6515--Gore Tunneler Set and Sterilization Tray Cincinnati VA Medical Center

The Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 10, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has issued a Special Notice for the procurement of a Gore tunneler set and sterilization tray for the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. This procurement falls under NAICS Code 339112 (Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing) with a size standard of 1000 employees. The VA intends to make a direct award to Artisan Medical Devices Corporation, which is identified as the original equipment manufacturer and sole distributor of this specialized medical equipment. The notice serves as a pre-solicitation announcement indicating the government's intention to proceed with a non-competitive procurement unless compelling evidence is presented to demonstrate that competition would benefit the government. This is a one-time purchase specifically designed to acquire equipment that matches existing sets used by the sterile processing service at the Cincinnati facility.

The purpose of this Special Notice is to provide transparency regarding the VA's procurement intentions while allowing potential competitors an opportunity to challenge the proposed sole-source award. The Gore tunneler set requires specific sizing at 6mm and 8mm to ensure compatibility with existing equipment used in sterile processing operations. Any interested parties wishing to compete must submit responses by 12:00 PM EST on September 24, 2025, providing clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the government. All responses must be submitted via email to the contracting officer, and telephonic inquiries are not permitted. The determination to proceed with competition remains solely at the government's discretion, and vendors must demonstrate compelling justification for competitive consideration. Contractors responding to this notice must operate within the specified NAICS code size standards and provide evidence of their capability to supply equivalent specialized medical equipment.