Batteries, Cell Type, Various Sizes and Types - Hearing Aids and Other Medical Devices

Procurement Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Denver Logistics Service (DLS) and Office of Connected Care have identified cell batteries of various sizes and types for continuous reordering as an ongoing requirement. The VA's DLS is a national distribution center which procures, stocks, and distributes batteries directly to VA clinics, medical centers, and eligible Veterans directly. The DLS has been providing batteries to VA hospitals and clinics, eligible Veterans, and other Government agencies since at least 1999. The types of batteries in this requirement are needed to power a wide variety of medical and other quality of life medical devices the VA provides to eligible Veterans including rechargeable and non-rechargeable, lithium, alkaline, zinc-air, nickel-metal-hydride (NIMH), and silver oxide batteries in a wide variety of form. The types of batteries included in this requirement are readily available in the commercial market, as commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) items that are widely used for applications other than the Government’s needs. All the various types of batteries in this requirement fit the definition of commercial items as set forth at FAR 2.101. Additionally, pursuant to the other than full and open competition authority set forth in Federal Acquisition regulation (FAR) 6.302-5, Authorized Or Required By Statute, this procurement will be a sole source award pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(5), the VA is required to procure seventeen (17) of the twenty-five (25) battery types included in this battery requirement from the AbilityOne Procurement List (PL). Furthermore, in accordance with Veterans Affairs Acquisition Manual (VAAM) M808.002-70(a), which states: "Priorities for use of mandatory Government sources - AbilityOne procedures, states: "As a result of Public Law 116-155, certain covered products and services on the AbilityOne Procurement List must be procured in accordance with Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 808.002(a)(1)(iv) and (a)(2)." Pursuant to FAR 8.704(a) states: “41 U.S.C. chapter 85 requires the Government to purchase supplies or services on the Procurement List, at prices established by the Committee, from AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies if they are available within the period required.” This procurement action is a follow-on effort to the current five (5) battery FFP-IDIQ contracts, which all expire on August 31, 2025. The period of performance for this procurement will start on September 01, 2025 and run through August 31, 2030 if all option periods are exercised. The robust market research (e.g., both past and present iterations) has repeatedly shown there are no small business manufacturers of the battery types included in this requirement. All known companies that manufacture batteries described in this requirement are large, international businesses of which only three (3) of the large business manufactures are known to produce end products from a WTO-GPA designated country. The goal of this acquisition is to award one Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Indefinite Delivery - Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to the designated Central Nonprofit Agency (CNA) selected by the AbilityOne Committee through their program management representatives at Source America to supply the seventeen (17) battery types of this requirement currently listed on the AbilityOne Procurement List.

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