Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the Naval Health Research Center, intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: PTW-New York Corporation, Hicksville, NY 11801. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document is available. 1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: The Discovery, Early Detection, and Evaluation of Treatment & Prevention in Cancer Research Program at Pennsylvania State University requires an ionization chamber for conducting Intensity Modulated Arc Therapy (IMAT) and Tomotherapy tests. The required ionization chamber has the following salient characteristics: " Material: Polystyrene, density 1.04 g/cm " Size: Octagon, diameter 320 mm, length 320 mm " Weight Approx. 24 kg and approx. 26 kg " Used with IMAT and Tomotherapy systems " Chamber Plate included with system " Can be used to determine Normal Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for patient plans. " Measurement values are recorded in software and directly compared to treatment planning system data. " Has a semicircular cavity built in to compensate for rear-facing irradiation. 2. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights, etc.): Systems such as Intensity Modulated Arc Therapy (IMAT) and Tomotherapy need a method to verify pretreatment for patient plans. Ionizations chambers can provide verification calculating dosage by pretesting patient plans against treatment planning values. The ionization chamber that is manufactured by PTW the Octavious Phantom has been cited as a reliable measure for verifying rotational patient treatments*. The ionization chamber with treatment data is exposed to the CT scan, associated software does the recalculations reducing time for treatment verification. PTW does not appear to have licensed there methods or technology to any other manufacturer; therefore PTW is the only source for ionization chamber Octavious Phantom based equipment. *http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2777006 3. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: A search was conducted between 4 Feb and 10 Feb 2010 using Internet search engines, the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) database, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Dynamic Small Business Search. The CCR and SBA search referenced NAICS code 423450 Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers and keywords ionization chamber. The SBA Dynamic Small Business Search returned no small businesses associated with both the NAICS 423450 and any of the relevant keywords. Internet research found that the model that best meet the salient characteristics of the ionization chamber is available from a single vendor. While there are ionization chamber systems are available on the market they do not fit the salient characteristics. The L991037 OCTAVIUS manufactured and sold by PTW best meets the requirements. 4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: None 5. 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: As long as PTW is the only manufacturer of ionization chamber that meets the salient characteristics of the required item, there does not appear to be any actions that this agency can take to remove or overcome barriers to competition. 6. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement to the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division via e-mail to:
[email protected] no later than noon on March 1, 2010. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick CCRD-NA-SU, Natick Contracting Division Kansas Street, Building 1 Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Steven Streeter, Contract Specialist (508) 233-5704
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