Electro-Therapeutic Modalities for Pain Management (ETMPM) - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Procurement Program

Solicitation Notice: 36C79126R0011 – Electro-Therapeutic Modalities for Pain Management (ETMPM) – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Procurement Program Notice Type: Solicitation Issuance Notice Solicitation Number: 36C79126R0011 Posted Date: September 18, 2026 Response Due Date: October 19, 2026, 3:00 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT) NAICS Code: 334510 – Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing. The Small Business size standard for NAICS Code 334510 is 1,250 employees. This NAICS code is appropriate as it encompasses the manufacturing of FDA?regulated electromedical therapeutic equipment including TENS, IFC, neuromodulation, and diathermy devices. PSC: 6515 – Medical and Surgical Instruments, Equipment, and Supplies Set-Aside: The Tiered Set-Aside Evaluation Approach used by the VA is not classified as a traditional Small Business set-aside, but rather as a competitive negotiated procurement, conducted via a tiered evaluation process aimed at prioritizing award to successive small business categories. This acquisition will be conducted using the VA Tiered Set?Aside Evaluation Approach pursuant to the authority of 38 U.S.C. 8127, including the statutory priority ordering prescribed in 38 U.S.C. §?8127(h) (a subsection of the Veterans First Contracting Program statute) and the procedures outlined in Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 815.101?370 (Class Deviation). Under this approach, the Government will solicit offers from all tiers of Offerors simultaneously; however, proposal evaluations and award determination will occur sequentially in the prescribed order of priority. The tiers for this procurement are as follows: Tier-1 Service?Disabled Veteran?Owned Small Business (SDVOSB): SDVOSBs shall be evaluated first in accordance with VA’s statutory obligation to prioritize verified SDVOSBs when the VA Rule of Two is met. If no award can be made at Tier-1, then verified VOSB offers will be evaluated next in Tier-2, consistent with the Veterans First hierarchy. Tier-2 Veteran?Owned Small Business (VOSB): If no award can be made at Tier 2, the Government will evaluate offers from all other eligible small business concerns, (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, and WOSB are considered before considering other small business concerns), in Tier 3 following the tiering procedures established in VAAR 815.101-3 and VAAR 815.101-370 (Class Deviation). Tier-3 Other Small Business Concerns: If no award can be made at Tier-3, the Government will evaluate offers from all Other-Than-Small-Business (OTSB) Concerns (Large Businesses)) in Tier 4 following the tiering procedures established in VAAR 815.101?3 and 815.101?370 (Class Deviation). Tier-4 Other?Than?Small Business (OTSB) Concerns (Large Businesses): If no award can be made under any small business Tier 1 through 3, the Government will evaluate offers from other?than?small businesses or large business concerns in Tier 4. This tiered evaluation methodology is authorized under 38 U.S.C. 8127 and implemented through the VA’s Class Deviation to VAAR 815.101?370, which permits the use of tiered set?aside procedures to minimize procurement delays in situations where market research indicates that award at the SDVOSB or VOSB tiers is uncertain. Contracting Office: Department of Veterans Affairs, Enterprise Procurement Office, Acquisition Service Four Delta Team, 555 Corporate Circle, Golden, CO 80401-5621. Introduction: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pleased to announce the release of Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011, the official Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Electro-Therapeutic Modalities for Pain Management (ETMPM) – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Procurement Program. The objective of this national procurement program is to establish multiple single-awards of Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Base contracts and resultant FFP/IDIQ Delivery Order contracts to be awarded on a per-Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) and per-Sub-Line Item Number (SLIN) basis for the procurement of FDA-cleared electro-therapeutic devices and accessories supporting non-opioid pain management for Veterans across all VA Medical Centers and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics. This solicitation recompetition of the expiring legacy TENS contract and expands the legacy TENS procurement program to include Interferential Current Therapy (IFC) devices, Short-Wave Diathermy (SWD) devices (thermal and non-thermal), and portable Neuromodulation systems - for the treatment of headache disorders to be inclusive all unique parent CLIN devices and the device accessories has enumerated at the discrete subordinate SLINs. The device accessories categorized as SLINs include but are not limited to electrodes, lead wires, power chargers, garment-based applicators, and associated other consumables. Each product of the ETMPM-TENS requirement is mapped to unique parent CLIN and a discrete subordinate SLINs with universal Minimum Technical Requirements (MTRs) applicable to all CLINs/SLINs and individual CLIN/SLIN-specific MTRs. Key Dates: RFP Questions Due-In Date: On or before but no later than October 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM CDT, questions received after this deadline may receive a Government response or receipt acknowledgement. Proposal Package and Product Samples Due-In Date: On or before but no later than October 19, 2026, at 3:00 PM CDT. Early proposal package and product samples are encouraged. Anticipated Award: The results of competition ultimately determine when and if award(s) can be made, but the VA intends to finalize award decisions on or before but no later than January 19, 2027, the expiration date of the legacy TENS contract. The VA reserves the right not to make an award or to make award on some CLINs/SLINs but not all the CLINs/SLINs enumerated in the solicitation. Proposal Package Submission Instructions: A responsive proposal is one that conforms to the solicitation in all material respects and complies fully with all instructions contained therein, including but not limited to Offerors’ certifications, representations, submission formatting, inclusion of all mandatory documentation, and the shipment of product samples to the VA’s Denver Logistic Services facility in Golden, Colorado in accordance with the product samples delivery requirements as stated throughout the RFP. Submission of a proposal package in response to Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011 is strictly voluntary. All costs associated with the preparation, development, and submission of proposals, proposal package documentation, and any required product samples shall be borne solely by the Offeror. The Department of Veterans Affairs will not reimburse, compensate, or otherwise pay Offerors for any expenses incurred in the preparation or submission of proposal materials or product samples. Offerors shall not invoice the Government for such costs. All proposal preparation and submission activities are performed at the Offeror’s own expense. Policy Note: In the event of a conflict between this Solicitation Notice posted at the Government-wide Point of Entry (GPE) website at https://www.sam.gov and solicitation number 36C79126R0011, the solicitation shall prevail, govern, and control. Proposal Packages must include but are not limited to the following: Properly Executed SF 1449: Complete the name/title, signature, and date signed Blocks 30a–30c of the SF 1449. Complete the information entries of all Section B Continuation Pages to include filling in all required YELLOW highlighted text fields for the Offeror’s primary point of contact. Include the fully executed SF 1449 as a separate document attachment to the proposal submission email message. Submission of a Technical Capability Statement: All Offerors shall submit a Technical Capability Statement that adequately demonstrates the Offeror’s capability to fulfill all universal MTRs and the CLINs/SLINs-specific MTRs for all offered products and adequately demonstrates the Offeror’s clear and complete understanding of the ETMPM-TENS requirement and the Offeror’s capability to deliver the required products as ordered within 30 calendar days of order receipt. The Technical Capability Statement shall be submitted as a separate document attachment to the proposal submission email message. OEM-issued Authorized Distributor Letters (Required for all Non-Manufacturers): Submit a current, valid OEM-issued Authorized Distributor Letter(s) accounting for all non-manufacturer products on a per-CLIN/SLIN basis. The OEM-issued Authorized Distributor Letters shall be submitted as a separate document attachment to the proposal submission email message. FDA Clearance Letters: All Offerors shall submit valid FDA 510(k) clearance letters/documentation or other applicable FDA authorization for every device and accessory offered on a per-CLIN/SLIN basis. The FDA Clearance Letters shall be submitted as a separate document attachment to the proposal submission email message. Past Performance Documentation: All Offerors shall submit the three (3) most recent official CPARS Evaluation Reports, if an Offeror is unable to submit completed CPARS Evaluation Reports due to a lack of past performance, the Offeror shall submit Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) completed by the Offeror’s three (3) most recent customers. All Offerors shall submit three (3) past performance documents for Government evaluation that may consist of a combination of official CPARS Evaluation Reports and/or Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs). The PPQs shall be completed and submitted by the Offeror’s customer(s) directly to the VA’s Contract Specialist via separate document attachments to the PPQs submission email message. The Offeror submitted CPARS Evaluation Reports shall be submitted as a separate document attachment(s) to the proposal submission email message. Product Samples: All Offerors shall ship a product sample for every product offered on a per-CLINs/SLINs basis at no cost to the Government. Ship all required product samples for each proposed CLIN/SLIN to: Department of Veterans Affairs Denver Logistics Service (DLS) 555 Corporate Circle, Golden, CO 80401-5621 Attention: Javier Ramirez and Lisa Mello RFP Number 36C79126R0011 All product samples must be received by the Government personnel at the VA’s DLS facility on or before but no later than the common due-in date/time established for the receipt of all proposal submission in response to the issuance of Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011. The early submission of product samples is encouraged. All Required Solicitation Attachments: All Offerors are required to complete, certify, and submit all solicitation attachments (Attachment 0001 - Price Matrix, Attachment 0002- Offeror’s Representations and Certifications, Attachment 0003 - Limitations on Subcontracting, Attachment 0004 - Buy American Certificate, Attachment 0005 - Trade Agreements Certificate, and Attachment 0006 - Past Performance Questionnaire - utilized by Offerors on an as needed basis). The Attachments to this solicitation shall be submitted as a separate document attachment(s) to the proposal submission email message. Policy Note: If any conflict exists between offered end-product country-of-origin (COO) entries in Attachment 0002 (FAR 52.212-3) and Attachments 0004 (FAR 52.225-2) or 0005 (FAR 52.225-6), the entries in Attachments 0004 and 0005 shall govern for end-product COO eligibility and evaluation under FAR Part 25. The VA will rely on CLIN/SLIN-level COO declarations in these attachments for Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act compliance. Proposal Package Documentation Submission Method: Submit all proposal documents electronically by email message with attached documents to: John Overstake, Primary Contract Specialist: john.overstake@va.gov; Carbon Copy (“CC”): Alternate Contract Specialist Susanna Huffmaster: susanna.huffmaster@va.gov>maurice.walker@va.gov; Carbon Copy (“CC”): Maurice Walker, Contracting Officer and Source Selection Authority: maurice.walker@va.gov; Use Email Subject Line: “Proposal Submission – RFP 36C79126R0011 – [Offeror Name]”; and The VA will confirm receipt of proposal packages by brief email reply message. Evaluation and Award Methodology: CLINs/SLINs X001–X004: Evaluated using Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection procedures. CLIN/SLIN X005 and X005AA: Evaluated using Best Value – Tradeoff source selection procedures. Responsiveness: Only proposals meeting all material requirements as stated in solicitation number 36C79126R0011 will be evaluated and considered for award. RFP Questions & Government Responses: All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing by email message only addressed to John Overstake at email address john.overstake@va.gov, with a carbon copy (“CC”) message to Susanna Huffmaster: susanna.huffmaster@va.gov and a carbon copy (“CC”) message to maurice.walker@va.gov. All Offerors’ RFP questions shall be received on or before but no later than October 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM CDT. The VA will acknowledge receipt of all timely questions received. All Government responses to timely questions shall be posted on the GPE website at https://www.sam.gov on or before but no later than the common due-in date/time established for the receipt of all proposal submission in response to the issuance of Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011. Questions received after the established deadline for the receipt of all questions to the Government in response to the issuance of Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011 may not receive a Government receipt acknowledgement and may not receive a Government response at the sole discretion of the Government. Closing Statement: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sincerely thanks all prospective Offerors for their interest and the significant effort required to prepare and submit responsive proposals. The VA recognizes the substantial commitment time, effort, and resources involved and commends your dedication to supporting our mission. Together, we serve those who have served our great nation with honor, courage, and commitment. It is our privilege to partner with industry participants in delivering the highest quality healthcare and support of America’s Veterans. For full details, instructions, and all solicitation documents, please download the complete RFP package and all six (6) solicitation attachments from this posting. (End of Solicitation Notice 36C79126R0011) Clarifications-Only No Changes Made: (Updated September 19,2026, Offerors' Questions and Government Responses document attached). Updated: September 21, 2026, added Prospective Offerors' Questions and Government's Clarifications document as an attachment to this notice. Updated: September 22, 2026, added Prospective Offerors' Questions and Government's Clarifications document as an attachment to this notice. Updated: September 28, 2026, added Prospective Offerors' Questions and Government's Clarifications document as an attachment document to this notice. Updated: September 28, 2026, a significant number of additional questions were received to justify adding an updated Prospective Offerors' Questions and Government's Clarifications document as an attachment document to this notice. Updated: September 29, 2026, a significant number of additional questions were received to justify adding an updated Prospective Offerors' Questions and Government's Clarifications document as an attachment document to this notice. (Updated September 30, 2026) AMENDMENT 00001 TO SOLICITATION NUMBER 36C79126R0011 ISSUED: Purpose: Amendment 00001 to Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011, Electro-Therapeutic Modalities for Pain Management (ETMPM) and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Requirement, is issued to implement mandatory corrections and clarifications identified during the Policy Quality Assurance (PQA) Division’s presolicitation review. This Amendment ensures the solicitation is fully compliant with current Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), and VA policy requirements prior to continued proposal submission and evaluation. Summary of Key Revisions: Removal of Attachment 0003: Attachment 0003 (VAAR Clause 852.219-76, Limitations on Subcontracting) has been removed from the solicitation package as a material requirement. Offerors are no longer required to submit this attachment as part of their proposal. Removal of Attachment 0002 – FAR Provision 52.212-3: Attachment 0002 (FAR Provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications) is now “RESERVED” under the FAR overhaul and is no longer a material requirement. Offerors are not required to submit this document with their proposals. Correction of Clause References and Dates: All outdated or superseded FAR, RFO, and VAAR clause citations and dates have been updated throughout the solicitation to reflect current deviation dates and regulatory requirements. All “RESERVED” clauses (e.g., 52.212-3, 52.212-5, 852.246-70) and invalid references (e.g., VAAR 852.270-1) have been removed. Addition and Correction of VAAR Clauses: VAAR 852.219-10 has been replaced with VAAR 852.219-73 (VA Notice of Total SDVOSB Set-Aside). VAAR 852.212-71 (Gray Market and Counterfeit Items) has been added. VAAR 852.211-70 and 852.211-72 are now incorporated by full text with required CLIN-specific fill-ins. Correction of Source Selection and Evaluation Citations: All references to source selection procedures have been corrected to cite the appropriate RFO provisions (e.g., LPTA procedures now cite RFO 15.103-2). The Certificate of Competency referral citation is corrected to RFO 19.204. Correction of Attachment Numbering and Instructions: All attachment references have been corrected for accuracy. Instructions for completing Attachment 0001 – Price Matrix now include all CLINs/SLINs (including X003 and X004), and decimal quantity errors have been corrected to display whole numbers. Update of Hyperlinks: All hyperlinks to FAR/RFO full-text repositories have been updated to the correct deviation guide URL. Clarification of Evaluation Factor Importance: The relative importance statement for CLINs X001-X004 has been clarified to state that price is the deciding factor under LPTA procedures. What Remains Unchanged: Scope and Objectives: The overall scope, objectives, and technical requirements of the ETMPM-TENS procurement remain unchanged. The solicitation continues to seek proposals for FDA-cleared electrotherapeutic devices and accessories as described in the Statement of Need and Minimum Technical Requirements. Tiered Set Aside Evaluation Methodology and Competition Approach: The source selection methodology (LPTA for CLINs X001-X004, Best Value Tradeoff for CLIN X005), tiered set-aside evaluation approach, and all other competition procedures remain unchanged. Proposal Submission Instructions: The process for submitting proposals, including the requirement to submit a signed SF 1449, completed Section B entries, Technical Capability Statement, and all required attachments (except those removed by this amendment), remains unchanged. Instructions to Offerors: Offerors are advised to carefully review the revised solicitation and all attachments. All proposals must conform to the updated requirements and instructions. Proposals that do not comply with the revised solicitation, including the removal of Attachment 0002 and Attachment 0003 as material requirements, may be deemed nonresponsive. Conclusion: Amendment 00001 is issued to ensure full compliance with current regulatory requirements and to clarify proposal submission obligations. No substantive changes have been made to the acquisition strategy, evaluation methodology, or competition approach. All other terms and conditions of Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011 remain unchanged. (End of Amendment 0001 Explanation) (Updated October 02, 2026) Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011 Amendment 0002 Issued: Purpose of Amendment: Amendment 0002 to Solicitation 36C79126R0011 was issued to address critical clarifications and corrections necessary for the Electro-Therapeutic Modalities for Pain Management (ETMPM) procurement program. This amendment ensures that all technical requirements, pricing instructions, and regulatory clauses are fully aligned with the Government’s intent and industry standards, thereby supporting a fair, transparent, and competitive acquisition process. Background and Rationale: During the initial solicitation phase, several discrepancies and ambiguities were identified in the unit of issue definitions, SLIN-level Minimum Technical Requirements (MTRs), and pricing instructions. Additionally, feedback from prospective Offerors and internal Government review highlighted the need to revise certain clauses and correct errors in the solicitation attachments. These issues, if left unaddressed, could have resulted in confusion, inconsistent proposal submissions, and potential protest risk. Summary of Revisions and Changes: Revision of SLIN-Level MTRs for Unit of Issue (Each - EA): Amendment 0002 clarifies and standardizes the unit of issue for all SLINs as “Each (EA)” throughout the solicitation. This ensures that Offerors price and deliver products consistently, with each SLIN representing a package of four (4) electrodes as the unit of issue. All product samples must be shipped to the VA’s Denver Logistics Service (DLS) Facility in the unit of issue EA, which equals one (1) device for CLINs and one (1) package of four electrodes for SLINs. Revision of Attachment 0003 – VAAR Clause 852.219-76 Limitations on Subcontracting: The clause was updated for alignment under the Request for Offer (RFO) and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), ensuring compliance with VA-specific subcontracting limitations and promoting opportunities for small business participation. Correction of SLINs X001AC and X002AC Material Requirements: Amendment 0002 removes the requirement for 2 in. x 4 in. electrodes from SLIN X001AC and X002AC, aligning the material requirements with clinical needs and industry standards. All SLINs are now priced as a package of four electrodes, eliminating ambiguity and ensuring uniformity across all proposals. Revision of Attachment 0001 – Price Matrix: The Price Matrix was corrected to address Government errors in the Excel spreadsheet, ensuring accurate entry of unit pricing for all CLIN/SLIN groupings. This revision supports clear, auditable pricing submissions and facilitates effective evaluation of proposals. Clarification of Proposal Submission and Sample Shipping Requirements: Amendment 0002 reiterates that all pricing and sample shipments must adhere to the revised unit of issue EA, with explicit instructions for packaging and labeling. This change mitigates risk of misinterpretation and supports efficient receipt and evaluation of product samples at the VA’s DLS Facility. Conclusion: Amendment 0002 was necessary to resolve inconsistencies, clarify technical and pricing requirements, and ensure regulatory compliance within Solicitation 36C79126R0011. These revisions promote fairness, transparency, and operational efficiency in the ETMPM-TENS procurement process, supporting the VA’s mission to deliver safe, effective, non-opioid pain management solutions for Veterans. (End of Amendment 0002 Explanation) (Updated 10/06/2026 - Amendment 0003 to Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011 Issued - Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011 as Revised by Amendment 0003 is in full force and effect.) Amendment 0003 to Solicitation Number 36C79126R0011 includes the following seven revisions: Removal of Attachment 0004 – BAA Certificate and all related solicitation language. New Mandatory Requirement for Separate Attachment 0001 – Price Matrix Files for Each Alternate Electrode Option (AD SLINs). Clarification of How the VA “Rule of Two” Applies Under Tiered Evaluation. Clarification That AD SLINs Must Always Be Included in the Primary TEP Matrix (Not Optional). Clarification That Multiple AD Matrices Supplement—but Do Not Replace—the Required Primary Price Matrix. Minor Clarifying Adjustments to Related Sections (Non?Substantive), including sample labeling and compatibility evaluation. Retention of Attachment 0003 – VAAR 852.219?76 Limitations on Subcontracting Certificate.Amendment 0003 to Solicitation 36C79126R0011 is issued to strengthen clarity, consistency, and evaluation integrity within the ETMPM?TENS national procurement program. Since the solicitation’s release on September 18, 2026, and following more than one-hundred (100 +) prospective Offerors’ questions submitted by the October 5, 2026, Q&A submission deadline, the VA identified several areas requiring formal clarification to preserve fair competition and defensible source selection. The need for this amendment arises from the evolving understanding of how Offerors intend to structure alternate electrode (AD) offer submissions, how end-product country-of-origin (COO) certifications apply under a TAA?only procurement, and how mandatory small-business compliance documents are to be properly enforced. Earlier amendments corrected pricing tables, SLIN units of issue, and MTRs alignment, but did not address structural submission and evaluation alignment issues revealed during prospective Offerors engagement. Amendment 0003 therefore incorporates seven (7) targeted revisions.