MHR - Electro Puls E3000 Notice of Award and Redacted J&A

Special Notice Intent to Sole Source

Electromechanical Tension/Compression Material Testing Machine



This is not a solicitation. This is a notification of an intent to award a single source procurement under NAICS code 334519. The Program Contract Activity Center in Independence, OH intends to make a sole source award to Instron. This procurement will obtain a materials testing machine that is used for various research studies in progress at the VAPSHCS Rehabilitation Research & Development (RR&D) Center for Limb Loss and Mobility. These studies seek to understand how foot function is affected by various types of disease the commonly afflict Veterans, such as ankle osteoarthritis and diabetes, and to inform the development of future treatment strategies. These studies often involve mechanical testing of various types of samples, including biological tissues, soft polymers, and prosthetic components, under both axial and torsional loading.

The Instron ElectoPuls E3000 is the only product on the market that meets the RR&D Center s needs; that is, an electromechanically-driven machine that was demonstrated to provide combined axial (tension/compression) and torsional loading of our test samples at high frequencies (over 20 Hz). Other similar products that exist on the market either offer only axial loading or cannot achieve high loading frequencies; such products would not work for our research studies. Further, only Instron was able to demonstrate to the VA the suitability of its device for our particular samples, which by their nature as soft viscoelastic materials, are particularly challenging to test. Further, this procurement will allow the RR&D Center for Limb Loss and Mobility to establish or maintain an essential capability for engineering or developmental work calling for the practical application of investigative findings and theories of a scientific or technical nature. This requirement is properly supported by a sole source justification for the Instron ElectoPuls E3000. Instron does not have authorized distributors and does not provide warranty or services guarantees if sold to a third party. The Government believes that only one responsible source can provide this requirement.

This procurement is being conducted in accordance with procedures in FAR subpart 13.5 under the authority for other than full and open competition FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) soliciting from a single source. If vendors believe they have the technical capability to meet this need, submit a complete technical package, which provides clear and convincing evidence that they can meet the Government's requirement. Vendors who are not registered in System For Award Management (SAM) database prior to award will not be considered. Vendors may register with SAM by going on via the web to https://www.sam.gov. Responses must be received within five (5) days of this notice by 9:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time. Responses should be submitted electronically to jacquelyn.wise@va.gov and Sandra.johnson@va.gov.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, the Government will consider all responses received by the response date stated above. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL NOT BE HONORED.