This is a service / maintenance or supply contract in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Contact the soliciting agency for additional information.

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT 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. 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 Part 15.201(e). SOURCES SOUGHT DESCRIPTION This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a RFI/sources sought only. The purpose of this sources sought/RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 924110. Responses to this sources sought will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this sources sought, a solicitation announcement may be published. Responses to this sources sought synopsis are not considered adequate responses for a solicitation announcement. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 15 Network Contracting Office, is seeking sources that can provide the following: Medical Waste Disposal for the VA Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, MO and Clinics, locations listed below. Regulated Medical Waste Removal Poplar Bluff VA Medical Center Provide regulated medical waste removal for the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, Cape Girardeau Healthcare Center (HCC) and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). There will be no additional surcharge for gas, administrative and environmental fees added beyond the contracted monthly rate. Contractor is to provide a copy of medical waste liability insurance. STATEMENT OF WORK: Contractor shalt provide regulated medical waste disposal for the Department of Veterans Affairs at the following locations: VA Medical Center Poplar Bluff John J. Pershing Veterans Hospital 1500 N Westwood Blvd Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 Monday & Thursday (2XWeekly) Building Location 7 CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO CBOC 711 South Mount Auburn Road Cape Girardeau, Mo 63703 M-W or Fri (Weekly) Location: HCC Building PICK-UP AND DISPOSAL OF REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE WEST PLAINS MO. CBOC 1211 Mo Ave West Plains, MO 65775 M-W or Fri (2 x Month) Location: CBOC Building PICK-UP AND DISPOSAL OF REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE SIKESTON MO CBOC, 905 S. Kings Highway Sikeston, MO 63801 M-W or Fri (2 x Month) Location: CBOC Building PICK-UP AND DISPOSAL OF REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE FARMINGTON MO CBOC 1580 West Columbia St. Farmington, MO 63640 M-W or Fri (2 x Month) Location: CBOC Building PICK-UP AND DISPOSAL OF REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE PARAGOULD ARK. CBOC 2420 Linwood Drive Paragould, Ark 72450 M-W or Fri (2 x Month) Location: CBOC Building PICK-UP AND DISPOSAL OF REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE Contractor shall furnish all personnel, materials, tools, and equipment necessary to provide removal, transportation, and disposal of all regulated medical waste and to comply with all current local, state and federal regulations. Regulated medical waste will consist of isolation waste, cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biological human blood and blood products, pathological waste, contaminated sharps, miscellaneous laboratory waste, discarded dressings, and contaminated linen or disposable linen substitutes. VA Medical Center employees at Poplar VA Medical Center and Community Outpatient Clinics Warrant that the regulated waste presented for disposal will not contain any hazardous or radioactive wastes as defined by an applicable law or regulation. VA employees will ensure all patient information is removed before placing the item in the disposal bag. Containerize and seal the regulated medical waste by placing the waste in approved plastic waste receptacle liners and/or disposable sharps containers that are marked with the international biohazard symbol and the wording, "Infectious Waste," or "Biohazard Waste." Seal the Contractor provided box filled with medical waste and transport the container to the designated storage area for pickup at the times and places agreed upon by the parties. Contractor shall: Provide the Poplar Bluff VA Medical Center and Community Outpatient Clinics with sufficient amounts of packaging materials, including red waste bags that are sturdy, rigid, leak proof, impervious and have the capability of being sealed. Remove regulated medical waste using only properly permitted and licensed trucks and drivers. Transport the containers by methods and procedures that fully comply with all local, state, and federal rules and regulations. The Contractor shall furnish the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). with a fully detailed description of the methodology that shall be used to transport, treat, and dispose of the waste. Provide the COR with a copy of the manifest, which includes the generator and transporter information for each load of waste. The manifest shall be provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs each time the waste is removed from the Medical Center. Each manifest shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: GENERATOR INFORMATION: NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER, DESCRIPTION OF WASTE, DATE OF PICKUP, POUNDAGE OF EACH PICKUP. TRANSPORTER INFORMATION: TRUCK NUMBER, TRANSPORTER NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER, DRIVER NAME DESTINATION INFORMATION: SITE NAME, ADDRESS and TELEPHONE NUMBER. The manifest shall indicate that the waste was picked up at the generator and delivered to the approved destination without incident. Within five (5) working days from the time the waste reached its destination, Contractor shall provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with a matching completed manifest that includes appropriate destruction information. The manifest will also indicate the poundage of each box picked up. Document numbers and information on the two documents shall match. There shall be final certification by the destination authorized agent by signature and date that the waste was accepted, and all the information was correct. Contractor shall maintain licenses and/or permits required by Federal, State, City and County laws and regulations. The contractor shall assume full responsibility for compliance with all Federal, State, City and County laws, rules and regulations governing regulated medical waste. Training: within 30 days of contract award, contractor shall provide a documented in service Training Program to participating facility employees that shall include applicable; State and local regulations Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Center for Disease Control (CDC); Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and standards Medical Waste Stream- policies and procedures to include: Identification, segregation, and labeling Collection, handling and transport Storage, treatment, and disposal/recovery Record keeping/tracking and risk management The contractor shall obtain signatures of all trainees and issue certificates of completion to all trainees who have successfully completed the training. Signatures and copies of each certificate shall be provided to the Contracting Officer's Representative. Waste Stream Analysis: Within 60 days after completion of training identified above, contractor shall conduct a wasteA- stream analysis of the participating facilities Regulated Medical Waste. The analysis shall be based on the policies and procedures of the Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois Department of Public Health (DPH) regulations, Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, and Joint Commission recommendations. The waste stream analysis shall include any suggestions for waste reduction with the Medical Centers. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICAT1ONS OF OFFERORS: Quotes shall be considered only from companies who are regularly established in the business called for, and who in the judgment of the Contracting Officer are financially responsible and able to show evidence of their reliability, ability, experience, equipment, facilities, and personnel directly employed or supervised by them to render prompt and satisfactory service. Contractor shall be able to handle all regulated medical waste removal requirements immediately upon start of the contract period. INSPECTION OF PREMISES: Contractors are encouraged to visit the participating facilities to fully inform themselves of the character and conditions under which the service is to be performed. Failure to do so shall in no way relieve the successful offeror from the necessity of furnishing the services as specified in this solicitation without additional cost to the Government. This inspection may be made daily between the hours of 9:00A.M. to 3:00P.M. except Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. INSPECTION OF OFFERORS FACILITIES: The right is reserved to thoroughly inspect and investigate the establishment, facilities, business reputation and other qualifications of any offeror and reject any proposal, regardless of price, if it shall be administratively determined lacking in any of the essentials necessary to assure acceptable standards of performance. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTAINERS: The contractor agrees that the participating Government facilities assume no liability for damage that may be done to the waste containers used in the performance of this contract unless it is caused by any act of negligence on the part of a Government employee. LICENSE: The contractor shall be licensed by the state or local authority in those localities where such licenses are required. Where no license is required, the offeror shall furnish with his proposal evidence of satisfactory work performance of work supervision for a period on not less than one year previous to the date of the proposal. LIABILITY AND INSURANCE COVERAGE: Satisfactory insurance coverage is a condition precedent to award of a contract. In general, a successful offeror shall present satisfactory evidence of full compliance with State and local requirements. State approved sources of insurance coverage ordinarily shall be deemed acceptable to the Department of Veterans Affairs installation, subject to timely certification by such sources of the types and limits of the coverage afforded by the sources. EVIDENCE OF COVERAGE: Before commencing work under the contract, the contractor shall furnish to the Contracting Officer a certificate of insurance indicating the coverage outlines in the SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS section and containing an endorsement to the effect that cancellation of or any material change in the policies which adversely affect the interest of the Government in such insurance shall not be effective unless a thirty (30) day advance written notice of cancellation or change is furnished to the Contracting Officer. AUTHORITY OF OPERATORS: The contractor's operators shall bear at all times the contractor's signed authority designating them as authorized to perform work at the participating facilities under this contract. Only designated operators shall do work under this contract. AU drivers of vehicles used in the performance of this contract shall be authorized drivers of such type vehicles and shall carry upon his/her person the necessary operator's and/or chauffeur's license as may be required by the States of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas. While driving on Government facility grounds, the drivers of vehicles shall fully comply with such speed and safety regulations pertaining to the operation of motor vehicles as medical authorities may issue from time to time. SAFETY/EMERGENCY PLANS: Contractor shall submit the following plans with their quote: A written safety plan that details actions to be taken to protect the staff of the medical centers, contractor, and surrounding communities in the event of any accident spills or leaks that occur while the contractor is performing work under this contract for the Government. A written emergency plan that outlines a formalized response to any accident spills or leaks that occur while the contractor is performing work under this contract for the Government. 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 brand name. 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: Please indicate 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), HUBZone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc.) Is your company considered small under the NAICS code identified under this RFI Are you the manufacturer, distributor, or an equivalent solution to the items being referenced above Does your company have an FSS contract with GSA, VA NAC, NASA SEWP, or any other federal contract, that can be utilized to procure the requirement listed above. If so, please provide the contract number. Please submit your capabilities that show clear, compelling, and convincing evidence that you can meet the requirement described in the attached SOW. Please provide your SAM s UEI number. Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to Lisa Fischer at Lisa.Fischer1@va.gov. Telephone responses shall not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than Friday, December 1st, 2023, at 1500 PM CST. 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 sources sought. Responses to this sources sought notice are not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation The Method of Contractor Selection has not been determined at this Time.