6640--Intent to sole source Pre-clinical in-vivo X-ray micro computed-tomography scanner

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The Department of Veterans Affairs, Atlanta VA, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, with SCANCO USA, INC. for a vivaCT80 in vivo micro Computed Tomography (microCT) scanner. The vivaCT80 in vivo micro Computed Tomography (microCT) scanner is required for non-invasive, nondestructive, volumetric imaging and analysis of the skeleton from live animals ranging in size from mice to rabbits. The equipment will allow for signficant expansion of ongoing studies focused on bone disease, bone regenration, osteoarthritis, spine fusion, and fracture repair at the Atlanta VAMC. The equipment allows for the generation of bone structure data from live animals providing access to greater sensitivity and precision which would result in increased group separation and conclusive interpretation, decrease the duration of studies or the sample size with considerable financial savings, improve the ability to conduct studies at a much faster pace, add additional opportunity for collaborations and training of new investigators which may open new fields of research. The Research program currently utilizes a Scanco CT 40 for ex vivo assessment of bone volume and quality in rodents and the addition of this equipment will expand the capabilities to allow for live animal assessment. Further the purchase of a Scanco unit will allow for synergism and compatability. The combination of the Scanco scanner hardware and software offers unique capabilities not found in any other commercially available micro computed tomography. 1) The highest resolution for invivo scans for the largest field of view so one could obtain a of an entire cross-section of a mouse in one scan. 2) The detector design allows for small length scans (which is typical) which in turn reduces scan time and radiation dose to the animal. Other systems require scanning a much larger area even if one may not really need data from the entire region. 3) The built-in software and back-up systems offer a turnkey solution for all scanning, reconstruction, analysis, visualization and archiving of data. No other system offers such a comprehensive suite of software capabilities. 4) The only solution which offers the capability of Finite Element Analysis (as an add-on option to the basic SW) for deriving strength-based indices from the images. Accordingly, Scanco Corporation is the only firm capable of meeting all the VA requirements stated. This is a notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, any responsible source who believes it is capable of meeting the requirement may submit a capability statement to the contracting office no later than Friday, February 5th, 12:00, EST. Interest/capability statements may be sent to Lynn Portman at lynn.portman@va.gov. No telephone responses will be accepted. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.