P03 - RFO FAR 12 Sole Source Justification - 36C263-27-AP-0518 - FINAL_Redacted.pdf

This is a Sole Source Justification under RFO FAR 12 for a simplified procedures acquisition for commercial products and services by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Iowa City VA Health Care System seeks to procure Brand Name Only Abbott Infinity m reagents, assays, kits, controls, calibrators, and consumables to operate its existing Abbott Infinity m analyzer within the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The products support HCV, HIV-1, HR HPV, STI, Respiratory 4-Plex, and HSV 1 & 2/VZV testing. The estimated annual value is $187,119.30, with a total four-year contract value of $748,477.20 comprising one base year (10/01/2026 – 09/30/2027) and three one-year option periods extending through 09/30/2030. The contract will be awarded directly to Abbott Laboratories Inc. as a Firm-Fixed-Price agreement with no annual price increases throughout the performance period. Abbott's open-market pricing is more advantageous than its VA National Acquisition Center Federal Supply Schedule pricing.

The justification cites RFO FAR 12.102(b) and 41 U.S.C. 1901 as the statutory basis for restricting competition to only one responsible source. Abbott is identified as the sole manufacturer and provider capable of supplying products compatible with the Government-owned Abbott Infinity m analyzer already in use. Market research through a Sources Sought Notice (36C26326Q1059, posted August 24 – September 3, 2026) and a Notice of Intent to Sole Source (36C26326Q1062, posted September 3-14, 2026) yielded no alternative capable sources. Additional research via NAICS, SBA databases, GSA eLibrary, and the VA NAC Contract Catalog Search Tool confirmed no equivalent domestic products or alternate manufacturers meet the Brand Name Only requirement without requiring platform replacement.