6550--INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE Cepheid Diagnostic Substances, Reagents, and Test Kits

The Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Network Contracting Office 6, Hampton VA 23667, intends to negotiate a new IDIQ, sole source, firm-fixed price contract for the Hampton, Durham, Richmond, Salem, Asheville, Salisbury, and Fayetteville VAMC laboratories and the South Charlotte HCC, Greenville HCC, Fayetteville FHCC, Kernersville HCC, and Wilmington WHCC laboratories to Cepheid (large business) for Cepheid Diagnostic Substances, Reagents, and Test Kits with 41 U.S.C. §3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source. This is not a request for competitive offers and no solicitation is available. Market research has determined that these items are highly specialized, are only available from a single source without an unacceptable delay or duplication of cost and no other type of items will satisfy agency requirements. The Government intends to award the contract with an effective date of 19 December 2022 to Cepheid, 904 Caribbean Dr,

Sunnyvale, CA 94089; Unique Entity ID: W6HQTMWB9. This is a Brand-Name Only requirement for Hampton, Durham, Richmond, Salem, Asheville, Salisbury, and Fayetteville VAMC laboratories and the South Charlotte HCC, Greenville HCC, Fayetteville FHCC, Kernersville HCC, and Wilmington WHCC laboratories. Cepheid is the original equipment manufacturer of the Cepheid GeneXpert Molecular Diagnostic Testing Systems and the sole provider for Cepheid Diagnostic Substance, Reagents, and Test Kits. Cepheid has no authorized distributors to provide the reagents, assay, and test kits for the Cepheid GeneXpert Molecular Diagnostic Testing equipment in use at the VA Medical Center laboratories. No other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements per FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). This synopsis announcement is being issued for information purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or request for competitive proposals. If a firm believes it is capable of meeting the Government's requirement, it may identify its interest and capability to the contract specialist within three (3) calendar days of this publication by contacting Daleta Coles via e-mail at daleta.coles@va.gov Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. This announcement closes 21 November 2022 at 14:00 PM EST. Those interested firms must indicate whether they are large, small, small-disadvantaged, 8(a) or woman owned business and whether they are U.S. or foreign owned. Respondents who submit proprietary data shall clearly mark the data with appropriate markings. The Government will not pay for any information submitted as a result of this synopsis. This synopsis shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. ***Reference RFP 36C24623R0009 in all replies