Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Cepheid Test Kits - CIN

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Integrated Service Network 10, has issued a Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Cepheid diagnostic test kits and collection supplies. The notice was posted on April 2, 2026, and is being administered by the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center's Pathology Lab. The solicitation number is 36C25026Q0427, and the contracting office intends to negotiate exclusively with Cepheid Inc., located in Sunnyvale, California. The Government believes that only Cepheid Inc. possesses the required capabilities to fulfill this requirement for in vitro diagnostic reagents and testing equipment. This notice is issued under FAR Part 6.302-1, which authorizes sole source procurement when only one responsible source exists.

The primary objective of this sole source procurement is to acquire various Cepheid GeneXpert diagnostic reagent kits and collection supplies for the Cincinnati pathology laboratory, which utilizes existing Cepheid GeneXpert instruments for diagnostic testing purposes. The required items include collection kits, swabs, and specialized testing kits for conditions such as C. difficile, chlamydia/gonorrhea, tuberculosis, and carbapenem-resistant organisms, with a total of approximately 1,665 units across all product lines. The response deadline for parties wishing to challenge this sole source determination with clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous is April 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. A firm fixed price contract is anticipated for award. Interested parties should direct inquiries to Contract Specialist Rachel MacRae at rachel.macrae@va.gov, and this notice explicitly states that no solicitation package is available and responses must demonstrate why competitive bidding would benefit the Government.