THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) / SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION.
SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION ABOUT PRICING, DELIVERY, THE MARKET, AND CAPABILITIES IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED UNDER THIS RFI FOR PLANNING PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) FAR 15.201(e).
DISCLAIMER
This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. IAW FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.
SOURCES SOUGHT/RFI DESCRIPTION
This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a Sources Sought Notice / RFI only. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice / RFI is to gain information about potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 325998 (size standard of 650 Employees). Responses to this Sources Sought Notice / RFI will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this Sources Sought Notice / RFI, further RFIs and/or a solicitation or other announcements may be published.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking sources capable of providing coarse salt supply for VA Phoenix boiler plant.
Statement of Work
General:
The Department of Veterans Affairs Phoenix Healthcare System located at 650 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ, 85012, intends to enter into a single award Indefinite-delivery Indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for five year (base plus option four years) for a requirement of coarse salt supply. The facilities boiler plant maintains a salt silo that is used for daily operation throughout the Hospital. This salt water system is required due to the high levels of hard water in the Phoenix area. Please note shipping term is FOB Destination; all shipping cost must be included in unit cost.
Requirements/Tasks:
The contractor shall be responsible for the following:
Provide bulk delivery of salt to the Phoenix VA Health Care System main boiler plant salt silo.
The contractor shall provide a service team and tractor trailer that will transport the bulk delivery of salt.
The contractor will supply monthly delivery of approximately 40,000 to 50,000 pounds of salt.
The contractor shall provide on-site inspections always ensuring safe delivery.
The contractor shall provide clean-up if necessary, of any accidental spills of bulk salt delivery.
The contractor shall provide a 4-inch coupling hose that is attached to the salt water silo located at the facilities boiler plant to discharge the bulk delivery of salt.
The contractor is responsible for all travel-related costs associated with the transportation of goods, and shall provide all equipment, supplies, and tools necessary to complete required task.
The contractor must be able to provide training and instructions when required of all operations that will occur during the bulk salt delivery to the Supervisor of Boiler Plant Operations Sections, or any assigned designees.
The contractor is to provide monthly invoice reports to the designated VA Phoenix POC s.
Deliverables:
CLIN
Description
Qty
UOM
0001
Bulk Coase Salt Estimating 25 tons per Delivery
1
YR
Order Limitations
Minimum Dollar Threshold
Maximum Dollar Threshold
$10,000
$150,000
The quantities cited in the chart above are estimated quantities for base and all option periods; quantities are not a contractual statement of precise quantities that the Government will order. The quantities given are estimated only, and no guarantee of their accuracy is either given or implied. The Government will only pay for quantities that are ordered, delivered, and accepted. Pricing shall be firm fixed-price.
Period of Performance:
Base: 10/1/2026-09/30/2027
Option year 1 (OY1): 10/1/2027 9/30/2028
Option year 2 (OY2): 10/1/2028 9/30/2029
Option year 3 (OY3): 10/1/2029 9/30/2030
Option year 4 (OY4): 10/1/2030 9/30/2031
Delivery Schedule:
Hours of operations: Mon-Fri / 7:00am -4:30pm.
Delivery and receipt of the proposed items is anticipated to be directed to the location
identified below. Confirmation of delivery location will be provided by the VA POC postaward. The contractor is required to manage and coordinate deliveries with designated POCs and discharge materials according to VA Phoenix direction. Upon award, vendor shall deliver product within 30 days of receipt of approval. In addition, vendor must notify VA Phoenix staff of any anticipated or expected issues that might arise due to late delivery, strikes, and delays of any nature. Deliveries are to be made monthly.
Place of Performance:
VA Phoenix Healthcare System
650 E Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85012
The list of Draft characteristics is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive, of the supplies/services that are required.
If your company is interested and capable of providing the required supplies/services, please provide the information indicated below. Incomplete responses to the questions below this notice will not be accepted. Response to this notice should include company name, address, point of contact, size of business pursuant to the following questions:
(1) Submit your capabilities statement illustrating how your organization can/cannot meet the SOW. For instances where your company cannot meet the SOW, please explain. For instances where your company can meet the SOW requirement(s), please show how your company meets/exceeds each requirement.
(2) Please review the SOW and provide any additional feedback or suggestions. If none, please reply as N/A.
(3) Please indicate the size status and representations of your business, such as but not limited to: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), HUBZone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.
(4) Is your company considered small under the NAICS code identified in this RFI?
(5) Are you the manufacturer, authorized distributor, and/or can your company provide a solution to the required supplies/services described in the list of SOWS?
(6) If you are a large business, do you have any designated/authorized distributors? If so, please provide their company name, telephone, point of contact and size status (if available).
(7) If you re a small business and you are an authorized distributor/reseller for the items identified above, do you alter; assemble; modify; the items requested in any way? If you do, state how and what is altered; assembled; modified.
(8) Limitations on Subcontracting: How does your business ensure compliance with the limitations on subcontracting as outlined in 13 CFR § 125.6?
(9) Are the items you are identifying/providing considered Commercial of the Shelf (COTS) items as defined in FAR Part 2.101 under commercial items?
(10) Non-Manufacturer Rule: If applicable, can you confirm your business complies with the Non-Manufacturer rule? Specifically, does your company: Provide a product from a small business manufacturer or processor? Not exceed 500 employees? Primarily engage in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sell the type of item being supplied? Take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice?
(11) Please indicate whether your product conforms to the requirements of the Buy American Act?
(12) What is your lead time to deliver a single unit with all components? Is there scale in lead time with greater quantities? Please elaborate.
(13) What is estimated life span of your solution? What support/services does that entail?
(14) Does your proposed equipment have FDA clearance? Please specify what FDA clearance(s) have been obtained.
(15) Does your organization offer a leasing solution? Please elaborate.
(16) Does your company have a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) GSA/NAC/SAC/BPA/NASA SEWP or any other Federal Government contract? If so, please provide the contract number(s).
(17) If you are an FSS GSA/NAC/SAC/BPA/NASA SEWP or any other Federal Government contract holder, are all the items/solutions you are providing information about available on your schedule/contract? Please state if all or some items are available on the contract.
(18) General pricing of your products/solution is encouraged. Pricing will be used for the purpose of market research only. It will not be used to evaluate for any type of award.
(19) Please provide your SAM.gov Unique Entity ID/Cage Code number.
Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to Melissa.Ramirez8@va.gov. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than Monday, July 6th, 2026 by 10:00 AM Pacific Local Time.
All responses to this Sources Sought/RFI will be used for planning purposes only. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice / RFI are not considered a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. If further RFIs and/or a solicitation or other announcement is issued as a result of the information provided from this RFI, all interested parties must respond to the specific posting separately IAW the specifications of that announcement.
