6515--Nursing Wound Vac Services NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 1 has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to make a sole source procurement for nursing wound vacuum services. The notice, posted on June 16, 2025, concerns solicitation number 36C24125Q0566 for wound vacuum systems and related supplies used in inpatient wound therapy at the White River Junction VAMC. The procurement falls under NAICS code 339113 for Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing and PSC code 6515 for Medical and Surgical Instruments, Equipment, and Supplies. The VA intends to award this contract exclusively to KCI USA, citing the company's superior product performance and existing operational integration within their facility. This sole source approach represents the agency's determination that KCI's wound vacuum system provides the best therapeutic outcomes for veterans in their care.

The primary purpose of this sole source procurement is to maintain continuity of care and operational efficiency by continuing to use KCI's wound vacuum systems throughout the VA facility's inpatient wound therapy operations. The notice establishes a response deadline of June 20, 2025, at 10:00 Eastern Time for any interested parties to submit feedback or challenges to the sole source determination. The VA justifies this approach by emphasizing that their surgical and nursing teams are already trained on KCI equipment, supplies are currently stocked, and the company provides 24-hour education and technical support. The agency argues that switching to an alternative provider would necessitate policy changes, potential waste of existing supplies, and comprehensive staff retraining that could disrupt patient care. The sole source selection is based on the VA's assessment that KCI's wound vacuum system delivers superior wound therapy outcomes and maintains the highest standard of care for veterans requiring advanced wound treatment.