6515--Brand Name or Equal - Rauland Responder 5 Nurse Call System

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0003) to Solicitation 36C26326Q0435 makes the following changes:

• Answers Vendor Questions: Addresses questions submitted by interested contractors.

• Extends Due Date: The deadline for receipt of offers is extended from May 1, 2026, 17:00 Mountain Time, to May 8, 2026, 17:00 Mountain Time.

• Submission Requirement: All solicitation amendments must be signed and returned with the completed solicitation.

• The Hour & Date for Receipt of Offers has been extended.

• The Price/Cost Schedule lists items including CALL SYSTEM HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, SOFTWARE LICENSE, SERVER LICENSING, and INSTALLATION, with a base contract period from May 5, 2026, to May 4, 2027. The Principal NAICS Code is 334290 and the Product/Service Code is 6515.

• The Delivery Schedule indicates items are to be shipped to the Iowa City VA Health Care System, with delivery dates TBD.

• The deadline for submitting offers is extended to May 8, 2026, 17:00 MDT.

• Offerors must ensure all amendments are signed and returned with their proposals.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the Nurse Call System solicitation (36C26326Q0435).

• Licensing Costs: Any required software licensing costs must be included in the contractor's proposed price; no separate reimbursement will be provided.

• Procurement Type: The solicitation is Open Market (RFO FAR 12), not FAR 8.

• Rooms Requiring Nurse Call: Areas shaded in the drawings represent clinical rooms and spaces requiring connection to the nurse call system.

• Detailed Drawings: No more detailed drawings will be provided; the shaded drawings are considered sufficient.

• Warranty: Refer to specifications for required warranty periods.

• Brand Name or Equal: Brand name or equal products are acceptable if compatibility with the current Vocera system is demonstrated.

• Floor Plans: Shaded areas on floor plans are clinic and patient exam rooms. Due to ongoing construction, bidders should assume these rooms will require nurse call buttons and code blue at minimum and maximum, respectively.

• The solicitation due date has been extended.

• Conduit requirements will be determined based on VA standards and applicable fire codes, with potential use of existing pathways.

• Above ceiling work is required.

• Specific requirements include ICRA, HEPA Carts, Core drilling (contractor means and methods), and Fire Stop.

• The Government will provide the required VA TIL 27 52 23 nurse call code blue specification document.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0002) to solicitation 36C26326Q0435 makes the following changes and/or clarifications:

• Provides answers to questions submitted by interested contractors.

• Updates the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Presents drawings to address questions.

• Establishes a new site visit, questioning period, and due time for questions.

• Reminds offerors that the Close of Solicitation is now May 1, 2026, at 1700 Mountain Standard Time.

• States that all Solicitation Amendments must be signed and returned with the completed solicitation.

• Performance Work Statement (PWS) updated.

• New drawings provided.

• Solicitation closing date and time adjusted.

• Site visit and questioning period details modified.

• The due date for questions and the site visit have been rescheduled.

• The solicitation closing date is extended to May 1, 2026, at 1700 MST.

• Offerors must sign and return all amendments with their proposals.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains floor plans for Building 1, across multiple levels (Basement through 13th Floor), including roof plans. It details the layout of rooms, shafts, and other architectural features.

• Floor plans for Building 1, Basement, Floors 1 through 13, and various roof levels.
• Room designations, labels, and locations.
• Indication of shafts, stairwells, and mechanical rooms.
• Some floors highlight specific areas or teams (e.g., "BLUE TEAM," "RED TEAM," "GOLD TEAM").
• Page 11 notes "Construction currently underway for 9E."

These floor plans are critical for understanding the physical layout of the facility where work may be performed. Bidders can use these plans to visualize the scope of work, identify potential site access points, and understand the spatial context of any proposed solutions or installations related to the opportunity.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To replace approximately 65% of the existing legacy Ascom nurse call system at the Iowa City VA Health Care System (ICVAHCS) due to a total system failure caused by internal flooding. The current system is obsolete and unsupported, necessitating immediate replacement to restore critical life-safety communication capabilities.

• System Replacement: Replace the divested software and obsolete hardware of the existing Ascom nurse call system.

• Upgrade: Upgrade to the existing Rauland call System Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) server and software.

• Integration: Integrate and communicate with Vocera and Rauland Integration SIP Gateway Server.

• Components: Provide and install head end cabinets, head end equipment, field devices, and all required system cable.

• Demolition: Remove existing equipment, preserving current system functionality where possible, and deliver recovered equipment to the customer.

• Programming: Install, set up, and configure Rauland R5ware and R5 software.

• Server: Provide new stand-alone server hardware, licensing, and services for Rauland integration with the customer-provided Vocera interface.

• Documentation: Provide electronic floor plan drawings detailing device locations on customer-supplied CAD drawings.

• Spare Equipment: Provide spare/extra equipment for potential system additions.

• Daily Logs: Submit daily performance logs to the Point-of-Contact (POC).

• Safety: Maintain a safe working environment, keep work areas clean, dispose of trash and demolished materials daily, wear appropriate PPE, and follow Lock-Out/Tag-Out procedures. No asbestos or lead abatement is expected.

• Warranty: A minimum one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship is required, starting from the date of startup.

• Training: Provide system documentation, unit-specific training guides, and conduct end-user training and go-live support.

• Period of Performance: To Be Determined (TBD).

• Place of Performance: Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Priced, one-time supply contract with no option years.

• Site Visit: An updated site visit is scheduled for April 21, 2026, from 1300 to 1600. Contact Della-Lynn Caldwell to notify of attendance.

• Questions Deadline: All questions must be submitted to the Contracting Officer by 04/22/2026 at 1700 Mountain Standard Time.

• Submittals: Provide submittal exchange access for document reviews and approvals.

• Storage: Plan for off-site storage in a climate-controlled setting, as on-site storage may be limited.

• Coordination: Coordinate all work with other trades for scheduling.

• Security & Privacy: Adherence to VA security and privacy regulations is mandatory, including data protection, encryption, and incident reporting. Unlimited rights to data/intellectual property are granted to the Government.

• Meetings: Biweekly virtual progress meetings are required, with the contractor responsible for the agenda and a four-week forecast.

• Deliverables: Equipment delivery via standard delivery, F.O.B. Destination. Coordinate delivery and perform joint inventory, staging, in-service, and waste disposal with the POC.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides collective questions from vendors regarding the Nurse Call System (Solicitation 36C26326Q0435 - 0002) and the Government's responses. It clarifies scope, site visit details, system requirements, and administrative processes.

• Scope & Drawings: Floor plans showing device locations and room breakdowns are provided. Specific device counts are detailed in the document.

• Site Visits: An additional site visit is scheduled for April 21, 2026, from 1300 to 1600. Vendors must notify Della-Lynn Caldwell via email or phone to participate.

• System Design: Equivalent equipment to specific Rauland system configurations is acceptable if detailed in specifications and approved by the VA for compatibility with the current Vocera system.

• Integration: The system must integrate with Vocera communications, EHR/ADT systems, staff assignment systems, and RTLS systems. All systems must communicate with the current Vocera system.

• Power & Infrastructure: Systems require battery backup or a dedicated UPS. Power connections are the contractor's responsibility.

• Installation: Installation must be phased to maintain hospital operations; the current system must remain operational, with downtime only for approved switchovers. Some night and weekend work may be required.

• Storage: Onsite staging areas are not provided. Items on the VA Iowa City Station cannot be stored for more than 2 days; longer storage is the contractor's responsibility.

• Hardware Quantities: Detailed lists of Head End Equipment, Field Devices, Installation Materials, and Spare Equipment are provided with quantities.

• Questions Due: All questions are due by 04/22/2026 at 1700 MST. Additional questions after reviewing drawings are due by April 24, 2026, at 17:00.

• Responses: Responses will be issued via formal amendment or Q&A posting shortly after the April 24, 2026, deadline.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to Solicitation 36C2632600435 makes the following changes:

• Future Amendments: Indicates that future amendments will address contractor questions, update the Performance Work Statement (PWS), compile data and drawings for a CAD layout, and establish a new site visit and questioning period.

• Solicitation Due Date Extension: The due date for the solicitation has been extended from April 9, 2026, at 1700 Mountain Time to May 1, 2026, at 1700 Mountain Time.

• The Performance Work Statement (PWS) will be updated in a future amendment.

• Data and drawings for a CAD layout will be compiled and posted in a future amendment.

• The solicitation due date has been extended.

• The deadline for submitting offers has been extended to May 1, 2026, at 1700 Mountain Time.

• All solicitation amendments must be signed and returned with the completed solicitation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the "Buy American Certificate" provision (FAR 52.225-2), which requires offerors to certify the origin of end products and their components. It is used to ensure compliance with the Buy American Act.

• Domestic End Product Certification: Offerors must certify that each end product is a domestic end product, unless listed otherwise.
• Critical Component Declaration: Offerors must identify domestic end products that contain a critical component.
• Foreign End Product Declaration: Offerors must list foreign end products, their country of origin, and indicate if they exceed 55% domestic content (unless COTS).
• Definitions: Key terms like "domestic end product," "foreign end product," "critical component," and "COTS item" are defined within the "Buy American-Supplies" clause.

Bidders must complete and submit this certificate as part of their offer. It is crucial for determining the eligibility of offered supplies under the Buy American Act. Failure to properly complete this certification may impact the evaluation of the offer and the overall compliance of the proposed supplies.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for the replacement of approximately 65% of the existing nurse call system at the Iowa City VA Health Care System (ICVAHCS). The current legacy Ascom system is obsolete and has experienced a total failure due to internal flooding, leaving approximately 65% of the facility without a fully functional system. The replacement will integrate with existing Rauland and Vocera systems.

• Replacement of the obsolete Ascom nurse call system with a Rauland SIP server and software.

• Integration with existing Vocera and Rauland Integration SIP Gateway Server.

• Provision and installation of head-end cabinets and equipment.

• Installation, termination, and testing of field devices and associated cabling.

• System demolition and removal of existing equipment.

• Programming of Rauland R5ware and R5 software.

• Provision of a new stand-alone server, licensing, and services for the Vocera interface.

• Provision of electronic floor plan drawings.

• Provision of spare equipment.

• Manufacturer must offer a minimum one-year warranty.

• Installation and training services are required.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Priced, one-time supply contract.

• Period of Performance: One (1) Year.

• POP Begin: 05-05-2026

• POP End: 05-04-2027

• Offers must be submitted electronically to dennis.salmonsen@va.gov by 04-09-2026 at 17:00 MDT.

• Quotes must be readable using Microsoft Office 2007 or later (Word, Excel) or PDF (300 dpi).

• Evaluation Factors: Technical, Delivery and Installation, Price.

• Quotes will be evaluated comparatively to determine the best overall offer.

• The government may award without discussions.

• The acquisition is UNRESTRICTED.

• NAICS Code: 334290 (Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing)

• Size Standard: 800 Employees

• Site visits are scheduled for 03/31/2026 (1300-1600) and 04/01/2026 (1300-1600). Contact Della-Lynn Caldwell to participate.

• All questions must be submitted to the Contracting Officer by 04/02/2026 at 1700 MDT.

• Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov and have a Unique Entity ID.

• Buy American Certificate (FAR 52.225-2) must be completed and submitted.