SPECIAL NOTICE
68 -- Medical Grade Liquid Bulk Oxygen
- Notice Date
- 5/22/2025 7:24:16 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 325120
— Industrial Gas Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- 241-NETWORK CONTRACT OFFICE 01 (36C241) TOGUS ME 04330 USA
- ZIP Code
- 04330
- Solicitation Number
- 36C24125Q0464
- Response Due
- 5/29/2025 2:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 07/28/2025
- Point of Contact
- Rosangela Pereira, Contract Specialist, Phone: 401-273-7100
- E-Mail Address
-
Rosangela.Pereira@va.gov
(Rosangela.Pereira@va.gov)
- Awardee
- null
- Description
- The Department of Veterans Affairs, Networking Contracting Office (NCO 01), intends to award a sole source contract, pursuant to the authority in FAR 6.302-1, to Airgas USA, LLC.� The NAICS code for this procurement is 325120, Industrial Gas Manufacturing.� Market research indicates that Airgas USA, LLC is the only contractor capable of satisfying the statement of work because they are the sole provider for bulk medical oxygen delivery, which is a highly specialized system that stores the oxygen and could result in devastating effects to the hospital if not maintained and filled properly. The installation of the 3,000-gallon main tank was a very large and expensive project. It involved installing a new tank, underground piping suitable concrete pad and secured containment fencing. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. � However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement demonstrating the ability to provide the requested supply, in writing, by Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 5 PM EST time. The capability statement should identify the manufacturer of the medical gas that will be provided, whether that manufacturer is licensed in the State of Rhode Island, and whether the responsible source will have authorization from the manufacturer to resell the medical gas to VA.� The interested party should also indicate the size of its company (i.e. number of employees).� Responses should be sent to Rosangela Pereira at Rosangela.Pereira@va.gov.� Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition. � A determination not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. STATEMENT OF WORK Medical Grade Liquid Bulk Oxygen The contractor shall provide Medical Grade Liquid Bulk Oxygen to the following Veteran Affairs Medical Center: Veterans Affairs Providence 830 Chalkstone Ave. Providence, RI 02908-4734 Period of Performance The anticipated period of performance will be a base plus 4-year contract. General The Providence Department of Veterans Affairs currently has the requirement for the distribution and supply of medical-grade liquid bulk oxygen. The purpose of this solicitation is to establish a committed source of medical-grade liquid bulk oxygen for Providence VA Medical center. This Government facility does not own its own bulk oxygen tank. The current contractor has provided a contractor-owned 3000-gallon tank with an appropriate 400-gallon reserve tank back-up system meeting NFPA 99 code standards. The tank is owned and maintained by Airgas is located on Armed Forces Blvd. The contract shall also provide for digital readouts of all tank parameters in two (2) separate and distinct locations within Building 1. There is no express or implied guarantee that these quantities will be purchased. The base plus 4-year contract period for all contracts awarded under this solicitation will be effective upon the date of award and extend through the 5-year period. The contract awarded under the solicitation will include a four-year option period which may be exercised by the Government, delivery is required (within 4 hrs. of request). Acronyms This section lists acronyms that are used in this Statement of Work and other parts of the solicitation. CCF 100 cubic feet CF Cubic feet CGA Compressed Gas Association CGMP Current Good Manufacturing Practices CO Contract Owned COR Contracting Officer Representative DOD Department of Defense DOT Department of Transportation FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration GO Government Owned NFPA National Fire Protection Association OGA Other Government Agency (other than VA) OSHA U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration USP United States Pharmacopeia VA Department of Veterans Affairs Government Furnished Property This government facility currently has contractor owned bulk storage Tanks. This facility will provide access to an electrical power source and hook-up of additional contractor owned equipment to the facility-maintained alarm system. The contractor shall perform the hook-up of contractor owned equipment to the facility-maintained alarm system. Contractor-Furnished Equipment The contractor shall maintain the bulk oxygen tank(s) with appropriate back-up system(s). Through the duration of the contract, the contractor shall be liable for the integrity, suitability and safety of contractor owned tanks that will ensure compliance with applicable regulations, standards and normal good practices. The tank capacity and reserve system shown in the schedule are minimum capacities required by this facility. Manifold, cylinders for the reserve supply, liquid converter, alarm switch, regulator, valves, level indicator, and any other devices or connections required for proper tie-ins with the facility s gas system shall be furnished by the contractor, without cost to this facility. The manifold or liquid converter shall deliver gas at a pressure and rate of flow adequate to supply the system. Each liquid oxygen storage container shall have an outlet that allows access for testing the purity of the oxygen. All equipment and materials required to perform the delivery of Oxygen to PVAMC will be provided by contractor. Contractor owned equipment shall be inspected and maintained by the contractor without additional cost to the Government. (i.e. all, inspection, and maintenance costs shall be included in the contracts monthly equipment rental fee for this facility.) Contractor owned equipment shall be kept in good operating condition and appearance, in accordance with applicable regulations, standards and normal good practices. The exterior appearance of the tanks shall be kept free of all rust, peeling or flaking paint and any other exterior surface blemishes and or discoloration. The contractor shall be provided reasonable access to the bulk oxygen systems for this purpose. The contractor shall maintain a telemetry monitoring satellite system to automatically read the meter for deliveries. The installation, inspection and maintenance costs shall be included in the contract s monthly equipment rental fee for this facility. Contractor-Owned Equipment Unless otherwise directed by this facility, contractor owned equipment shall be maintained by contractor for the period of the contract and shall be connected to the medical gas system. No guarantee is given or implied that the data included in the schedule regarding contractor owned equipment currently located at this facility is complete and accurate as to the factors affecting the cost of furnishing and installing the required contractor owned tanks and equipment. All contractor-owned equipment installed in accordance with the NFPA 50: Standard for Bulk Oxygen Systems at Consumer Sites, 2001, NFPA 99 Standard for Healthcare Facilities, latest Edition, and FDA s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) Regulations. The contractor shall comply with all OSHA standards and applicable safety requirements, including proper signage and use of personal protective equipment. In addition to digital readout of tank parameters within Building 1, the contractor will provide the Providence VA Medical Center personnel with access to their website which shows these parameter values in real time. Delivery of Medical Liquid Bulk Oxygen Bulk Oxygen is ordered by and delivered to this individual ordering facility. Delivery hours are before 7:00am or after 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. The contractor shall deliver medical-grade liquid oxygen every 21 days on Mondays, or when the reorder point for either tank is reached. If for any reason the contractor is unable to deliver at the agreed upon day or time, the contractor will provide 24-hour notice to the COR, so that the facility can initiate an alternate backup action. In accordance with VHA patient Safety Alert 2004 (attached). All deliveries must be monitored by a qualified and trained technical representative that will be designated by this facility. Contractor will be provided with the names and contact information of primary and back-up facility representatives. This applies to all deliveries regardless of time or day of execution. Tank(s) will be filled to a maximum functional capacity at each refilling procedure unless otherwise specified in this facility requirements or as agreed upon in a written document signed and dated by the COR. At the time of each delivery, contractor must provide a legible signed and dated written document that identifies the tank level prior to fill, the level after fill, and the quantity delivered. This document must be counter-signed by this facility representative supervising the delivery. Emergency delivery will be provided within 24 hours after receipt of Government notification. Contractor must respond to this facility by either telephone or e-mail within one hour to confirm receipt of emergency notification to ascertain the nature of the emergency. Emergency status is determined by the Government when conditions warrant, such as an actuated main bulk tank low level alarm, imminent alarm condition or system leak. Failure of the contractor to remain current with agreed delivery schedule and requirements does not constitute an emergency for purposes of charging an emergency delivery fee. Contractor shall provide the Providence VA Medical Center COR a quarterly report of delivery dates and amounts to be tallied on a spreadsheet for the calendar year. Amounts shall be shown in cubic feet and gallons. Quality Assurance Specification and Requirements All medical gas manufactures and fillers of medical gases must be registered with FDA as drug manufacturers. All oxygen shall be manufactured, processed, packed, transported and stored according to FDA s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) Regulations, and all labeling shall comply with FDA s labeling regulations (21 CFR Part 201). All liquid bulk oxygen delivered under the contract shall be medical-grade and shall meet or exceed the standards cited in the current edition of the United States Pharmacopoeia/ National Formulary (U.S.P). A valid certificate of analysis shall be provided with each delivery of liquid oxygen. The certificate shall include at a minimum: Supplier s name and complete address Name of the Product (i.e. Oxygen U.S.P.) An Air Liquefaction statement where appropriate Lot number or other unique identification number Actual analytical results from full U.S.P. monograph testing. (A statement that only states that the product meets the minimum purity of 99.5%, etc. is not acceptable.) Test method used to perform the analysis (a statement such as Meets U.S.P. specifications is not acceptable; nor would Tested via Servomex be acceptable since the specific model number is not provided) Signature of authorized supplier representative and date Material Safety Data Sheets shall be provided to this facility COR upon request. A copy of all inspection reports shall be provided to this facility COR upon the completion if any contractor owned or government owned bulk oxygen system inspectors that are required by regulation. All contractor owned equipment shall be maintained or repaired in accordance with NFPA 50: Standard for Bulk Oxygen Systems at Consumer Sites, 2001 and FDA s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) Regulations. Contractor Owned Cylinders This section applies to all contractor owned cylinders that are provided under this contract as a back-up system to a primary bulk oxygen system. Laws and Regulations: Cylinders and other containers for gaseous and liquid forms of gases shall comply with the Department of Transportation specifications and shall be maintained, filled, marked, labeled, and shipped to comply with the current and subsequent updates to DOT regulations (Title 49 Transportation, Code of Federal Regulations.) Packaging, labeling, etc., for medical gases shall also comply with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Marking: In addition to marking required by the aforementioned laws and regulations, marking shall comply with American National Standards Z48.1-1954 (R 1971). Method of Marking Portable Compressed Gas Containers to Identify the Material Contained. All unauthorized or inapplicable markings, tags, and labels shall be removed. When shipment is by commercial carrier, shipping tags complying with Federal Standard 123F dated 5/15/91 shall be attached to each cylinder so as to be protected by the valve protection cap. The contract data marking required by the applicable standard shall be applied to one side of the tag and the identification markings on the reverse side. Consignee markings may be omitted when shipment is by contractor s truck. Valves: Valves shall comply with Compressed Gas Association Standard CGA-V-1 (11th Edition 2003) Standard for Compressed Cylinder Valve Outlet and Inlet Connections. Valve protection caps for cylinders designed to receive such caps shall be securely attached to the cylinders in a manner to protect the valves from injury during transit and delivery to the purchasers receiving area. Refer to 49 CFR 173.301(g). Color coding: All cylinders shall be color coded in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet CGA C-9-1988 Standard Color Marking of Compressed Gas Containers Intended for Medical Use. The contractor shall be responsible for all testing required by regulation of contractor owned cylinders at no additional cost to the Government. The price for the oxygen shall include the furnishing of, at no additional cost, all services which are required at each and every filling of a cylinder to comply with applicable regulations, specifications, and normal good practices. Such services are of the type normally provided in the supply of medical cylinder gases, and shall include, but not be limited to: tags indicating cylinder is Full, In Use, or Empty ; inspection, testing, evaluation and cleaning services required at each and every filling; pin-indexing, when required, and attachment of Government-furnished warning tags, when required. Attaching of oxygen cylinders to manifold systems, when required, shall also be performed by the contractor at no additional cost. In addition to services listed in this paragraph, the contractor is responsible for all maintenance and testing of contractor owned cylinders.
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/4e484141397c4b108898b708d503637c/view)
- Record
- SN07452487-F 20250524/250522230048 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's SAM Daily Index Page |