36C24926Q0204 'Base + 2' Water Analysis Service Contract (Eng.)

Amendment / Modification

This amendment clarifies Appendix C of the Statement of Work (SOW).

• Specific items in Appendix C have been counted into the quantities for line items 5-8 for the base year and both one-year option periods.

• Appendix C of the SOW.

• No other changes to the original RFQ have been made.

• All due dates, times, and conditions remain unchanged.

• The POC for questions is Daphne Stewart@va.gov.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for water analysis services required by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the Louisville, KY Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The services are needed to support the VAMC's comprehensive water safety management program, including routine sampling and testing of potable water, chiller plant cooling water, and sterile processing water.

• Potable Water Testing: Quarterly Legionella validation testing, including sampling of 20 points per building (80 per year per building). Testing methods include ISO spread plate and potentially PCR. Results required within 10-14 days.

• Chiller Plant Cooling Tower Testing: Quarterly Legionella testing and bi-weekly HPC testing. Results required within 10-14 days for Legionella and 2-5 days for HPC.

• Sterile Processing Water Testing: Monthly critical water sampling and quarterly utility water analysis. Results required within 5 days for critical water and 10-14 days for utility water.

• Mandatory Qualifications: Laboratories must be certified by recognized bodies (e.g., NELAP, A2LA) and demonstrate proficiency in Legionella testing (CDC ELITE or PHE EQA). Personnel must undergo competency evaluations.

• Emergent Retests: Required for positive Legionella samples, with rapid response testing using PCR, dipslide, and ISO spread plate methods.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price.

• Period of Performance: Base ordering period April 22, 2026, through September 30, 2026. Two additional one-year ordering periods are contemplated.

• Estimated Value: Approximately $19 Million.

• Questions Due: May 13, 2026, by 8:00 AM EST.

• Quotes Due: May 15, 2026, by 4:00 PM EST.

• Submission Method: Email to Daphne.Stewart@va.gov.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical (most significant), Price, and Past Performance.

• Set-Aside: 100% for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB).

• Requirement: SDVOSBs must be registered in SAM.gov at the time of offer and certified in the SBA database.

• NAICS Code: 541380.

• Contracting Point of Contact: Daphne Stewart (Daphne.Stewart@va.gov).

• The solicitation incorporates numerous FAR and VAAR clauses related to compliance, security, and payment.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "REGISTER OF WAGE DETERMINATIONS UNDER THE SERVICE CONTRACT ACT" for specific counties in Indiana and Kentucky. It provides the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations when performing contract work covered by the Service Contract Act (SCA) in these geographic areas.

• Wage Determination Number: 2015-4717, Revision No.: 32, dated 3/30/2026.
• Geographic Area: Indiana Counties of Clark, Floyd, and Harrison; Kentucky Counties of Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, and Spencer.
• Occupational Listing: Details specific wage rates for numerous occupations, categorized by general service areas (e.g., Administrative Support, Automotive Service, Health Occupations, Information Technology, Mechanics, Protective Service, Technical Occupations).
• Fringe Benefits: Specifies Health & Welfare ($5.55/hour or $222.00/week), Health & Welfare EO 13706 ($5.09/hour or $203.60/week), Vacation (2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 10 years, 4 weeks after 15 years), and Holidays (12 paid holidays).
• Executive Order Notes: Includes information on Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Minimum Wage), outlining their applicability and requirements.
• Special Pay Differentials: Details hazardous pay differentials (8% for high hazard, 4% for low hazard) and night/Sunday pay for specific roles.
• Uniform Allowance: Outlines requirements for furnishing and maintaining uniforms, including reimbursement rates.
• Conformance Process: Explains the procedure for requesting authorization of additional classifications and wage rates not listed in the determination using Standard Form 1444 (SF-1444).

This document is critical for bidders to understand the minimum labor costs associated with performing services under the Service Contract Act in the specified locations. It directly impacts pricing strategies and ensures compliance with federal labor laws. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and benefits meet or exceed these requirements for all covered employees.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To ensure the health and safety of patients, employees, and visitors at the Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) by maintaining a comprehensive water safety management program, including routine sampling and testing for waterborne pathogens like Legionella.

• Quarterly Potable Water Legionella Validation Testing: Sampling and analysis of potable water systems across specified buildings (Appendix A) to detect Legionella. Includes testing for water temperature, residual biocide, and pH. Utilizes ISO 11731 method for Legionella detection. Requires 20 samples per building per quarter.

• Air Conditioning Cooling Tower Legionella Validation Testing: Quarterly Legionella testing of the chiller plant system (Appendix B) and bi-weekly Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) testing of cooling tower sumps.

• Sterile Processing Water Testing: Monthly critical water sampling and quarterly utility water analysis at generating points and points of use (Appendix C) in accordance with ANSI/AAMI ST108:2023 standards.

• Emergent Retesting: Required for positive routine samples or as determined by the COR, with rapid response testing methods (rtPCR, Dipslide, ISO 11731) for Legionella.

• Laboratories must be certified by recognized bodies (e.g., NELAP, A2LA) and demonstrate proficiency via CDC ELITE or PHE EQA programs for Legionella testing.

• Contractor personnel must undergo and document competency evaluations.

• Results for Legionella testing to be provided within 10-14 days of sample receipt (PDF format).

• rtPCR results expected within 1-2 days; Dipslide results within 2-5 days for emergent retests.

• Response to basic inquiries within 24 hours.

• Notification of positive Legionella culture within 24 hours via email.

• Base Ordering Period: April 22, 2026, through September 30, 2026.

• Two additional Ordering Periods: October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, and March 1, 2028, through February 28, 2029.

• Services to be performed at the Robley Rex VAMC, Louisville, KY.

• Mandatory Qualifications: Certified laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025:2017), proficiency in Legionella testing (CDC ELITE/PHE EQA), ability to identify L. pneumophila serogroup 1 via culture and PCR.

• Personnel Competency: Evaluation required before work, upon personnel change, and annually.

• Compliance with all Federal, State, local laws, VA policies, and security management programs.

• Contractor must notify the Contracting Officer immediately of any loss of required certification or accreditation.

• No photography of VA premises without written permission.

• Smoking, vaping, and smokeless tobacco prohibited on VA grounds.

• Offerors must provide pricing for all bid line items and complete the Past Performance Worksheet.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services to repair the nine-hole miniature golf course in the courtyard of the Franklin R Sousley Campus. The government intends to award a purchase order as a result of this solicitation.

• Service contract to repair the nine-hole miniature golf course.

• Contractors may provide their own pricing document, but it must be broken down for price reasonableness determination.

• Place of Delivery: Department of Veterans Affairs, Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206.

• This solicitation is a request for quotations (RFQ).

• The contract will be awarded as a purchase order.

• The solicitation incorporates clauses and provisions effective through FAC 2025-03 (eff. 1/17/2025) and other relevant VA deviations and updates.

• FAR 52.217-8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999) is applicable, allowing for up to a 6-month extension.

• Funds are not presently available for this contract; obligation is contingent upon availability.

• Response Date/Time: May 15, 2026, 10:00 AM Eastern Time, New York, USA.

• Submission Method: Email to Daphne.Stewart@va.gov.

• Quote Requirements: Company letterhead, Price/Cost Schedule (unit price, total, unit quantity, item description), proposed delivery time, quoter name/address/phone, SAM UEI, ORCA document, warranty terms, total price, completed FAR 52.212-3, and a separate narrative on technical ability. Licensing and insurance must be in the prime contractor's name.

• Questions Deadline: May 13, 2026, 8:00 AM EST via email to Daphne.Stewart@va.gov.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical, Price, and Past Performance. Technical review is more significant than price. Award will be made to the responsible offeror whose offer is most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered.

• This is a 100% set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSBC) entities.

• Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and have completed the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA).

• SDVOSBs must be registered in the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) database prior to award.

• Attached documents include: Performance Work Statement (PWS), Wage Determination, and Limitations on Subcontracting Certificate of Compliance.

• Award may be made without discussions.

• Quotes must not exceed 5 attachments and 25 pages.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "Limitations on Subcontracting Certificate of Compliance for Services and Construction" form. It requires offerors to certify their compliance with subcontracting limitations as stipulated in the solicitation and resultant contract, pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8127(k)(2).

• Services: Offerors must certify that they will not pay more than 50% of the contract amount to firms that are not VIP-listed SDVOSBs or VOSBs. This applies to contracts for services (excluding construction).
• General Construction: For general construction contracts, offerors must certify that they will not pay more than 85% of the contract amount to firms that are not VIP-listed SDVOSBs or VOSBs. Costs of materials are excluded.
• Special Trade Construction: For special trade construction contracts, offerors must certify that they will not pay more than 75% of the contract amount to firms that are not VIP-listed SDVOSBs or VOSBs. Costs of materials are excluded.
• Certification Acknowledgment: Offerors acknowledge that this certification is subject to penalties under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001, for false statements.
• Compliance Verification: The VA may require documentation (invoices, subcontracts, task values) to verify compliance during contract performance and upon completion.
• Offeror Cooperation: Offerors agree to cooperate fully and provide requested documents.
• Required Completion: The certification must be completed, signed, and returned with the offeror's bid, quotation, or proposal. Failure to provide this certification will render the offer ineligible for award.

This form is critical for bidders to understand and acknowledge the subcontracting limitations specific to the contract type (services, general construction, or special trade construction). Proper completion and submission of this signed certification are mandatory for proposal eligibility and award. Bidders must be prepared to demonstrate compliance throughout the contract lifecycle.