6505--Intent to Sole Source JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS VACCINE IXIARO

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Network Contracting Office 12 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has published a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a sole source, firm-fixed-price delivery order for the Japanese Encephalitis Virus Vaccine IXIARO to Valneva USA, Inc. This notice is published pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.201(b)(1) to inform the public of the proposed contract action and provide an opportunity for interested parties to demonstrate their capability to fulfill the requirement. The vaccine is needed for Navy recruits at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois, prior to their deployment to areas where Japanese encephalitis is endemic. Japanese encephalitis is a serious, potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease predominantly found in Asia and parts of the western Pacific, and the CDC identifies it as the most common vaccine-preventable cause of brain inflammation in those regions. The procurement falls under NAICS code 325412 (Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing) and PSC code 6505 (Drugs and Biologicals).

Interested contractors must submit written responses to Stacy.Massey@va.gov by 11:00 AM EST on October 27, 2025, demonstrating their capability to meet the specific requirement and explaining how competition would benefit the Government for future needs. The government is not obligated to take further action based on responses received, and the decision to compete this requirement remains at the Government's sole discretion. Responses must be submitted via email only; telephone inquiries will not be accepted. While IXIARO is currently the only Japanese encephalitis vaccine licensed and available in the United States, the VA has indicated it will review alternative vaccines for future purchases to ensure ongoing value and competition. The limiting sources justification document confirms this procurement represents a bona fide need for the Department of Veterans Affairs to protect service members from a serious infectious disease threat.