36C24819Q1118-001.pdf

Notice Type: Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Network Contracting Office 8 intends to award a sole source frim-fixed price contract for an upgrade to the existing MRI in the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center animal lab, to MR Solutions Americas, LLC, 13144 Paloma Drive, Orlando, FL 32837, under the authority Federal

Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13.501. The North American Industry Classification System code for this acquisition is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing.

Place of Performance:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Malcom Randall VA Healthcare System

1601 S.W. Archer Road

Gainesville, FL 32608

Purpose and Objectives:

Malcom Randall VA Medical Center’s Brain Rehabilitation Resource Center (BRRC) uses a high-resolution 7.0 Tesla MR Solutions preclinical MRI for 3D analysis of tissue structure in rodents. The MRI is the gold-standard technology for 3D analysis of longitudinal changes in brain, muscle/organ/vascular morphology. This MRI has a relatively small diameter bore and the MR coils that are necessary for high-resolution imaging have a small (internal) diameter to ensure that they fit within the existing bore. Because of limited size of the bore and coil, researchers cannot perform the necessary longitudinal studies to assess the chronic changes that occur over many months and into adulthood in rats (animal model of choice for these studies) because the animals grow too large to fit in the coils. To address this, BRRC requires a larger diameter bore and larger (internal) diameter coils to ensure that researchers can continue conducting

VA-centric research. The intent is to sole source after market research revealed no other company can provide upgrades to the existing system. The requested upgrade equipment interfaces directly to the 7T

MRI System and is only available from the original equipment manufacturer. The purchase and use of any equipment not provided by the equipment manufacturer would invalidate the Service Contract currently in place. In order to prevent any such issues and avoid costly repairs, it is requested that the

Magnet Bore Size/Coil upgrade be purchased directly from the existing MRI System manufacturer, MR

Solutions.

This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive quotes. However, interested concerns may submit clear and convincing evidence that competition of this requirement would be advantageous to the

Government. via e-mail to Staci Shorten, Contract Specialist, staci.shorten@va.gov no later than 12:00

PM ET on July 17, 2019. A determination by the Government Not to open the requirement to competition based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. The Government will not pay for any information submitted from this notice. This notice of intent shall Not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. The anticipated award date is July 19, 2019.

A justification for other than full and open competition is prepared in support of this acquisition.

Contracting Office Address:

Network Contracting Office 8

300 University Ave Suite 170

Gainesville, FL 32601

Primary Point of Contact:

Staci Shorten

Staci.shorten@va.gov