6515--EQUIPMENT - SLIDEMATE AS ON-DEMAND SYSTEM AND PRINTMATE AS CASSETTE PRI...

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE SUBMISSION OF PRICING, CAPABILITIES FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, AND OTHER MARKET INFORMATION IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED UNDER THIS RFI IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) FAR 12. DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. IAW FAR 12, responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. SOURCES SOUGHT DESCRIPTION This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a sources sought/RFI only. The purpose of this sources sought/RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 334516- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (size standard of 1,000 Employees). Responses to this sources sought will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this sources sought, a solicitation announcement may be published. Responses to this sources sought synopsis are not considered adequate responses for a solicitation announcement. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 02 Network Contracting Office, is seeking sources that can provide PrintMate as On-Demand System and PrintMate AS Cassette Printer that at a minimum meet the following salient characteristics for the Hudson Valley Healthcare System: To Be Delivered to: Hudson Valley Medical Center Castle Point Campus 41 Castle Point Road Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 The VA has a preference for domestic (manufactured in the United States) content where available. Salient Characteristics: For Cassette Printer Print Method: Thermal Transfer (Ribbon) Print Speed: ~10 seconds per cassette Connectivity: USB Power: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 150 VA Footprint: Compact, designed for grossing stations Media: Thermal transfer ribbon (approx. 20,000 prints/roll) PrintMate cassettes Color: Black print on cassette Capacities: Available in 150, 450, or 900 cassette hopper sizes Weight (Unit Only): Approx 31 lbs. (14 kg) Features and Benefits: Point-of-Use Printing: Prints needed cassettes directly at the grossing station Workflow Automation: Prints barcodes for downstream processes Reduces Error: Eliminates manual handwriting for better accuracy Ease of Use: Cassettes come in tubes for easy loading For the SlideMate Must have on demand slide generating capability by scanning the barcode printed on the tissue cassette block at the individual microtomy workstation Label must transfer directly onto the glass slide with no additional step Must have a small footprint (no more than 13 d x 7 w x 12 h) Must have a heat transfer toner as the printing method. Etchers are unacceptable as they require excessive maintenance and generate glass particles and pose potential health risks due to inhalation of glass particles and dust when performing printer maintenance Ink must be able to withstand subsequent staining protocols without loss of clarity and intensity System must allow use of microscope slides produced by a variety of manufacturer If label is on paper, label must not be removable or peelable Printer must allow the ability to print manually programmed single slides Must offer a variety of font sizes and customization of label information to include accession number, stain type, level of cut and facility identification This customization must be editable by laboratory staff Vendor must provide 10 Thermal Transfer Ribbon for 5 years Vendor must provide Hot foil Transfer Paper 5 rollsx5tubes for 5 years Replacement equipment must be new not refurbished The information identified above is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive and to indicate the quality of the supplies/services that will be satisfactory. It is the responsibility of the interested source to demonstrate to the government that the interested parties can provide the supplies/services that fulfill the required specifications. If you are interested and are capable of providing the sought out supplies/services, please provide the requested information as well as the information indicated below. Response to this notice should include company name, address, point of contact, size of business pursuant to the following questions: Please indicate the size status and representations of your business, such as but not limited to: Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), HUBZone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.)? (2) Is your company considered small under the NAICS code identified under this RFI? (3) Are you the manufacturer, distributor, or an equivalent solution to the items being refer