The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 3), Network Contracting Office, Bronx New York, intends to award a sole source contract under the authority of FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B), Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized to GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics, 101 Carnegie Center, Princton, NJ 08540. GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics will furnish Visipaque, an Intravenous Iodinated Contrast Agent used for Computed Tomography (CT) for all CT procedures conducted throughout VISN 3. The places of performance are James J. Peters VAMC 130 W. Kingsbridge Road Bronx, NY 10468-3904 VA New York Harbor Healthcare System Manhattan Campus 423 East 23rd Street New York, NY 10010 VA New York Harbor Healthcare System Manhattan Campus Brooklyn VAMC 800 Poly Place Brooklyn, NY 11209 VA New York Harbor Healthcare System St. Albans VAMC 179-00 Linden Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11425 Hudson Valley Healthcare System (Montrose Campus) 2094 Albany Post Road Montrose, NY 10548 Hudson Valley Healthcare System (Castle Point Campus)Route 9D Castle Point, NY 12511 New Jersey Healthcare System (East Orange Campus) 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 New Jersey Healthcare System (Lyons Campus) 151 Knollcroft Road Lyons, NJ 07939 Northport VAMC 79 Middleville Road Northport, NY 11768 This action will result in a Blanket Purchase Agreement against Federal Supply Schedule V797P05031E for a period of five years, with the agreement being reviewed annually. This notice of intent is not a request for quotations. Interested parties may express their interest by providing a capabilities statement no later than November 7, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST. The capabilities statement must provide clear and unambiguous evidence to substantiate the capability of the party to provide the required services. A determination not to compete this proposed contract upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Verbal responses are not acceptable and will not be considered. When responding to this announcement, respondents should refer to Announcement VA243-12-I-0149 Notice of Intent. If after November 7, 2011,, no viable responses have been received in response to this announcement, Dept of VA shall negotiate solely with GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics. This notice of intent to award a sole source contract is not a request for competitive quotes. There will be no solicitation available for competitive quotes. Phone calls will not be accepted. The point of contact for this action is Contract Specialist, Stephanie Bellanger who can be reached at
[email protected] The Government anticipates the award of a Blanket Purchase Agreement. A determination by the Government whether to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competition. REQUIRED SUPPLIES: BACKGROUND The Contractor shall provide the Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 3 Imaging Services with a Nonionic Intravenous (IV) Iodinated Contrast Agent specifically for use during Computed Tomography (CT) examinations. In addition, the Contractor shall appoint a Contract Manager to assist with logistics and other services relating to the IV contrast agent. This effort is part of the VISN 3 initiative to standardize commonly used products to promote safety, efficiency and cost reduction. OBJECTIVES VISN 3 Radiology Services seek to standardize the Nonionic Intravenous Iodinated contrast Agent used for CT for the following reasons: • To promote patient safety and optimize Computed Tomography studies which utilize Nonionic Intravenous Iodinated contrast Agents available currently on the market • To be fiscally responsible by securing the optimal pricing via volume purchase Nonionic Intravenous Iodinated contrast Agents are drugs used to highlight specific areas inside the body so that the organs, blood vessels, or tissues are more visible. By increasing the visibility of all surfaces of the organ or tissue being studied, they help the radiologist determine the presence and extent of disease or injury. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance must begin 30 days after contract award. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Performance must occur at the following locations; Brooklyn VAMC - 800 Poly Place, Brooklyn, NY 11209 Castle Point VAMC - Route 9D, Castle Point, NY 12511 East Orange VAMC - 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018 James J. Peters VAMC - 130 W. Kingsbridge Rd., Bronx, NY 10468 Lyons VAMC - 151 Knollcroft Road, Lyons, NJ 07939 Manhattan VAMC - 423 E 23 Street, New York, NY 10010 Northport VAMC - 79 Middleville Road, Northport, NY 11768 St. Albans VAMC - 179-00 Linden Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11425 PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS A Non-Ionic Intravenous Iodinated Contrast Agent that is: • available in at least two different concentrations • available in 50 ml, 100 ml, 125 ml, 150 ml, and 200 ml DELIVERY Product must be delivered to the receiving department at each Medical Center (addresses found under Place of Performance section above). GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY (GFP) n/a SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS n/a TRAVEL n/a SPECIAL MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS The Contractor must ensure the product expiration dates are readily visible and that delivered product’s expiration date is at least 365 days later than the delivery date. OTHER UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS The IV contrast must be iso-osmolar and must demonstrate a minimized potential for renal toxicity, as there is a high prevalence of VISN 3 patients with chronic renal insufficiency and contrast media complications can affect long-term outcomes in these patients. The Contractor must provide a Contract Manager responsible for the performance and logistics of products under this contract. The contract manager must be available during VAMC administrative hours within 60 minutes of phone call to discuss performance or logistical problems with the COTR (Contracting Officer Technical Representative) or other government personnel designated by the Contracting Officer. Administrative working hours for the VAMC is 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday, Eastern Standard Time. Product recalls must be communicated by the Contract Manager immediately by overnight mail and by email to Stephanie Bellanger at
[email protected]. The Contract Manager must be aware of each VISN Imaging Service’s inventory par levels to ensure that these can be maintained based upon the availability of product. The Contract Manager must communicate, at least monthly, with the customer (purchasing department or radiology staff) with a goal that the customer will never run out of product. Each VISN 3 Imaging Service will appoint a point of contact (POC) that will monitor par levels and alert both the Contract Manager and the medical center purchasing department when product levels fall below par. The VISN 3 Imaging Service POC will also alert both the Contract Manager and the medical center purchasing department when par levels drop to zero so that product delivery can be expedited. Quarterly performance will be monitored and tracked by the customer and communicated to the Contract Manager to include, but not be limited to: • Contrast Reactions – where the number of injection, (numerator), compared to the number of contrast reactions, (denominator). • Number of occurrences where par levels fell below minimum • Number of occurrences where par levels went to zero The Contract Manager must provide to the customer educational opportunities, (electronic and hard copy) that result in approved CME hours for radiologists and CE hours for technologists. New FDA approved Non-Ionic Intravenous Iodinated contrast Agents developed by the contractor once the contract is in place must be introduced by the Contact Manager to the VISN 3 Imaging Council. The VISN 3 Imaging Council will review the new FDA approved Non-Ionic Intravenous Iodinated contrast Agent and determine if the product is appropriate for use. Until the product is approved by VISN 3 Imaging Council, the Contractor or Contract Manager must not sell and/or deliver the new FDA approved Non-Ionic Intravenous Iodinated contrast Agent to any VISN 3 Medical Center without the approval of the VISN 3 Imaging Council Chairman.