Patient Nourishment Refrigerators and Freezers

4110--Patient Nourishment Refrigerators/Freezers 100% SDVOSB SET-ASIDE 4110--Patient Nourishment Refrigerators/Freezers 100% SDVOSB SET-ASIDE VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF -NETWORK CONTRACT (36C241) Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) N EQUIPMENT pment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing

Place of Performance Department of Veterans Affairs VA Boston Healthcare System Response to Vendor

Questions for RFQ 36C24126Q0485 Vendor Question 1: Whether the Government has identified an acceptable domestic (U.S.-manufactured) equivalent that meets all salient characteristics, and whether minor deviations (e.g., interior materials or compressor warranty) would be accepted under Brand Name or Equal. Government Response: At this time, the Government has not identified a domestic dual-temperature refrigerator/freezer model that meets all stated salient characteristics and dimensional

requirements for CLIN 0002 and CLIN 0003. As stated in Amendment 0003, all offered products brand name or equal must qualify as Domestic End Products under FAR 52.225-1, Buy American Supplies. Under Brand Name or Equal (FAR 52.211-6), the Government may accept equal products only if all salient characteristics listed in the Statement of Work are met. Salient characteristics are mandatory

requirements, not advisory. At this time, the Government is not relaxing or modifying the salient characteristics, including warranty periods and material

requirements. Vendor Question 2: Whether exterior height and depth dimensions for CLINs 0002 and 0003 may be relaxed to permit Buy American-compliant domestic units, or whether a waiver/non-availability determination is being considered. Government Response: The Government acknowledges that several U.S.-manufactured dual-temperature reach-in units exceed the current dimensional specifications listed in the Statement of Work and may not fit within the space constraints of the requiring activity. These dimensional