Intent to Sole Source.pdf

Notice Type: Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Network Contracting Office 8 intends to award a sole source firm‐fixed price contract for an upgrade to the existing MRI in the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center animal lab, to MR

Solution 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 334517

Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing.

Place of Performance:

Department of Veterans Affairs Malcom Randall VA Medical Center 1601 SW Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608

Purpose and Objectives:

Malcom Randall VA Medical Center’s Brain Rehabilitation Research 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. In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a specialized technique associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

While MRI identifies the anatomical location of a pathology or trauma, MR spectroscopy compares the chemical composition of normal brain tissue with abnormal tissue. This test can also be used to detect tissue changes following TBI and stroke. Similar to MRI, MRS uses pulse sequences to acquire signal from several different molecules to generate a spectra instead of an image. The current MRI system does not have MRS capabilities.

This upgrade request will provide necessary equipment systems to expand the BRRC capabilities in MRI and MRS, this will provide data which will facilitate the translation of this method to VA related research studies. The intent is to sole source after market research revealed no other company can provide upgrades to the existing system.

The requested upgrade interfaces directly with the 7T MRI System and is only available from the original equipment manufacturer. The purchase and use of any equipment not provide 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 this rat multinuclear RF coils 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 Heidi Parrish, Contract Specialist, heidi.parrish@va.gov no later than 4:30 PM ET on July 7, 2020. 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 10, 2020.

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:

Heidi Parrish heidi.parrish@va.gov