Redacted JA - GE Muse ECG Software.pdf

GE Muse ECG Software -

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way Eatontown, NJ 07724

2. This requirement will be accomplished via:

[ X ] New Purchase Order Purchase Order will be:

[ X ] Firm Fixed Price

Type of Funds (e.g., Supply Fund, Franchise Fund, IT, etc.):

El Paso VA’s allocated funds for the Biomed Services FCP: 045

3. Description of Supplies or Services.

[ X] Software/Services:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), El Paso Veterans Affairs Health Care System (EPVAHCS) is seeking comprehensive software support services for its brand name General Electric (GE) MUSE systems. These systems are critical for managing and processing patient cardiovascular data, including Electrocardiogram (ECG) tests, which are essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning. The support services will encompass a range of functionalities, including the maintenance and optimization of the HL7 and DICOM interfaces, database management, data storage solutions, and application support. The work performed will encompass error correction, remote technical support, software releases excluding major enhancements, business reviews, installation support, professional services including project management and engineering, phone clinical application support, and five application education credits. The contract is tailored for one device at the El Paso VA Health Care System supporting up to 40,000 annual ECGs. These services are required to maintain system reliability, ensure accurate and compliant clinical workflows, and support timely ECG interpretation and data exchange.

The period of performance is a 12-month base period with four 12-month option periods.

The total estimated price of the proposed action is

Other Information: The requested service is only for software services which is comprehensive technical and software support for the GE Muse cardiovascular data management system, ensuring reliable operation of servers, interfaces, applications, and updates to sustain uninterrupted ECG workflow and patient care.

4. Authority Cited.

[X] FAR RFO 6.103-1

Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.”

5. Reason for Authority Cited.

The proposed source for this action is for GE Medical Information Systems Technologies, Inc.

9900 W Innovation Dr. Wauwatosa, WI 53226. Market Research determined that there are no authorized resellers of GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Muse ECG software support.

[X] Explain need for brand name:

The GE MUSE ECG system and associated service requirements contain proprietary technical, operational, and intellectual property restricted characteristics that limit availability exclusively to GE Medical as the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The following factors prevent any other source from providing the required services, updates, or support:

1. Proprietary GE Software Architecture: The MUSE ECG system operates on GE-developed proprietary software architecture, file structures, and embedded OEM software that are not accessible to non-GE vendors. Only GE holds the rights and technical capability to service, modify, or update this architecture.

2. OEM-Exclusive Software Releases and Updates: GE is the sole entity authorized to provide major and minor software enhancements, service packs, maintenance releases, and architecture-level upgrades required to maintain the MUSE system.

Customer must remain within one major software release of GE’s current version to remain eligible for support, this is a capability only GE can provide.

3. GE-Validated Remote Support Tools: Remote technical support requires GE-validated tools (InSite, iLinq, iLinq Diagnostic Tools, Advanced Visual Support). These tools, protocols, and diagnostic capabilities are proprietary and unavailable to third-party service providers.

4. Exclusive Access to Error Correction, Clinical Applications Support, and Professional Services such as error correction, HL7 engineering, database engineering, project management, and clinical application support are included only through GE MUSE service offerings; no third party is authorized or trained to deliver these functions.

5. Required OEM Connectivity for Remote and Machine-Data Services: GE requires the system to utilize GE-validated remote access connections for diagnostics and machine-data collection. Without this connectivity, GE will not support the system, and no alternative vendor can legally or technically replicate this requirement.

6. OEM-Controlled Response Time Obligations: GE contractually guarantees specific response times (1-hour phone response, 4-hour critical error response, 24-hour onsite support). These timelines depend on proprietary tools, software access, and OEM-trained specialists unavailable outside GE.

7. Proprietary Installation Support and Professional Services for Software Releases Installation of MUSE software releases requires GE-provided project management, engineering support, workflow integration services, and installation procedures that are proprietary and unavailable to other vendors.

8. OEM-Exclusive Education and Workflow Optimization Credits: Application Education Credits and Workflow Service Credits are part of the GE service package and involve training, workflow assessment, and optimization provided solely by GE. No third party can deliver or redeem these credits.

9. GE-Owned Intellectual Property and Licensing Restrictions: GE retains all intellectual property rights to the MUSE system, software, updates, documentation, and specifications. These restrictions legally prevent other vendors from modifying, supporting, or integrating the MUSE software.

If the Government were to discontinue use of the GE MUSE platform and transition to a different brand, the cost and time impacts would be substantial. The MUSE system is tightly integrated with GE proprietary software architecture, OEM exclusive software releases, validated remote support tools, and specialized clinical and engineering services that only GE provides. Replacing the system with a non GE solution would require full procurement and installation of a new ECG management platform, migration of historical ECG data, redevelopment of HL7 and database interfaces, cybersecurity testing and recertification, workflow redesign, and comprehensive staff retraining. The acquisition and implementation of a new enterprise ECG system would likely require significant capital investment estimated around , which far exceeds the cost of the current service agreement, along with approximately months of transition time to find a new solution, procure it, complete configuration, installation, validation, and user training. During this period, ECG workflow interruptions, reduced system availability, and delays in diagnostic processing for up to annual ECGs could occur, directly impacting . For these reasons, transitioning to a non OEM brand would introduce major cost burdens and timeline risks that are not present when continuing with GE’s OEM supported MUSE platform.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition.

[ X ] There is only one responsible source for this item. Efforts made to locate additional sources are described under the “Market Research” paragraph of this document. There is no competition anticipated for this acquisition. Procurement data does not include any unnecessary requirements that may inhibit competition.

7. Actions to Increase Competition.

[X] The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.

8. Market Research.

Market research was conducted by VA subject matter expert and the Contract Specialist from February through June 2026. GE was contacted to verify proprietary information and availability of authorized service sources. GE confirmed that the MUSE ECG system remains proprietary and that only GE retains full legal and technical capability to provide software updates, proprietary diagnostic tool access, and platform-level maintenance functions. The methods used and results are as indicated below:

[X] The market research consisted of the following: On March 18, 2026, Requests for Information was posted to NASA SEWP, GSA MAS, and SAM.gov. Responses were received from GE Medical Systems, TrillaMed LLC, Rexus USA LLC, Horus Technology, and Tera Consulting.

GE Medical provided written confirmation on March 23, 2026 that the GE MUSE system is proprietary and fully controlled under GE intellectual property. GE confirmed that only GE retains technical authority to provide MUSE software updates, patches, upgrades, remote diagnostics, and system level support. GE further confirmed that TrillaMed is authorized solely to sell MUSE software and hardware, and GE did not identify TrillaMed or any other vendor as an authorized provider of GE MUSE software support services. GE also confirmed that GE itself would need to provide the support quote to VA directly for this requirement.

This OEM statement establishes that only GE can legally and technically perform the service functions required under the PWS.

TrillaMed LLC submitted a capability email stating that it is the sole SDVOSB distributor and authorized reseller supporting GE Healthcare MUSE software and hardware under contract 36C10G26D0005. TrillaMed asserted capability to support the requirement but did not provide any documentation demonstrating GE OEM service authorization, GE trained personnel, or access to GE proprietary diagnostic tools, update mechanisms, or interface modules.

TrillaMed did not provide evidence of authorization to perform software updates, software upgrades, software patching, remote diagnostics, HL7 or DICOM interface troubleshooting, GE MUSE database support, GE MUSE application support, or workflow services. GE’s email confirms that TrillaMed’s authorization is limited to sales and does not include technical service rights. TrillaMed therefore cannot meet the PWS requirements, as these include OEM controlled elements that cannot be delegated to a reseller. On June 10, 2026, TrillaMed also provided an email to the Contract Specialist stating only the OEM would be able to fulfill service-related component of this requirement therefore TrillaMed was deemed technically unacceptable.

Rexus USA LLC submitted a detailed RFI capability packet describing broad IT service capabilities, including general support for enterprise applications, database systems, HL7 and DICOM interfaces, infrastructure management, system monitoring, helpdesk support, user support, and compliance frameworks. The submission outlines an IT service model but does not include any documentation demonstrating OEM authorization from GE, nor does it include evidence of access to GE’s proprietary diagnostic tools, update servers, back end utilities, or MUSE specific technical infrastructure. Although Rexus describes comprehensive IT capacities, GE MUSE requires OEM authorized access for software updates, upgrades, database level support, interface maintenance, and remote diagnostics. Because GE confirmed that only GE may perform these services, and Rexus has no demonstrated OEM partnership or authorization, Rexus cannot meet the minimum mandatory requirements of the PWS and is not technically acceptable.

Horus Technology submitted a brief capability statement but did not provide evidence of GE OEM authorization, nor did it provide documentation showing experience with MUSE specific system administration, interface support, server and database work, or OEM authorized service functions. Without GE OEM authorization or demonstrated expertise in GE MUSE, Horus cannot meet the required proprietary support requirements defined in the PWS. Horus Technology is not technically acceptable.

Tera Consulting expressed interest, but did not submit any data supporting they can supply the item.

GE Medical Systems is the OEM and is the only entity confirmed by GE Medical to retain full legal and technical authority to perform GE MUSE software support services. GE is the only responsible source with access to proprietary diagnostic tools, update pathways, system firmware, HL7 and DICOM modules, troubleshooting utilities, and OEM technical personnel.

GE is the only vendor technically capable of meeting the full PWS requirements.

Based on the evaluation of all vendor submissions and the proprietary limitations confirmed by GE Medical, TrillaMed LLC, Rexus USA LLC, and Horus Technology did not present documentation for OEM authorized technical capability required to perform GE MUSE software support services. These vendors are therefore determined to be not technically acceptable. Only GE Medical is technically acceptable and is the only responsible source capable of meeting the GE MUSE support requirements.

9. Interested Sources.

[X] The following companies have expressed written interest in supplying this item and/or service. However, they are not being considered for this procurement for the reasons previously stated above in Section 8.

10. Technical/Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on FAR RFO 6.104-1(a)(7).

12. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.