COVID-19 Test Kits

EDIT 21-JAN-2022: Lucira Test Kits produced in the Dominican Republic are determined acceptable according to clause DFARS 252.225-7036, Buy American—Free Trade Agreements—Balance of Payments Program (DEC 2017). The Dominican Republic is listed as a Free Trade Agreement country under the clause.

THIS IS A SPECIAL NOTICE PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) SUBPART 5.2 “SYNOPSES OF PROPOSED CONTRACT ACTIONS”

NAICS: NAICS 325413, In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing

Response Deadline:  24 January 2022

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District (NWP) intends to negotiate/award a sole-source contract with Lucira Health for COVID-19 rapid test kits.

REASON FOR SOLE SOURCE ACQUISITION:

The statutory authority for this non-competitive acquisition is 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1) and FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) which states "Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available."

The purpose is to supply COVID-19 rapid test kits that produce results within 60 minutes and not require a second test, regardless of a symptomatic or asymptomatic person.

Background: The Government solicited W9127N-22-Q-0012, which received 32 quotes offering test kits from Flowflex, iHealth, Carestart, Indicaid, Celltrion, Quickvue, Binaxnow, BD Veritor, and Sienna-Clarity. All of the products offered were evaluated and none were able to meet the requirements. All of the products offered either required a second test, a medical professional, or were manufactured in a country that is not acceptable via the Buy American Act.

1. Justification: USACE requires effective, rapid COVID-19 testing to permit crew and working employees onto USACE vessels. To efficiently mitigate COVID-19 health risks and cost risks due to unmanned and inactive vessels, kits required must not require a second test nor medical professional handling. The only test kit on the market able to meet the requirements and pass the Buy American Act is the “Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit”.The only product not requiring a second test was from Flowflex, which is manufactured in China and is not a qualifying country under the Buy American Act. All other products require a second test with up to 36 hours in between tests, which would add significant delay and substantial cost to the USACE dredging season. As the vessels return and switch out crews throughout the FY22 dredging season, multiple day delays to await test results can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars lost.

The best value to the Government is to purchase Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kits from Lucira Health to mitigate significant health and cost risks due to COVID-19 infections. Lucira’s kits offer the fastest, acceptable, single-use COVID-19 test results on the market, which is essential to maintain healthy, manned vessels for USACE Northwest District’s dredging mission.

The Government intends to solicit Lucira Health for this project on or around 01/26/2022.  At this time, a solicitation does not exist.  All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.

*NO PHONE INQUIRIES, PLEASE.

CAPABILITY STATEMENT SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

(PLEASE REVIEW ALL BELOW)

1. Point of Contact name, email address and phone number, CAGE code and DUNS number (if available);
2. In the event that the organization is a small business, please state the category of small business, such as 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB/VOSB, Women-Owned Small Business.
3. The Government will evaluate the capabilities of an interested party based on their ability to provide either Lucira Health’s “Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit” or an alternate kit that fulfills the requirements and is not mentioned in the Background as unacceptable.

Send responses, labeled as “W9127N22Q0027 – Lucira Test Kits,” to the following:

Carl.R.Schmurr@usace.army.mil

Patrick.P.Collins@usace.army.mil