-350 SN5089T3)