J066--Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Support Services for Cepheid GeneXpert XVI Analyzer

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Integrated Service Network 16, based in Houston, Texas, has issued a Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source support services for a Cepheid GeneXpert XVI Analyzer. The notice, numbered 36C25626Q0401, targets the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Pineville, Louisiana. The VA intends to award a firm-fixed price contract to CEPHEID, located in Sunnyvale, California, for comprehensive maintenance and support services on the Government-owned analyzer equipment. This Special Notice was posted on February 17, 2026, and falls under the Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance category (NAICS 811210). The solicitation represents the VA's planned sole-source procurement with CEPHEID, the original equipment manufacturer.

The objective of this Special Notice is to provide notice of the VA's intent to sole source the contract while allowing interested parties an opportunity to submit evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. Responses must be submitted by February 19, 2026, at 3:00 PM Central Standard Time to Contract Specialist Tammy DeMille at tammy.demille@va.gov. The contract encompasses a one-year base period from February 22, 2026, through February 21, 2027, with four optional one-year renewal periods extending through February 21, 2031. Required services include on-site maintenance visits with response times under four days, business hour technical support (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.), annual preventative maintenance by Cepheid certified engineers, unlimited OEM parts and labor for repairs, and installation qualification. While any interested party may submit a response, the solicitation indicates that clear and convincing evidence must demonstrate why competition would benefit the Government, effectively establishing a high threshold for challenging the sole-source justification.