Page 5 of 5 Page 1 of 2 SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS ONLY This request for information (RFI) and sources sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. 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. The submission of pricing, capabilities for planning purposes, and other market information is highly encouraged and allowed under this RFI in accordance with FAR 15.201(e). The purpose of this sources sought/RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources, their socioeconomic status, and their size classification relative to NAICS 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing size standard of 1000 employees. Responses to this sources sought will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. This synopsis is neither a request for competitive proposal nor a solicitation of offers. This synopsis is to assist the VA in determining sources only and a solicitation is not currently available. 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 responses to this RFI and sources sought. The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 22 is seeking potential sources capable of supplying (1) Sakura Slide Stainer and (2) Coverslippers or Equivalent. These instruments will be used in histology research studies for the laboratory staff at the VA New Mexico. The proposed action is for a firm-fixed price, short-term contract. The Government contemplates issuing one (1) solicitation for these supplies to be provided to the following facilities: VA New Mexico Healthcare System 1501 San Pedro Drive Albuquerque, NM 87108 Contractor shall provide the following information: Vendor: Address: Telephone Number: Business Size: Socioeconomic Category (i.e. SDVOSB, 8a, VOSB, etc.): UEI Number: FSS/ GSA Contract Holder Yes No FSS/ GSA Contract Number Effective Date / Expiration Date Responses to this sources sought are not request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. Information received as a result of this notice will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether conduct a competitive procurement. This notice does not represent a commitment by the Government to pay for cost incurred in the preparation and submission of information or any other cost incurred as a response to this announcement. Inquiries will only be accepted in writing via email to [email protected] telephone responses shall not be accepted. Please respond by July 7, 2025 at 11:00am PT. Note* The Non-Manufacturer Rule (NMR) in accordance with 13 CFR § 121.406, September 4, 2019 applies to this acquisition. a) For small business set-asides other than construction or service contracts the prime contractor that s supplying products to the government is required to cover at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing those products. The non-manufacturer rule is an exception to that requirement. The rule allows a small business to supply products it did not manufacture as long as those products come from another small business. b) A manufacturer is defined as a business that, with its own facilities, performs primary activities in transforming inorganic or organic substances, including the assembly of parts and components, into the end product being acquired. In other words, a manufacturer makes or produces products. Businesses may qualify as a non-manufacturer if it meets the following criteria: Does not exceed 500 employees Is primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sells the type of products being supplied Will supply the end products of a small business manufacturer or processor made in the United States, or obtains a waiver of such requirement See Title 13 Part 121.406 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for detailed information about the non-manufacturer rule. The Following below is a description of the Salient Characteristics for the Supplies Needed For This Requirement: Sakura Slide Stainer and Coverslippers or Equal Salient Characteristics: Tissue-Tek Prisma Plus Auomated Slide Stainer (#6170) or Equivalent Staining applications  - H&E, PAP, Special Stains (optional) Special applications - Validated for use on the Hologic® Thin Prep® Stain Plus Imaging System Throughput - 530 slides per hour when loading 60 slides per run, 3 start-stations Configuration - Benchtop Integrated coverslipping via Link - Tissue-Tek Film® Coverslipper (4740), using Tissue-Tek Film® Link (6134)         - Tissue-Tek® GlasTM g2 Glass Coverslipper (6500), using Tissue-Tek® GlasTM Link (6168) Load capacity - 3 start-stations, 9 baskets, 180 slides Unload capacity - Up to 5 end-stations, 15 baskets, 300 slides Staining process capacity - Batch mode: 60, 20 or 10 slides          - Continuous mode: Up to 33 slide baskets or 660 slides can be run on-board simultaneously Slide size - 1 x 3 inches (25 x 75 mm) Reagent reservoirs - 22 reservoirs (standard configuration): up to 680 mL          - 44 reservoirs (expanded configurations): up to 285 mL Wash reservoirs - Up to 4 wash stations (Tap or distilled water), direct flow or still Slide basket agitation - Amplitude, speed and frequency, user programmable Slide drying stations - 2 with paraffin trays, 86 to 149°F, 30 to 65°C Heated reagent stations - Optional, 2, 86 to 158°F, 30 to 70°C Reagent naming capacity - Up to 100 (20 characters per name) Programs capacity - Up to 50 staining methods Fume filtration - Activated Carbon Filters on-board   - Optional external vent connection User interface display - Color LCD touchscreen, 10.4 , TFT, VGA, mounted on adjustable arm Sakura Tissue-Tek Prisma Link for Tissue Tek-Film Coverslipper (#6134) or equivalent - Link bar - Link software - RS232 Cable - Alignment Adapter Sakura Tissue Tek-Film Automated Coverslipper (#4740) or equivalent; 115 VAC, 60HZ, 1.3 A Application - Histology, Cytology, Special Staining, Advanced Staining Throughput - Up to 1,080 slides/hr Configuration - Benchtop Load capacity - 3 baskets into load stations Unload capacity - 12 baskets, 240 slides Xylene capacity - 500 mL bottle Slide size - 1 x 3 inches (25 x 75 mm) Coverslipping lengths - 45, 50, 55 or 60 mm Coverslips per roll - 1,333 when selecting coverslip length of 45 mm Operating temperature - 50 to 104°F (10 to 40°C) Fume filtration - Activated carbon filters on-board - Optional external vent connection Integration with stainer - With Tissue-Tek Prisma® or Tissue-Tek Prisma® Plus using Tissue-Tek Film® Link (6134) User interface display - VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display), 20 characters x 4 lines, 3 LED s