Electro-Therapeutic Modalities for Pain Management (ETMPM) - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Procurement Program

Solicitation Notice: 36C79126R0011 – Electro-Therapeutic Modalities for Pain Management (ETMPM) – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Procurement Program

Notice Type: Solicitation Issuance Notice

Solicitation Number: 36C79126R0011
 

Posted Date: September 18, 2026

Response Due Date: October 19, 2026, 3:00 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT)
 

NAICS Code: 334510 – Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing. The Small Business size standard for NAICS Code 334510 is 1,250 employees. This NAICS code is appropriate as it encompasses the manufacturing of FDA‑regulated electromedical therapeutic equipment including TENS, IFC, neuromodulation, and diathermy devices.
 

PSC: 6515 – Medical and Surgical Instruments, Equipment, and Supplies
 

Set-Aside: The Tiered Set-Aside Evaluation Approach used by the VA is not classified as a traditional Small Business set-aside, but rather as a competitive negotiated procurement, conducted via a tiered evaluation process aimed at prioritizing award to successive small business categories. This acquisition will be conducted using the VA Tiered Set‑Aside Evaluation Approach pursuant to the authority of 38 U.S.C. 8127, including the statutory priority ordering prescribed in 38 U.S.C. § 8127(h) (a subsection of the Veterans First Contracting Program statute) and the procedures outlined in Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 815.101‑370 (Class Deviation). Under this approach, the Government will solicit offers from all tiers of Offerors simultaneously; however, proposal evaluations and award determination will occur sequentially in the prescribed order of priority. The tiers for this procurement are as follows:

1. Tier-1 Service‑Disabled Veteran‑Owned Small Business (SDVOSB): SDVOSBs shall be evaluated first in accordance with VA’s statutory obligation to prioritize verified SDVOSBs when the VA Rule of Two is met. If no award can be made at Tier-1, then verified VOSB offers will be evaluated next in Tier-2, consistent with the Veterans First hierarchy.
2. Tier-2 Veteran‑Owned Small Business (VOSB): If no award can be made at Tier 2, the Government will evaluate offers from all other eligible small business concerns, (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, and WOSB are considered before considering other small business concerns), in Tier 3 following the tiering procedures established in VAAR 815.101-3 and VAAR 815.101-370 (Class Deviation).
3. Tier-3 Other Small Business Concerns: If no award can be made at Tier-3, the Government will evaluate offers from all Other-Than-Small-Business (OTSB) Concerns (Large Businesses)) in Tier 4 following the tiering procedures established in VAAR 815.101‑3 and 815.101‑370 (Class Deviation).
4. Tier-4 Other‑Than‑Small Business (OTSB) Concerns (Large Businesses): If no award can be made under any small business Tier 1 through 3, the Government will evaluate offers from other‑than‑small businesses or large business concerns in Tier 4.

This tiered evaluation methodology is authorized under 38 U.S.C. 8127 and implemented through the VA’s Class Deviation to VAAR 815.101‑370, which permits the use of tiered set‑aside procedures to minimize procurement delays in situations where market research indicates that award at the SDVOSB or VOSB tiers is uncertain.

Contracting Office: Department of Veterans Affairs, Enterprise Procurement Office, Acquisition Service Four Delta Team, 555 Corporate Circle, Golden, CO 80401-5621.

Introduction: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pleased to announce the release of Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011, the official Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Electro-Therapeutic Modalities for Pain Management (ETMPM) – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Procurement Program. The objective of this national procurement program is to establish multiple single-awards of Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Base contracts and resultant FFP/IDIQ Delivery Order contracts to be awarded on a per-Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) and per-Sub-Line Item Number (SLIN) basis for the procurement of FDA-cleared electro-therapeutic devices and accessories supporting non-opioid pain management for Veterans across all VA Medical Centers and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics. This solicitation recompetition of the expiring legacy TENS contract and expands the legacy TENS procurement program to include Interferential Current Therapy (IFC) devices, Short-Wave Diathermy (SWD) devices (thermal and non-thermal), and portable Neuromodulation systems - for the treatment of headache disorders to be inclusive all unique parent CLIN devices and the device accessories has enumerated at the discrete subordinate SLINs. The device accessories categorized as SLINs include but are not limited to electrodes, lead wires, power chargers, garment-based applicators, and associated other consumables. Each product of the ETMPM-TENS requirement is mapped to unique parent CLIN and a discrete subordinate SLINs with universal Minimum Technical Requirements (MTRs) applicable to all CLINs/SLINs and individual CLIN/SLIN-specific MTRs.

Key Dates:

• RFP Questions Due-In Date: On or before but no later than October 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM CDT, questions received after this deadline may receive a Government response or receipt acknowledgement.

• Proposal Package and Product Samples Due-In Date: On or before but no later than October 19, 2026, at 3:00 PM CDT. Early proposal package and product samples are encouraged.

• Anticipated Award: The results of competition ultimately determine when and if award(s) can be made, but the VA intends to finalize award decisions on or before but no later than January 19, 2027, the expiration date of the legacy TENS contract. The VA reserves the right not to make an award or to make award on some CLINs/SLINs but not all the CLINs/SLINs enumerated in the solicitation.

Proposal Package Submission Instructions: A responsive proposal is one that conforms to the solicitation in all material respects and complies fully with all instructions contained therein, including but not limited to Offerors’ certifications, representations, submission formatting, inclusion of all mandatory documentation, and the shipment of product samples to the VA’s Denver Logistic Services facility in Golden, Colorado in accordance with the product samples delivery requirements as stated throughout the RFP. Submission of a proposal package in response to Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011 is strictly voluntary. All costs associated with the preparation, development, and submission of proposals, proposal package documentation, and any required product samples shall be borne solely by the Offeror. The Department of Veterans Affairs will not reimburse, compensate, or otherwise pay Offerors for any expenses incurred in the preparation or submission of proposal materials or product samples. Offerors shall not invoice the Government for such costs. All proposal preparation and submission activities are performed at the Offeror’s own expense.

Policy Note: In the event of a conflict between this Solicitation Notice posted at the Government-wide Point of Entry (GPE) website at https://www.sam.gov and solicitation number 36C79126R0011, the solicitation shall prevail, govern, and control.

Proposal Packages must include but are not limited to the following:

1. Properly Executed SF 1449: Complete the name/title, signature, and date signed Blocks 30a–30c of the SF 1449. Complete the information entries of all Section B Continuation Pages to include filling in all required YELLOW highlighted text fields for the Offeror’s primary point of contact. Include the fully executed SF 1449 as a separate document attachment to the proposal submission email message.
2. Submission of a Technical Capability Statement: All Offerors shall submit a Technical Capability Statement that adequately demonstrates the Offeror’s capability to fulfill all universal MTRs and the CLINs/SLINs-specific MTRs for all offered products and adequately demonstrates the Offeror’s clear and complete understanding of the ETMPM-TENS requirement and the Offeror’s capability to deliver the required products as ordered within 30 calendar days of order receipt. The Technical Capability Statement shall be submitted as a separate document attachment to the proposal submission email message.
3. OEM-issued Authorized Distributor Letters (Required for all Non-Manufacturers): Submit a current, valid OEM-issued Authorized Distributor Letter(s) accounting for all non-manufacturer products on a per-CLIN/SLIN basis. The OEM-issued Authorized Distributor Letters shall be submitted as a separate document attachment to the proposal submission email message.
4. FDA Clearance Letters: All Offerors shall submit valid FDA 510(k) clearance letters/documentation or other applicable FDA authorization for every device and accessory offered on a per-CLIN/SLIN basis. The FDA Clearance Letters shall be submitted as a separate document attachment to the proposal submission email message.
5. Past Performance Documentation: All Offerors shall submit the three (3) most recent official CPARS Evaluation Reports, if an Offeror is unable to submit completed CPARS Evaluation Reports due to a lack of past performance, the Offeror shall submit Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) completed by the Offeror’s three (3) most recent customers. All Offerors shall submit three (3) past performance documents for Government evaluation that may consist of a combination of official CPARS Evaluation Reports and/or Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs). The PPQs shall be completed and submitted by the Offeror’s customer(s) directly to the VA’s Contract Specialist via separate document attachments to the PPQs submission email message. The Offeror submitted CPARS Evaluation Reports shall be submitted as a separate document attachment(s) to the proposal submission email message.
6. Product Samples: All Offerors shall ship a product sample for every product offered on a per-CLINs/SLINs basis at no cost to the Government. Ship all required product samples for each proposed CLIN/SLIN to:

 Department of Veterans Affairs

 Denver Logistics Service (DLS)

 555 Corporate Circle, Golden, CO 80401-5621

 Attention: Javier Ramirez and Lisa Mello

 RFP Number 36C79126R0011

1. All product samples must be received by the Government personnel at the VA’s DLS facility on or before but no later than the common due-in date/time established for the receipt of all proposal submission in response to the issuance of Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011. The early submission of product samples is encouraged.
2. All Required Solicitation Attachments: All Offerors are required to complete, certify, and submit all solicitation attachments (Attachment 0001 - Price Matrix, Attachment 0002- Offeror’s Representations and Certifications, Attachment 0003 - Limitations on Subcontracting, Attachment 0004 - Buy American Certificate, Attachment 0005 - Trade Agreements Certificate, and Attachment 0006 - Past Performance Questionnaire - utilized by Offerors on an as needed basis). The Attachments to this solicitation shall be submitted as a separate document attachment(s) to the proposal submission email message.

Policy Note: If any conflict exists between offered end-product country-of-origin (COO) entries in Attachment 0002 (FAR 52.212-3) and Attachments 0004 (FAR 52.225-2) or 0005 (FAR 52.225-6), the entries in Attachments 0004 and 0005 shall govern for end-product COO eligibility and evaluation under FAR Part 25. The VA will rely on CLIN/SLIN-level COO declarations in these attachments for Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act compliance.

1. Proposal Package Documentation Submission Method: Submit all proposal documents electronically by email message with attached documents to:

• John Overstake, Primary Contract Specialist: john.overstake@va.gov;

• Carbon Copy (“CC”): Alternate Contract Specialist Susanna Huffmaster: susanna.huffmaster@va.gov>maurice.walker@va.gov; 

• Carbon Copy (“CC”): Maurice Walker, Contracting Officer and Source Selection Authority: maurice.walker@va.gov;

• Use Email Subject Line: “Proposal Submission – RFP 36C79126R0011 – [Offeror Name]”; and

• The VA will confirm receipt of proposal packages by brief email reply message.

Evaluation and Award Methodology:

• CLINs/SLINs X001–X004: Evaluated using Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection procedures.

• CLIN/SLIN X005 and X005AA: Evaluated using Best Value – Tradeoff source selection procedures.

Responsiveness: Only proposals meeting all material requirements as stated in solicitation number 36C79126R0011 will be evaluated and considered for award.

RFP Questions & Government Responses: All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing by email message only addressed to John Overstake at email address john.overstake@va.gov, with a carbon copy (“CC”) message to Susanna Huffmaster: susanna.huffmaster@va.gov and a carbon copy (“CC”) message to maurice.walker@va.gov. All Offerors’ RFP questions shall be received on or before but no later than October 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM CDT. The VA will acknowledge receipt of all timely questions received. All Government responses to timely questions shall be posted on the GPE website at https://www.sam.gov on or before but no later than the common due-in date/time established for the receipt of all proposal submission in response to the issuance of Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011. Questions received after the established deadline for the receipt of all questions to the Government in response to the issuance of Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011 may not receive a Government receipt acknowledgement and may not receive a Government response at the sole discretion of the Government.

Closing Statement: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sincerely thanks all prospective Offerors for their interest and the significant effort required to prepare and submit responsive proposals. The VA recognizes the substantial commitment time, effort, and resources involved and commends your dedication to supporting our mission. Together, we serve those who have served our great nation with honor, courage, and commitment. It is our privilege to partner with industry participants in delivering the highest quality healthcare and support of America’s Veterans.

For full details, instructions, and all solicitation documents, please download the complete RFP package and all six (6) solicitation attachments from this posting.

(End of Solicitation Notice 36C79126R0011)