Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chief, Acquisition and Materiel Management (90C), One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417

65 -- MEDICAL/SURGICAL EQUIPMENT -- IMPLANTABLE PACEMAKERS SOL RFP 618-96-98 DUE 021398 POC Mavis Nelson 612-725-2189 Under Statutory authority 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), the Government anticipates entering into sole source procurement negotiations with Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN and Cardiac Pacemakers Inc, St. Paul, MN for implantable pacemakers, atrial and ventricular leads, and pulse generators for VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN. Consideration for award will be made to either vendor for a high percentage of market share based on best pricing. Both vendors have been providing supplies to this medical center for several years and are again selected due to quality, patient tolerance, physician preference, standardization, response time for product and service, and cost. Any of the medical centers located in this VISN 13 area (St. Cloud, MN, Sioux Falls, SD, Fargo, ND, and Black Hills Health Care System -- Fort Mead/Hot Springs, SD) will standardize to use approximately 80% of one vendor's products. Both vendors will be requested to submit best pricing based on market shares of 90%-10%, 80%-20%, 70%-30%, or 60%-40%. The above authority is cited and justification made based on the determination that the Government's minimum needs can best be satisfied by services available from one/either source. This contract action is for supplies and services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only these sources under FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify thier interest and capability to respond to this requirment or to submit proposals by February 13, 1998. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received on or before February 13, 1998 will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competion based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received as a result of the notice of intent will normally be considered soley for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. (0027)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0209 19980129\65-0002.SOL)