SOLICITATION NOTICE
39 -- ARCTICWHITE LLC
- Notice Date
- 8/21/2009
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 334513
— Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veterans Affairs;VA Boston Healthcare System;Contracting Officer (90C);940 Belmont Street;Brockton MA 02301
- ZIP Code
- 02301
- Solicitation Number
- VA-241-09-RQ-0384
- Response Due
- 8/28/2009
- Archive Date
- 9/27/2009
- Point of Contact
- James Kneeland
- E-Mail Address
-
Contract Specialist
(James.Kneeland@VA.Gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Letter of Intent to Sole Source for Arcticwhite, LLC. The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare System, Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center (MAVERIC) Core Laboratory stores specimens for clinical trials run by the VA Cooperative Studies Program. The laboratory has over a half million vials of specimens in 19 REVCO freezers and 17 liquid nitrogen tanks. The laboratory is getting ready for large scale genomic projects that will require robotic processing of samples and has a requirement for equipment to handle the SBS format vials that are used by the processing robots. It is the Governments intention to solicit and negotiate only with this source. Please refer to the Sole Source Justification. This is not a solicitation; it is notice of intent to sole source a requirement. Inquires/information received after established deadline of 3pm EST on August 28, 2009 shall not be considered. The submission of any data for review shall not impede award of this contract as planned. The Government does not intend to pay for information solicited. This synopsis is issued pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: 1.Transaction # or Purchase order #: 523-09-4-9183-0352 2.Identification of the agency and the contracting activity: VA MEDICAL CENTER, BOSTON, MA (Supply Office) 3.Nature and/or description of the action being approved: SOLE SOURCE Procurement for the following supplies/services: Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value): a.2D Bar Code Reader b.2D Bar Code Scanner c.Automated Linear Barcode Reader Module d.Onsite Installation and Training Estimated Total: $42226.50 The Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center (MAVERIC) Core Laboratory stores specimens for clinical trails run by the VA Cooperative Studies Program. The laboratory has over a half million vials of specimens in 19 REVCO freezers and 17 liquid nitrogen tanks. The laboratory is getting ready for large scale genomic projects that will require robotic processing of samples. The two items here are required to handle the SBS format vials that are used by the processing robots. We are also in the process of moving manually processed samples to this format. This format is more compact and thus saves storage space. Since this is a standard format high throughput analysis laboratories expect samples sent to them to be in this format. The sorter will give us the capability of automatically picking wanted vials. This is needed for our current DNA studies as the samples are re=number and sorted each time they are sent to a laboratory for analysis. We are currently doing this by hand, but the sizes of the studies is making this extremely time consuming and prone to error. We currently do not have a 2D scanner; the model here can read a rack of 96 vials at a time. 5.Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition: FAR Part 6.302 - Only one responsible source 6.Demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited: BioMicroLab is a major supplier of equipment for 2D storage systems, including sorters and 2D scanners. They are the only manufacturer of a system designed to operate in a cold room which is where our sorter will likely operate when the genomics project is underway. 7.Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a Commerce Business Daily notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 (copy attached) and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies: We attend repository meetings and over the last year we have talked with several companies and evaluated several companies products. There are currently only two manufacturers of sorters. One is a foreign company, FluidX, and their machine was more expensive. The other vendor, BioMicroLab, sells only through distributers and Arctic White is their East Coast distributer. Several companies make scanners. Most of these are designed for placement in robotic system and are large and cost greater than $10,000. FluidX and BioMicroLab make small bench top scanner that we are currently need. Several companies make scanners. Most of these are designed for placement in robotic system and are large and cost greater than $10,000. Our original intent was to purchase an Abgene scanner identical to that in our robot. However we already have a back-up machine on order and this scanner is large, more expensive, and awkward for its intended laboratory bench use. We also investigated the possibility of adapting the scanner in the current robtic system instead of purchasing a new scanner. The cost was more than the scanner we selected and would mean interrupting processing to scan a rack of vials which is unacceptable. FluidX and BioMicroLab make small bench top scanners that we currently need. Again, FluidX is a foreign company and Artic White is the East Coast distributer. 8.Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable: The specific configuration of the XL20 (cold room model with 2D barcode camera) offered at 10% discount off list price is actually the first one of that configuration offered. Articwhite indicated that they did sell an XL20 cold room model but with no 2D barcode camera to Genentech at full list price. This would be similar to the system offered to the VA except the VA would be receiving a discount. The XL tube sorters start as a base model and there are several options available. With the variety of mix and match options, it is not unusual that a customer could order a complete unit that no one else has ordered before. It provides the flexibility needed for the numerous and varied applications for processing 96 well tube racks. After searching the net and querying the vendor it has been determined that the price is fair and reasonable. 9.Description of the market survey conducted (i.e., names of firms and the date(s) the firms were contacted) and the results, or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted: The service personnel talked to company salespeople at BioBanking meetings (ISBER, LRIG) and have aggressively searched the internet. 10.Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as an explanation why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available: Only one US company manufacturers the type of instrument we are looking to purchase. 11.A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition: There are no other sources known. 12.A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required: Contracting activity will continue to encourage full and open competition whenever possible.
- Web Link
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FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/VA/BoVAMC/VAMCCO80220/VA-241-09-RQ-0384/listing.html)
- Record
- SN01922445-W 20090823/090822004237-b81adbf8462d4e34165d19f1f6349945 (fbodaily.com)
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