4510--(2) Hot Water Heater Purchase For Bldg. 9

This presolicitation notice announces the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) intent to award a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract to YHWH Service & Supply INC for the purchase of two State (AO Smith) 119-gallon gas water heaters (Model BTH 500A 300) with a 3-year warranty. The commercial condensing water heaters, featuring modulating burners and 95% thermal efficiency, will be installed at Building 9 of the Palo Alto VA Medical Center in California. Strict Gray Market Items terms and conditions apply. Eligible vendors must be original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), or authorized dealers, distributors, or resellers, and must provide supporting documentation. Although the VA intends to proceed with a sole-source award, the solicitation will be posted on SAM.gov on or about July 16, 2026. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation for agency consideration to determine if a competitive procurement is warranted. Responses and compliance documentation must be submitted to Contracting Specialist Jason Olliff at jason.olliff@va.gov by July 23, 2026, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time.

This document is a federal procurement "Brand Name or Equal" Worksheet (Version 2.0) outlining the salient physical, functional, and performance characteristics required for a commercial gas water heater. The designated brand name item is the Cyclone Gas Heater, which serves as the baseline for evaluating any alternate offers. Key technical specifications required for the water heater include a 119-gallon nominal capacity, a 96% thermal efficiency rating, and a maximum of 300,000 BTUs. The unit must run on natural gas at 120 volts, be Energy Star certified, feature a digital display, and include a 1.5-inch water connection. Physical dimensions are restricted to a height of 75.75 inches and a diameter of 33.13 inches, with a shipping weight of 931 pounds. In compliance with VAAR 811.104 and 811.105, the technical point of contact, Anthony St. John, certified on September 26, 2025, that these specified characteristics are essential to the government's requirements and will not restrict the acquisition to a single manufacturer.

This federal solicitation (36C26126Q0974) is issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 21, as a brand-name-or-equal Request for Quotation (RFQ). The procurement is a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 333414, with a size standard of 500 employees. The VA is seeking two commercial-grade, 119-gallon Cyclone gas water heaters (A.O. Smith BTH 500A 300) with a three-year tank warranty for use at the Palo Alto VA Health Care System in California. Salient technical specifications include a 118-gallon rated storage volume, 96% thermal efficiency, a maximum of 300,000 BTUs, natural gas fuel source, and Energy Star certification. Offers must be submitted to Contracting Officer Jason Olliff via email by July 23, 2026, at 11:00 AM PDT. The Government anticipates awarding a single Firm-Fixed-Price contract, with delivery scheduled between July 15, 2026, and September 15, 2026, on an F.O.B. Destination basis. The document details standard commercial contract terms and conditions, including payment upon delivery and acceptance. It also incorporates specific federal security and regulatory compliance clauses, such as prohibitions on Kaspersky Lab products, ByteDance applications (TikTok), certain Chinese-manufactured telecommunications equipment, and FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft systems. Additionally, it outlines compliance requirements regarding equal opportunity for workers with disabilities and restrictions on racially discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities.