Department of Veterans Affairs, Great Lakes Healthcare Systems, Great Lakes Acquisition Center, Bldg. 5, 5000 West National Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53295

65 -- INTENT TO ISSUE SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE WITH BIO RAD LABORATORIES SOL 69D-422-98 DUE 092398 POC Diane Brazale, Contracting Officer (414) 902-5403 The Great Lakes Healthcare System Acquisition Center intends to negotiate a sole source contract with Bio-Rad Laboratories, Clinical Division of Hercules CA 94547 for the purchase and installation of a confocal microscope system consisting of a Biorad MRC 1024 Confocal Head fitted to a Nikon TE300 inverted microscope for the VA Hospital, Madison WI. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Far Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. SIC Code 3827. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. Solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-05. This procurement shall include all costs associated with the assembly, delivery, installation, two (2) user's manuals and on-site training. The confocal microscope system will consist of the following components for a complete system: 1)One (1) Biorad MRC 1024ES Confocal Head fitted to a Nikon TE300 inverted microscope, Multi Photon ready, (stock no, 510-1200/50; 2) One (1) Third Detector Channel, (stock no.510-1003/01); 3) One (1) Microscope Adaption/Nikon TE300 (stock No. 510-1008/40); 4) One (1) Z Drive for Nikon Eclipse, TE300 (stock No. 510-1020/40); 5) One (1) Three Channel Transmission Detector (Stock No. 510-1293/40); 6) One (1) Universal Base Plate (for inverted Microscopes only) (stock No. 510-1005/50); 7) One (1) "Keller" 5' x 7' Anti-Vibration Table (Stock No. 510-1008/50); 8) Dell PowerEdge Computer (Stock No. 510-1270/43); and 9) NEC-XE 21" High Resolution Monitor. The Government believes that only Bio-Rad can provide a complete system that will satisfy the agency requirements which includes the following: 1) a single laser system which can produce fluorescence at three (3) different wavelengths; (2) a system which can display both microscopic images and computer menu options on a "single" computer monitor; (3) a complete system which can produce images that measure 1024x1024 pixels; (4) rack and pinion focusing system critical for precise stage control by the Biorad Head; (5) A microscope with oil immersion 60X objectives with a longer working distance of 210 nm; and (6) A system which can be assembled with the confocal head arranged vertically below the inverted microscope. Payment will be made in arrears upon complete installation, training and final acceptance by the Government. This will be a firm fixed price contract. Equipment shall be shipped FOB is Destination to the Wm. S. Middleton VA Hospital, 2500 Overlook Terrace, Madison WI 53705. The following incorporated provisions and clauses are the in effect through Fac 97-05 and are applicable to this acquisition. 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items; Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Paragraph (b) (5): Offerors shall provide an express warranty which at a minimum shall be the same warranty terms, including offers of extended warranties, offered to the general public; 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items: 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items; 52.222-3, Convict Labor; 52.233-3, Protest After Award; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity; 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.225-3 Buy American Act Supplies; 52.225-18 European Union Sanctions for End Products;852.270-4, Commercial Advertising; Vendor must include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. All equipment, replacement parts, components, hardware, software and firmware containing information technology delivered under this contract shall be year 2000 compliant. Year 2000 compliance means that information technology accurately processes date/time data (including,but not limited to, calculating, comparing, and sequencing) from, into, and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and the years 1999 and 2000 and leap year calculations. The offeror is required, as part of the offer, to provide documentary evidence that the equipment, replacement parts, components, hardware, software and firmware offered is year 2000 compliant. Offeror will be required to provide source of replacement parts. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities to respond to the requirement. This notice is not a request for competitive quotes but responses submitted to the Contracting Officer on or before September 23, 1998 at 4:30pm will be evaluated. Posted 09/15/98 (W-SN250057). (0258)

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