This is Not a Solicitation Announcement. This is a Request for Information Only. This Request for Information (RFI) is intended for information and planning purposes only at this time; and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since this is Request for Information announcement, no evaluation letters and/or results will be issued to respondents. No Solicitation exists. Therefore, do not request a copy of a solicitation. The Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 4, Network Contracting Office 4 (NCO 4), is seeking information and potential qualified/verified Businesses capable of meeting requirement and salient characteristics below to provide the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System with two (2) Hobart Model No. HS9-1 Food Slicers or brand name equivalent. STATEMENT OF NEED (2) Food Slicers Hobart Model No. HS9-1 or Equal GENERAL: Nutrition and Food Services at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a requirement for two (2) Hobart Model No. HS9-1 Food Slicers or brand name equivalent. Equipment is needed for preparing more than 1,000 meals daily at the medical center. REQUIREMENTS: Contractor shall provide the following brand name or equal equipment in accordance with the specifications as outlined below. The firm fixed price for this new equipment will include all costs associated with the procurement and shipping of units, as well as delivery into the medical center. A site visit and setup will not be necessary. Hobart Model No. HS9-1 or Equal Quantity - 2 Minimum specifications for equipment to be considered as equal: Salient Characteristics & Construction / Design Heavy duty construction Stainless steel automatic carriage Variable speed 12 - 14" removable knife with removal tool Anodized finish with (6) interlocks, (3) stroke lengths & (4) stroke speeds Removable meat grip assembly and ring guard cover Product fence Single action top mounted sharpener Manual lift lever Electrical Requirements 115v/60/1 ph electric, 6 cord Warranty 1 year parts and labor Certifications / Approvals NSF DELIVERY: The contractor shall complete delivery of equipment before July, 2026. Packaging shall be marked with the attention of the Ground Service Supervisor, with delivery to the following address: VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Campus Attn: Chief, Nutrition and Food Services Building 1 University Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15240 TRAINING AND ORIENTATION: None required ____________________________________________________________________________ Responses to this RFI should include company name, address, point of contact, phone number, and point of contact e-mail, UEI Number, Cage Code, size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification code (NAICS) 333241 Food Product Machinery Manufacturing. Please answer the following questions: (1) Please indicate the size status and representations of your business in accordance with the NAICS code 333241, 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 the required equipment available on a Federal Supply Schedule or Government Wide Acquisition Contract? If so, please include the schedule number. (3) Are you the manufacturer, distributor, or an equivalent solution to the items being Referenced above? (4) If your company is a large business, do you have any authorized small business distributors? If so, please provide their company name, telephone, point of Contact and size status (if available). (5) If your company is a small business and you are an authorized distributor/reseller for the items identified above or an equivalent solution, do you alter; assemble; modify; the items requested in any way? If you do, state how and what is altered; assembled; modified? (6) Is the item you are supplying made or manufactured in America? This is to ensure compliance with FAR 52.225-1 Buy American-Supplies. (7) If you intend to subcontract any work on this contract, what portion of the total cost will be self-performed/will be performed by your organization? Please provide estimated detailed percentage breakdowns related to subcontracted work and completion of job. (8) General pricing of your products/solution is encouraged. Pricing will be used for the purpose of market research only. It will not be used to evaluate for any type of award. (9) Please submit your capabilities in regard to the salient characteristics detailed above and any information pertaining to equal to items to establish capabilities for planning purposes? (10) Please review salient characteristics/statement of work (if applicable) and provide feedback or suggestions. If none, please reply as N/A. (11) Please provide your UEI number. *** Submissions addressing number (10) should show clear, compelling and convincing*** evidence that all equal to items" meet all the salient characteristics. This RFI will be conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses must be received via GSA to Contract Specialist Olivia McDonald no later than 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on February 17, 2026. This notice will help the VA in determining available potential sources only. Do not contact VA Medical Center staff regarding this requirement, as they are not authorized to discuss this matter related to this procurement action. All firms responding to this Request for Information are advised that their response is not a request for proposal, therefore will not be considered for a contract award. If a solicitation is issued, information will be posted on SAM.gov for all qualified interested parties at a later date and interested parties must respond to the solicitation to be considered for award. This notice does not commit the government to contract for any supplies or services. The government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Request for Information. Information will only be accepted in writing via email. 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. 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.
