S201--Building Drone Cleaning Service VA Loma Linda Health Care Systems

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY.  It is neither a solicitation announcement nor a request for proposals or quotes and does not obligate the Government to award a contract.  Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Responses to this source sought must be in writing.  The purpose of this sources sought announcement is for market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential qualified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses, 8(a), HubZone and other Small Businesses interested and capable of providing the services described below. Documentation of technical expertise must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary functional area expertise and experience to compete for this acquisition.  Responses to this notice shall include the following: (a) company name (b) address (c) point of contact (d) phone, fax, and email (e) Unique Entity ID (f) Cage Code (g) Tax ID Number (h) Type of small business, e.g. Services Disabled Veteran Owned small Business, Veteran-owned small business, 8(a), HUBZone, Women Owned Small Business, Small disadvantaged business, or Small Business HUBZone business and (i) must provide a capability statement that addresses the organizations qualifications and ability to perform as a contractor for the work described below, along with any additional requirements stated below.  VA Loma Linda Health Care Systems (VALLHCS) requires drone cleaning services for buildings.  Notice to potential offerors: All offerors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov. Additionally, all Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses or Veteran Owned Businesses who respond to a solicitation on this project must be registered with the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise VetCert Registry located at Veteran Small Business Certification (sba.gov).  All interested Offerors should submit information by e-mail to stephanie.naron@va.gov.  All information submissions to be marked Attn: Stephanie Naron, Contract Specialist and should be received no later than 07/20/2026 at 16:00 EST.  IMPORTANT INFORMATION The Government is not obligated to nor will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to this sources sought synopsis request.   This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach.   The Government will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued.   No sub-contracting opportunity is anticipated.   The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 488190 Other Support Activities for Air Transportation; small-business size standard is $40M. VETERANS FIRST CONTRACTING PROGRAM NOTICE In accordance with Public Law 109 461 (38 U.S.C. 8127 8128) and VAAR Subpart 819.70, the Department of Veterans Affairs applies the Veterans First Contracting Program. The VA is required to first consider a total set aside for verified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) when market research indicates: Two or more verified SDVOSB firms are capable of performing the work, and Award can be made at a fair and reasonable price. If the Rule of Two is not met, the VA will then consider a VOSB set aside, and if still not met, may proceed with other small business set aside strategies or full and open competition. CAPABILITY STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS Instructions to Interested Vendors Interested firms must submit a Capability Statement (not to exceed 5 pages) answering the following questions. Failure to provide direct answers or required regulatory evidence will result in the firm being marked as "non-capable" during the VA s market research evaluation. a. Company Overview & Socioeconomic Status Provide your company Name, Unique Entity ID (UEI), and CAGE code. State your business size standard under NAICS 488190. Is your firm actively certified in the SBA VetCert database as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)? (Provide a screenshot or link to your active SBA VetCert profile). Regulatory Compliance & FAA Licensing (Safety/Technical Gate) Drone operations on federal property require strict regulatory adherence. Vendors must provide proof of the following: Does your firm hold an active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification for the pilots intended for this project?  Heavy-lift cleaning drones carrying water/chemical payloads frequently exceed 55 pounds. Does your firm possess an active FAA Section 44807 Heavy Drone Exemption? If yes, provide the exemption number. If your aircraft is under 55 lbs, state the exact make/model and gross take-off weight. Provide proof that your firm carries, or can immediately obtain, dedicated UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Aviation Liability Insurance with a minimum coverage of $2,000,000. (Standard commercial general liability with aviation exclusions is unacceptable). Domestic Sourcing & Security (NDAA Compliance) To comply with federal procurement restrictions, state the exact manufacturer, model, and country of origin for the drone platforms, software, and remote controllers you intend to deploy. Explicitly certify that your proposed drone equipment is NDAA-compliant and does not utilize components from prohibited foreign manufacturers. Anti-Pass-Through & Limitations on Subcontracting In accordance with VAAR 852.219-75, the certified prime contractor must perform at least 50% of the cost of contract performance with its own personnel. Do you intend to utilize subcontractors for this effort? If yes, state the name, business size, and socioeconomic status of the subcontractor(s). Explicitly detail how your firm will meet the 50% labor requirement. Confirm whether the lead drone pilots deployed to the VA facility will be direct W-2 employees of your firm or independent 1099 contractors/subcontractors. Technical Experience & Past Performance Provide up to three (3) examples of projects completed within the last three years demonstrating your experience utilizing drones for exterior building, window, or soft-wash cleaning. For each project, include the contract value, the height/stories of the buildings cleaned, and a point of contact SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING ENFORCEMENT IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SDVOSB/VOSB RESPONDENTS Prospective respondents are advised that the forthcoming solicitation will include mandatory compliance measures under: VAAR 819.7004 Limitations on Subcontracting, VAAR 852.219 75 VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting, Certificate of Compliance, and 13 CFR 125.6 SBA Limitations on Subcontracting Requirements. These requirements will be strictly enforced. Prime Performance Requirement (No Pass Throughs) For service contracts, SDVOSB/VOSB prime contractors must perform at least 50% of the total contract cost with their own personnel or with similarly situated entities (i.e., other certified SDVOSB/VOSB subcontractors). Use of non certified subcontractors above this threshold is prohibited by law. b. Mandatory Pre Award Certification (Hard Gate Requirement) The formal VAAR 852.219 75 Certificate of Compliance will be required with the initial proposal submission. Failure to submit this signed certification will result in the offer being deemed ineligible for evaluation or award. This is not a clarifiable omission. c. Anticipated Solicitation Requirements The future solicitation is expected to require respondents to: Provide a detailed breakdown of workshare percentages between the prime and all subcontractors. Identify key personnel (including drone operators, if applicable) who will be employees of the prime or SDVOSB/VOSB similarly situated entities. Provide evidence of equipment ownership or lease, demonstrating that the prime has the operational capability to perform the required work independently and is not functioning as a pass through. d. Post Award Compliance Monitoring Respondents are advised that VA may require compliance evidence at any time during performance, including: certified payrolls, subcontract agreements, invoice review, and on site verification of personnel. This monitoring authority stems from VAAR 819.7004, 852.219 75, and SBA regulations. e. Mandatory Penalties for Misrepresentation Under 38 U.S.C. 8127(g), any SDVOSB/VOSB that willfully misrepresents compliance or engages in a pass through arrangement is subject to: mandatory debarment for not less than five (5) years, possible civil liability under the False Claims Act, and potential criminal prosecution. STATEMENT OF WORK SUMMARY (For Market Research Purposes Not a Solicitation) Project Title: Building Drone Cleaning VA Loma Linda Healthcare System (VALLHCS) Location: VA Loma Linda Medical Center 11201 Benton Street, Loma Linda, CA 92357 Project Overview: VALLHCS requires exterior building cleaning using tethered drone-based soft wash technology to safely and efficiently clean building façades, windows (interior and exterior below 20 ft), masonry surfaces, and hard surfaces across multiple campus buildings (Buildings 1, 20, 29, 30, 31, 32). This method replaces traditional boom lifts or scaffolding, minimizes disruption to patient access, and improves cleaning effectiveness for high, difficult to reach areas. Objectives: The contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, drones, heated water systems, supervision, and incidentals to perform comprehensive cleaning of exterior façades, windows, and hard surfaces using safe, compliant, industrial grade equipment and drone technology. Major Tasks Included: Pre Work Activities Conduct a pre work inspection, photograph existing conditions, and identify potential challenges. Document window and façade conditions before cleaning. Safety & Preparation Deploy safety cones and signage. Provide an FAA certified drone pilot. Perform all required safety measures and public area protections. Drone Soft Wash Cleaning Utilize heated, filtered (<10 ppm) deionized water using a tethered hose system. Apply soft wash cleaning solutions and controlled pressure as needed. Drone must reach up to 175 feet, operate in winds up to 20 mph, with centimeter level positioning accuracy. Monitor drone systems via onboard health management systems. Glass Cleaning Squeegee interior/exterior glass below 20 ft using pole-mounted tools for streak free results. Hard Surface Cleaning Apply pressure up to 4500 psi, heated water up to 200°F, and use surface cleaners for ground level surfaces or persistent stains. Quality Assurance Perform post-cleaning inspection. Re-clean missed areas to ensure uniform quality Licensing & Certification Requirements Offerors must possess: OSHA 30-hour certificate FAA Remote Pilot Certification D38 License - Sand and Water Blasting Active SAM registration