Cepheid Reagents for Cincinnati VAMC

Notice of Intent to Sole Source- Cepheid Reagents & Consumables-36C25019Q0311
The VISN 10, Network Contracting Office (NCO 10) hereby gives notice of the Government s intent to sole source an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) base year plus four (4) option years contract to Cepheid: 904 Caribbean Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089. The IDIQ will be used as a procurement vehicle to acquire reagents and consumables for the Cepheid GeneXpert System currently used at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, 3200 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45220.
This analyzer performs C. difficile, N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, Factor II & Factor V, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Flu testing. Only cartridges manufactured by Cepheid will work with this analyzer. It is proprietary in nature and the configuration is such that only a specific cartridge will fit into the analyzer.
NCO10 intends to sole source this contract action in accordance with (IAW) FAR Subpart 13.5. Market Research was conducted IAW FAR Part 10. A source sought notice (SSN), 36C25019Q0197, was posted to FBO and received one response. The respondent to the SSN was the original manufacturer- Cepheid. Market research determined that this contract action is a sole source requirement IAW FAR 6.302-1.
The non-manufacturer rule applies to this procurement, because of the anticipated dollar threshold, and no current Small Business Administration (SBA) wavier for the assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and Federal Supply Code (FSC) exists; therefore, this procurement is ineligible for a small business set-aside. The assigned NAICS is 325413, and the FSC is 6505.
Please do not request a copy of a solicitation. This notice is neither a request for competitive proposals, nor is it a solicitation of offers. Any response to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government and any capability statement provided must address services listed above.
Written communication received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. If no affirmative written response is received on or before February 1, 2019, 3:30PM EST, the contract will be awarded without further notice. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. Inquiries will only be accepted via email at Ronetta.Sweeney@va.gov . A determination by the Government to not compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.
THIS SYNOPSIS DOES NOT COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTRACT FOR ANY SUPPLY OR SERVICE. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION OR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS SYNOPSIS..