6550--Cepheid Testing Kits for Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, and Saginaw VAMC's - Notice of Intent to Sole Source

INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE The Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Regional Procurement Office Central, Network Contracting Office 10, intends to enter into a sole source procurement for SARS COVID 2/Flu A&B/Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) testing kits for the LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center, 2215 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, Battle Creek VA Medical Center, 5500 Armstrong Road, Battle Creek, MI 49037, and the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center, 1500 Weiss Street, Saginaw, MI 48602. The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to award a sole source, firm-fixed price 3-month purchase order to Cepheid, 904 Caribbean Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 325413 In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing, and the Business Size Standard is 1,250 Employees. The VA Medical Center laboratories offer testing done by molecular protocol which ensures a faster turn-around time as well as very accurate results. This allows

the providers a state-of-the-art process to better treat their patients. The laboratories currently own and utilize Cepheid instrumentation. The Cepheid assay for the detection of SAR Covid 2/Flu A&B/RSV is proprietary and specific to this instrumentation. Cepheid has provided supporting documentation stating they are the sole distributor of the testing reagents. The following Cepheid testing kits and estimated 3-month quantities are required: KIT, XPRESS, COV-2/FLU/RSV PLUS, 10 TEST (Catalog Number XP3COV2/FLU/RSV-10), 125 Boxes (Ann Arbor) 1) KIT, XPRESS, COV-2/FLU/RSV PLUS, 10 TEST (Catalog Number XP3COV2/FLU/RSV-10), 120 Boxes (Battle Creek) 1) KIT, XPRESS, COV-2/FLU/RSV PLUS, 10 TEST (Catalog Number XP3COV2/FLU/RSV-10), 120 Boxes (Saginaw) This notice satisfies the requirement at FAR 5.201(b)(1) to publicize the proposed contract action. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals or quotes. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested persons may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time, Wednesday, February 22, 2023. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to meet the subject requirement. This information shall be provided at no cost or obligation to the Government. Interest/capability statements shall be submitted to Jeffrey Rozema, Contract Specialist, via e-mail at jeffrey.rozema@va.gov. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.