The VHA s Network Contracting Office 21, on behalf of VA Northern California Healthcare System, is conducting this Sources Sought to identify vendors possessing a product capable of meeting the Government s need for a brand name or equal Markes International SepSolve GCxGC Time of Flight GC/MS system. As permitted by FAR Part 10, this is a market research tool being utilized for informational and planning purposes. Your responses will assist the Government in the development of its acquisition strategy for a possible Request for Quote (RFQ), to be issued at a later date, and in determining whether any type of small business set-aside is possible for this procurement or whether full and open competitive procedures should be utilized. If full and open competition is ultimately pursued, responses to this synopsis will be used to aid in establishing small business subcontracting goals. This notice shall not be construed as a RFQ or as any commitment or obligation on the part of the Government to issue a solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request, so quotes will not be considered. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow-up information requests. Response is strictly voluntary - it is not mandatory to submit a response to this notice to participate in any formal RFQ process that may take place in the future. However, it should be noted that information gathered through this notice may significantly influence our acquisition strategy. All interested parties will be required to respond separately to any solicitations posted as a result of this sources sought notice. Submission Instructions: Responses via email are due NLT 12:00 PST 06/13/2025 to shelley.self2@va.gov and must include the information requested below. Responses greater than 10 double-sided pages (including all attachments) will not be considered. Late responses will not be accepted. This is strictly market research, and the Government will not entertain any questions. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. We appreciate your interest and thank you in advance for responding to the Sources Sought. Qualified firms shall submit a statement of interest on company letterhead demonstrating the firm s qualifications to perform the defined work. Responses must be complete and sufficiently detailed to address the specific information. The documentation shall address, at a minimum, the following: Business Name and Address: Business UEI Number: POC Name, email and contact number: Product documentation sufficient to demonstrate an ability to meet the Government's requirement. PLEASE SEE SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS OUTLINED BELOW: General Requirements: Must have gas chromatography (GC) as the method of analytical separation Must incorporate two gas chromatography columns (GC×GC) Must use the Time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry as the method used for detection Must have the ability to measure chemicals in urine, blood, dissolved in solution, or found in air Must be able to have automated sample analysis Must use industry standard thermal desorption (TD) tubes Must be able to use helium or hydrogen as carrier gas Must include software for instrument control Gas Chromatography Requirements: Must be able to accommodate two GC columns Must be able to operate within +5 °C of ambient temperature Must have standard atmospheric pressure and temperature compensation Must have Pneumatic Control Module Available Must use capillary flow Mass Spectrometry Requirements: Must have detection limits of less than 20 femtograms (10 15 grams) using a common standard and hard ionization Must couple with the system s GC Must use the Time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry as the method for detection Must be able to conduct simultaneous hard and soft ionization Must have a mass range of 1 1500 m/z Must not exhibit mass discrimination Must have software compatible with full instrument control Must have data ana Sample Preparation, Extraction, and Automation Requirements: Must be compatible with headspace, SPME, SPME-trap, and thermal desorption methods of GC Must have full automation capabilities Must contain direct GC injection capabilities Must include direct thermal extraction Must be fully compatible with industry standard thermal desorption tubes Must be in compliance with ISO 16000-6, VDA 278, and US EPA Method TO-17 Disclaimer and Important Notes: This Sources Sought Notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. The Government will treat any information received as proprietary and will not share such information with other companies. Any organization responding to this Sources Sought Notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. The Government may or may not issue a solicitation as a result of this announcement. There is no solicitation available at this time.
