6550--Notice of Intent to Sole Source ID Now Test Kits - VISN 4 *Urgent, Sole Source Requirement*

The Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office published a Special Notice regarding a sole source requirement for 500 Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 Test Kits to be used in VISN 4 medical centers. The notice provides contact information for Shea Matthews and references a redacted justification and authorization attachment.

The Special Notice is to communicate the Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 4's urgent need to sole source 500 Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 Test Kits from Abbott Rapid Dx North America, LLC. The test kits are required to support continued rapid test turnaround times for managing patients and maintaining quality healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic at the medical centers. As the Abbott ID NOW Test Kits are patented and exclusively distributed by Abbott, and no other supplier can meet the need, only Abbott is eligible to fulfill this requirement to support the agency's objective of timely COVID-19 testing. The notice does not provide any deadlines or instructions for contractors to respond, given this will be a sole source contract awarded directly to Abbott.