SPECIAL NOTICE / INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

The Billings Area Indian Health Service hereby submits a notice of intent to award a Firm-Fixed- Price (FFP) sole-source contract to Cepheid, 904 Caribbean Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089. This commercial acquisition is conducted under the simplified procedures of FAR 12.102(a), as modernized by the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) class deviations.

The Period of Performance will be from September 20, 2026, through September 19, 2027.

This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive proposals. This is not a solicitation or request for offers. No solicitation package is available, and telephone requests will not be honored.

Pursuant to RFO guidelines for acquisitions valued at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT), Cepheid is the only responsible source capable of providing the required certified maintenance and support services for the Cepheid GeneXpert Analyzer GX16A1Y, (Serial # 842930) at Blackfeet Service Unit, Browning, MT.

To maintain strict Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) operational standards and system integrity, the Contractor must furnish all certified OEM parts, labor, and support services required for preventative maintenance in accordance with OEM guidelines. Cepheid is the sole proprietor of this diagnostic technology and does not certify third-party service providers. Award to any other source would compromise system certification, void active warranties, and disrupt critical laboratory mission capabilities.

Equipment Maintenance and Support

General Requirements.

The Service Contract provides XpertCheck Services, 24/7 Telephone Technical Support, and 5 Day (8am-5pm local time) Onsite Technical Support. The contractor agrees to provide Annual XpertCheck, Callback for Repairs, and a Comprehensive Technical Support Service.

The contractor must provide all-inclusive Preventative Maintenance (PM) and Corrective Maintenance (CM) for the designated GeneXpert system(s). This coverage must encompass all parts, labor, and travel necessary to maintain the equipment in strict accordance with Original Equipment Maintenance (OEM) specifications. Services must remediate all system defects, including those resulting from material failure or normal operational wear and tear.

Manufacturer Certification. The Contractor must be, and must provide verified documentation proving they are, an OEM-certified service provider for the specific make and model of the equipment. This certification must be actively maintained by the Contractor throughout the entire Period of Performance (PoP).

Preventative Maintenance (PM). The Contractor must execute one (1) comprehensive, on-site PM service for each covered system annually. Each PM iteration must be completed within twelve (12) months of the previously documented service. The Contractor must perform all diagnostic tests, calibrations, routine repairs, and authorized parts replacements required to ensure the system operates reliably and in full conformance with OEM performance standards.

Technical Support and Corrective Maintenance Response.

(a) Technical Support. The Contractor shall provide unlimited technical support via telephone or secure remote access from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Site Local time, Mon-Fri. (excluding Holidays).

(b) On-Site Response. In the event of an issue that cannot be resolved remotely, the Contractor shall dispatch an OEM-certified Field Service Engineer for on-site corrective maintenance. The technician shall arrive on-site within four (4) business days following the initial service request from the Government.

The contractor shall provide all necessary labor, tools, equipment, parts, and maintenance required to perform preventative maintenance (PM) and corrective maintenance (CM) on Cepheid GeneXpert GX16A1Y System serial # 842930 in accordance with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) guidelines. This is a full-service contract, and the contractor must have OEM service provider certification to service and maintain the equipment.

Market research indicates that the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Cepheid, is the sole source capable of providing the required Lab Cepheid GeneXpert GX16A1Y maintenance services.

This determination is driven by the proprietary design of the GeneXpert System. Preventative maintenance, calibration, and software diagnostics on the GeneXpert system are exclusively performed by the OEM, Cepheid. There are no authorized or certified third-party service providers. Furthermore, no mandatory government sources are available to fulfill this specialized technical requirement, and the Government possesses an established history of successful, reliable performance with this vendor.

The intended procurement will be classified under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 811210 (Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance) with a Small Business Size Standard of $34.0 Million

There are no set-aside restrictions for this requirement.

This synopsis does not constitute a solicitation; however, if any interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities must be submitted in writing and must contain clear and convincing evidence that competition of this requirement would be advantageous to the Government. If parties choose to respond, any cost associated with preparation and submission of data or any other cost incurred in response to this announcement are the sole responsibility of respondents and will not be reimbursed by the Government. Capabilities statements shall be submitted by email only as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachment to teri.kittson@ihs.gov. Please indicate in the subject of your e-mail: Notice of Intent Question Submission – BFSU Cepheid Analyzer – SN-

75H70926BAO_090.

mailto:teri.kittson@ihs.gov