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THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) 36C26223Q0650 -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 15.201(e). SOURCES SOUGHT DESCRIPTION This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a source sought/RFI for market research only. The purpose of this source sought/RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 621512 (size standard is $16.5 Million). Responses to this source sought will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this source sought, a solicitation announcement may be published. Responses to this source sought synopsis are not considered adequate responses for a solicitation announcement. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 22 Network Contracting Office, is seeking sources that can provide Siemens MRI Breast Dot Engine software or Equal to that at a minimum meets the following salient characteristics in the Statement of Work for the VA NEW MEXICO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: Line Item Description/Part Number Quantity Unit Unit Price Amount 0001 BREAST MRI Software for Siemens 3T SKYRAfit magnet 1 EA   TOTAL  Include shipping cost on the items price. Vendor Requirements: Period of Performance is 14 Calendar Days After Receipt of Order (ARO). Vendor shall quote all items under this requirement. Vendor shall meet the Salient Characteristics in the Statement of Work (SOW). Vendor shall respond questions 1 through 8 of the Request of Information (RFI), see below. STATEMENT OF WORK 1. Objective The Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM, is requesting the purchase of Siemens MRI Breast Dot Engine software or Equal to for our current MRI equipment. 2. Background The Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center MRI department started a MRI Breast Program December 2022 and will have completed basic scanning and biopsy training/applications by mid February 2023. Up until now, all MRI breast imaging for the NMVAHCS have been sent out thru Community Care. To image or scan the breast, specific MRI imaging software is needed. The Siemens Breast Dot Engine license is the required software. We have two magnets, each with a different Tesla strength(power) used for MRI Breast imaging, the Siemens 1.5T AERA and the 3T SKYRAfit. Currently, the 1.5T AERA has a previously purchased Siemens Breast Dot Engine license and the 3T SKYRAfit is using a Siemens 90 day trial license for the Siemens Breast DOT Engine. This 90 day trial license expired March 1,2023. When the 3T SKYRAfit was purchased, due to major technical MRI imaging issues, MRI Breast imaging was not done on the 3T magnet and the Siemens Breast Dot Engine license was not yet available. The technical breast imaging issues associated with the 3T magnet have been resolved, and we are requesting the Siemens Breast Dot Engine or Equal to license for the 3T SKYRAfit magnet. The 1.5T AERA license cannot be used on the 3T SKYRAfit magnet due to different field strengths (physics). 3. Place of Performance All work associated with the Siemens Breast Dot Engine or Equal To license will be done at the Raymond G Murphy VA, MRI Suite, Bldg 49 on the 3T SKYRAfit magnet. 4. Specific Tasks The installation of the Siemens MRI Breast Dot Engine or Equal To license is a one time upload and the license upload is done by a local Siemens Field Engineer. After the license upload, the Siemens Field Engineer will transfer all previously created MRI Breast sequencing from the 90 day trial license to the purchased license. Installation and review is expected to take approximately 2 hours. MRI Breast imaging can start immediately after this process is complete. 5. Place of Performance All work will be done at the Raymond G Murphy VA Medical center in the MRI department. The installation of the Siemens MRI Breast Dot Engine or Equal to license is a one time upload and the license upload is done by a local Siemens Field Engineer. After the license upload, the Siemens Field Engineer will tranfer all previously created MRI Breast sequencing from the 90 day trial license to the purchased license. Installation and review is expected to take approximately 2 hours. MRI Breast imaging can start immediately after this process is complete. 6. Salient Characteristics Siemens MRI Breast Dot Engine software license or Equal to must provide capability of use of the Siemens 3T SKYRAfit magnet in MRI scanning and imaging breast tissue for diagnosis. 7. Period of Performance License must not incur regular subscription charges and must be a one time purchase/transaction. NMVAHCS Bio-Med has a current Siemens contract for MRI maintenance. 8. Delivery Schedule Once the Siemens Breast Dot Engine license is awarded, the license will be delivered directly to the local Siemens Field Engineer and they will make arrangements with the MRI department to download the license on to the 3T SKYRAfit magnet. Once the license is awarded and MRI/Bio-Med is contacted, MRI/Bio-Med will contact the local Siemens Field Engineer for upload/install within 14 calendar days after receipt of order (ARO). 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: (1) Please indicates 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), Hub zone, 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 or distributor of the items being referenced above (or equivalent product/solution)? What is the manufacturing country of origin of these items? (4) If you re a small business and you are an authorized distributor/reseller for the items identified above (or equivalent product/solution), do you alter; assemble; modify; the items requested in any way? If you do, state how and what is altered; assembled; modified? (5) Does your company have an FSS contract with GSA or the NAC or are you a contract holder with NASA SEWP or any other federal contract? If so, please provide the contract type and number. (6) If you are an FSS GSA/NAC or NASA SEWP contract holder or other federal contract holder, are the referenced items/solutions available on your schedule/contract? (7) Please provide general pricing for your products/solutions for market research purposes. (8) Please submit your capabilities in regard to the salient characteristics being provided and any information pertaining to equal to items to establish capabilities for planning purposes? *** Submissions addressing Section (8) should show clear, compelling and convincing*** evidence that all equal to items" meet all required salient characteristics. Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to dyne.kim@va.gov. Telephone responses shall not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than March 16, 2023 at 11:00 AM PDT. If a solicitation is issued it shall be announced at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this request for information. Responses to this notice are not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. Please reference 36C26223Q0650, Siemens MRI Breast Dot Engine software or Equal to.