6515--NX EQ Scanning Systems: Laser: Optical Biometry (VA-26-00026659)

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP), for a single award Requirements contract. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is procuring Scanning Systems: Laser: Optical Biometry, specifically the Zeiss® IOL Master 700 brand name or equal, and associated accessories. This equipment is crucial for accurate Intraocular Lens (IOL) power calculations before cataract surgery, enabling optimal vision outcomes. The VA performs approximately 70,000 cataract surgeries annually.

• Provide Zeiss® IOL Master 700 or equal Scanning Systems: Laser: Optical Biometry and accessories.

• Offerors must meet specific salient characteristics (SCs) detailed in the solicitation, including:

  • Ability to obtain biometry readings on dense cataracts.
  • Capability to provide multiple IOL power options (anterior chamber, posterior chamber, Sulcus).
  • Performance of keratometry measurements and calculations for Toric Lenses.
  • Compensation for motion artifact and previous refractive surgeries.
  • DICOM compatibility and integration with Vista/CPRS and Cerner.
  • Ability to connect and function with an operating room Microscope.
  • Ability to perform corneal topography.
  • FDA 510 K approval.

• Only new equipment is acceptable; no remanufactured or "gray market" items.

• Distributors must be authorized by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

• Contract Type: Single award Requirements contract with firm-fixed priced (FFP) delivery orders.

• Period of Performance: One 12-month base year with four 12-month option years.

• Delivery: Free on Board (FOB) destination, CONUS and OCONUS.

• Offers are due via email by 11:59 PM ET on May 8, 2026, to lisa.thompson10@va.gov.

• Questions regarding the solicitation are due via email by 11:59 PM ET on May 8, 2026, to lisa.thompson10@va.gov.

• Evaluation criteria are detailed in ATTACHMENT D.

• The Government reserves the right to award without discussions.

• NAICS Code: 339112 (Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing), Size Standard: 800 employees.

• Procurement is issued as Full and Open Competition.

• Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov.

• This solicitation is issued under the agency's implementation of the FAR Overhaul. In case of conflict, the Overhaul text governs.

• ATTACHMENT A: PRICE COST SCHEDULE

• ATTACHMENT C: CONTRACT CLAUSES

• ATTACHMENT D: SOLICITATION PROVISIONS

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "ATTACHMENT C - CONTRACT CLAUSES," contains various contract clauses that will be incorporated by reference into the resulting contract. It details specific terms and conditions that offerors must adhere to if awarded the contract.

• Mandatory Written Disclosures (C.1): Requires electronic disclosure of information to the VA OIG Hotline.
• Service Level Agreement (SLA) Fee (C.2): Establishes a 3.0% SLA fee that must be included in offerors' pricing and remitted quarterly. This fee is for acquisition-related services provided by the Supply Fund Board.
• Quarterly Sales Reports (C.2.b): Contractors must report all contract sales quarterly, including the SLA fee collected, and remit the SLA fee electronically.
• Liquidated Damages (C.3): Specifies liquidated damages of $37.50 per calendar day for failure to deliver supplies or perform services within the contractually agreed time.
• Ordering (C.4) & Order Limitations (C.5): Outlines how delivery or task orders will be issued and sets maximum limits on order quantities and values.
• Requirements (C.6): Defines this as a requirements contract, with estimated quantities and the government's right to order from multiple sources under certain conditions.
• Option to Extend Term (C.7): Allows the government to extend the contract for up to 5 years, with specific notice requirements.
• Postaward Small Business Program Rerepresentation (C.8): Requires contractors to re-represent their size and socioeconomic status under certain conditions, particularly for long-term contracts.
• Clauses Incorporated by Reference (C.9): Lists numerous FAR and VAAR clauses that are part of the contract but not included in full text, providing links for access.
• Equipment Operation and Maintenance Manuals (C.10): Requires contractors to furnish manuals for technical medical and mechanical equipment.
• Technical Industry Standards (C.11): Requires contractor conformance to specified industry standards.
• Gray Market and Counterfeit Items (C.12): Prohibits the provision of used, refurbished, remanufactured, gray market, or counterfeit supplies or equipment/parts.
• Packing for Domestic Shipment (C.13): Specifies requirements for packing materials for domestic shipment.
• Solicitation Provisions or Clauses Incorporated by Reference (C.14): Identifies provisions that must be completed and submitted with the offer.

This document is critical for understanding the contractual obligations, financial responsibilities (SLA fee), performance expectations, limitations, and compliance requirements associated with the opportunity. Bidders must review these clauses carefully to ensure they can meet all stipulated terms and conditions, and to accurately price their proposals.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the "SOLICITATION PROVISIONS" for the NX EQ SCANNING SYSTEMS LASER OPTICAL BIOMETRY SYSTEM. It provides instructions to offerors on how to submit their quotes and details the evaluation criteria.

• Quote Submission: Quotes must be submitted via email to Lisa.thompson10@va.gov and Hosea.Berkley@va.gov by May 8, 2026, 11:59 PM EST.

• Quote Structure: Quotes must consist of five volumes: Technical, Past Performance, Veterans Preference, Price, and Offer, Amendments, and Certifications.

• File Format: Submissions should be in PDF or Excel format, clearly indexed, and logically assembled. Specific formatting requirements for page size, font, margins, and spacing are detailed.

• Technical Volume: Must include descriptive literature demonstrating compliance with Salient Characteristics (SCs). A completed Salient Characteristic chart is required.

• Past Performance: Offerors must list three contracts/orders performed in the past three years, with details on relevance and performance. Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) may be used.

• Veterans Preference: SDVOSB/VOSB offerors must be certified by the SBA. Non-SDVOSB/VOSB offerors must identify proposed subcontractors.

• Price Volume: Requires completion of Attachment A - Price Cost Schedule, with a focus on volume discounts and two-decimal place pricing.

• Offer, Amendments, and Certifications: Must include an offer sheet with specific identifying information and required certifications/representations (e.g., FAR 52.209-2, 52.209-5, 52.209-7, 52.209-11).

• OEM Letter: Distributors must provide an OEM letter certifying them as authorized distributors/resellers.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price Requirements contract.

• Period for Acceptance of Offers: Offers must be held firm for 60 calendar days from the specified receipt date, unless extended by addendum.

• Submission Deadline: May 8, 2026, 11:59 PM EST.

• Evaluation Factors: Award will be made to the responsible Offeror whose quote is most advantageous, considering Technical, Past Performance, Veterans Preference, and Price. Technical is significantly more important than Past Performance, which is slightly more important than Veterans Preference. Non-price factors combined are significantly more important than Price.

• Technical Factor: Must meet all Salient Characteristics to be considered eligible for award. Evaluation will also consider Design and Performance subfactors.

• No Discussions: The Government intends to award without discussions, so initial offers should contain the best terms.

• Questions Deadline: April 22, 2026, 11:59 PM EST.

• Specific requirements for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) are detailed for evaluation credit.

• HUBZone small business concerns may receive a 10% evaluation preference.

• Offerors are advised that any terms and conditions deviating from the solicitation may render the quote unacceptable.

• Late submissions will not be considered.

• Hyperlinks are prohibited in quotes.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for NX EQ Scanning Systems, specifically Laser Optical Biometry Systems, for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The contracting office is the Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) in Frederick, MD.

The document references several attachments that detail the requirements, including:

• ATTACHMENT A: Price Lists

• ATTACHMENT B: Contract Administration

• ATTACHMENT C: Contract Clauses

• ATTACHMENT D: Solicitation Provisions

• ATTACHMENT E: Reporting Tool

• ATTACHMENT F: Past Performance References

• ATTACHMENT G: Past Performance Questionnaire

• ATTACHMENT H: RFQ Questions

• Product Service Code: 6515

• NAICS Code: 339112

• Place of Performance: Enterprise-wide, CONUS and OCONUS

• Response Date/Time/Zone: May 8, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time, New York, USA.

• The specific evaluation criteria and proposal submission instructions are detailed within the referenced attachments (Attachments D, F, G).

No specific set-aside information is provided in this summary section.

• The solicitation number is 36C10G26R0010.
• The Point of Contact is Lisa Thompson, Contract Specialist, at lisa.thompson10@va.gov or 720-793-5907.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet intended for bidders to submit questions to the Contracting Officer (CO) regarding the Request for Quotation (RFQ).

• The spreadsheet contains a template for submitting questions.
• Bidders are instructed to fill in their Company Name.
• Columns include:
  • Item number
  • RFQ Section (A, B, C, D, E)
  • Document (PWS, RFQ Attachment A, E.1 Quote Submission Instructions, etc.)
  • RFQ Page
  • Paragraph/Section
  • Question for Contracting Officer

This attachment provides the structured method for bidders to ask clarifying questions about the RFQ and its associated documents. It guides bidders on how to format their questions for efficient review by the CO.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment G, a Past Performance Questionnaire, for Solicitation No. 36C10G26R0010. It is used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) to gather feedback on offerors' past performance.

• The questionnaire is to be completed by references provided by the offeror.
• It requests information on the reference's name, title, contact information, organization, and the contract details (period of performance, total value, options exercised, description of services/commodities).
• It also asks about specific contract actions such as Show Cause Orders, Stop Work Orders, or Terminations for Convenience, Cause, or Default.
• The core of the questionnaire involves rating the offeror on Quality of Service, Cost Control, Timeliness of Performance, and Business Relations, using a 3-point scale (Unsatisfactory, Satisfactory, Excellent).
• Space is provided for detailed comments from the reference for each category and an overall satisfaction question.

This questionnaire is critical for bidders as it outlines the specific criteria the government will use to evaluate their past performance. Bidders must ensure they provide accurate and relevant references who can speak to their performance in the requested categories. The deadline for submitting this questionnaire to Lisa Thompson at Lisa.thompson10@va.gov is May 08, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "ATTACHMENT F - PAST PERFORMANCE REFERENCE," is a form provided for offerors to detail their past performance on similar projects. It is intended to help the government evaluate an offeror's ability to successfully perform the requirements of Solicitation 36C10G26R0010 for the NX EQ SCANNING SYSTEMS LASER OPTICAL BIOMETRY SYSTEM.

• Offeror Name: Information about the company that performed the work.
• Relationship to Offeror: Specifies if the work was performed as a PRIME or SUBCONTRACTOR.
• Name of Contracting Organization: The entity that awarded the contract.
• Contract / Task Order Number: Details of the contract under which the work was performed.
• Contract Type: The type of contract (e.g., fixed-price, cost-plus).
• Total Awarded Price/Cost: The total value of the contract.
• Final or Projected Final Total Price/Cost: The final or anticipated final cost.
• Delivery date/Period of performance: The duration of the contract, including options.
• Contracting Officer's and Program Manager's Contact Information: Names, emails, and phone numbers.
• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: The relevant NAICS code.
• CPARS/PPIRS Completed: Indicates if the contract was reported in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) or Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS).
• Description of the Requirement: A concise explanation of the work performed and its relevance to the current solicitation.
• Performance: Details on any performance issues, corrective actions, and expected or realized results, including addressing any issues noted in CPARS/PPIRS reports.

Offerors must complete this form to provide evidence of their relevant past performance. The information submitted will be used by the government to assess the offeror's capability and likelihood of successful performance on this opportunity. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may impact the evaluation of the offeror's proposal.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This Excel file, "ATTACHMENT E - REPORTING TOOL - NX EQ SCANNING LASER OPTICAL BIOMETRY SYSTEM.xlsx", appears to be a reporting tool or a data template related to the "NX EQ Scanning Laser Optical Biometry System". It contains structured data across multiple sheets, likely intended for tracking or reporting on sales, quantities, or specific contract line item numbers (CLINs) across various VA facilities and networks.

• Sheet: Sheet2: Contains numerical data organized into rows and columns, potentially representing quantities, metrics, or identifiers. It also includes lists of VA VISNs (Veterans Integrated Service Networks), facility codes, and facility names.
• Sheet: Sales Report: This sheet includes fields for "Contractor", "Contract Number", "Reporting Quarter", "CLIN/SLIN", and "Description/Salient Characteristics". It provides a detailed breakdown of VA facilities and networks, with columns for "Quantity Sold of Item" for 22 line items. It also includes calculations for "Total Quarterly Quantity Sold", "Total Quantity Sold of All Items", "Total Quarterly Quantity Sold x Price", and "Total Quarterly Sales inclusive of the SLA".

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the reporting requirements and potential sales data associated with the "NX EQ Scanning Laser Optical Biometry System". Bidders should review the "Sales Report" sheet to understand how sales are tracked, the structure of reporting by VISN and facility, and the specific line items involved. This information may be relevant for developing pricing strategies, understanding market demand, and fulfilling contractual reporting obligations if awarded.

Bidders should examine the structure and content of this reporting tool to anticipate future reporting needs and to ensure their proposals align with the expected data formats and requirements. The blank fields for "Contractor", "Contract Number", and "Reporting Quarter" suggest this is a template for ongoing use or a historical data structure.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the "CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION / INVOICE INSTRUCTIONS" for the NX EQ SCANNING LASER OPTICAL BIOMETRY SYSTEM. It is anticipated to be a brand name or equal, single requirements contract for a 60-month ordering period (12-month base + four 12-month option periods). The contract will be firm-fixed price (FFP) and will be fully and openly competed.

• The contract structure includes commercial supply items and allied non-professional services.

• All requirements will be issued under individual task/delivery orders.

• Offerors must complete "fill-ins" and "checkboxes" within the solicitation.

• Offerors must provide a complete and current PDF copy of their SAMs registration.

• Subcontracting opportunities, if any, must be specified in detail.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price (FFP)

• Period of Performance: 60-month ordering period (12-month base + four 12-month option periods).

• Estimated Quantities: Listed on ATTACHMENT A – PRICE COST SCHEDULE. Quantities are estimates only, and VA makes no guarantee.

• All responses shall be emailed to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer.

• Late responses will not be reviewed.

• Proposal format complies with FAR 15.204 12.303.

• Fully and openly competed.

• Contract Administration: Handled by specific individuals listed for Contractor and Government.

• Remittance Address: Payments via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) per 52.232-33.

• Invoices: Submitted monthly in arrears, based on delivery, acceptance, and receipt. Must be submitted electronically within 30 days of delivery.

• Electronic Invoice Submission: Mandatory via Tungsten Network or X12 EDI formats. Facsimile, email, and scanned documents are not acceptable.

• Terms and Conditions: Contractor agrees to supply established items. Government reserves the right to evaluate replacement items. Contract does not obligate funds; VA does not guarantee purchase volume.

• Purchase/Ordering Limitations: Orders limited per FAR Clause 52.216-19. Orders placed by designated VHA ELCM Ordering Officers only.

• After Receipt of Order (ARO): 45 days.

• Delivery Tickets: Must include specific information (supplier name, contract number, date, itemized list, quantity, unit price, etc.).

• Reports: Monthly and Quarterly sales reports required using ATTACHMENT E – REPORTING TOOL.

• Installation, Training, Maintenance, Repairs, and Replacements: To be scheduled by the ordering facility and contractor.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "ATTACHMENT A - PRICE LISTS - NX EQ SCANNING SYSTEMS LASER OPTICAL BIOMETRY SYSTEM.xlsx", is a price list for the NX EQ Scanning Systems Laser Optical Biometry System. It serves as a pricing schedule for potential bidders to reference when preparing their proposals.

• CLIN: Contract Line Item Numbers (e.g., 0001, 0002).
• Brand Name or Equal: Specifies the brand name or indicates an "equal" option is acceptable.
• Brand Name Part Number or Equal: Lists the part number for the brand name or an equivalent.
• Brand Name Description or Equal: Provides a description of the item.
• Unit of Measure (UOM): The unit for the item (e.g., EA for Each).
• Estimated Quantities: Estimated quantities for the Base Year and Option Years 1 through 4.
• Manufacturer Name & Part Number: Details of the manufacturer and their part number.
• Description: A more detailed description of the product.
• Delivery Days ARO: Days After Receipt of Order for delivery.
• Pricing Columns: Includes Commercial Price, Unit Price for Base Year and Option Years, Extended Prices, and Extended Prices with a 3% SLA Fee for each contract year. It also includes a Total Extended Price.

Bidders must use this price list to understand the cost structure for the specified equipment. They should populate their pricing in accordance with the CLINs, UOMs, and estimated quantities provided. This document is critical for developing a competitive and compliant proposal, as it directly impacts the financial aspect of the bid.