The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Office of Acquisition Management, intends to issue a sole source firm-fixed price purchase order under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, to Data Sciences International (DSI) for the purchase of telemeters (Model TL1M2-C50-PXT for rats and ETA-F10 for mice). The EPA laboratory monitors electrocardiogram, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and activity by using the transmitters (aka telemeters) that are implanted into animals (rats and mice) to assess the effects of air pollutants and elucidate mechanism of action. The DSI sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) system will enable EPA to determine if autonomic effects may be a mode of action of the adverse effects of air pollution. The SNA system is compatible with the pre-existing DSI monitoring system. These telemeters and all accompanying required equipment currently possessed in the laboratory are manufactured by Data Sciences International. DSI is the only known company that produces these proprietary telemeter models as well as associated receivers (register signals from transmitters). No other transmitters, receivers, or SNA system will work with the pre-existing hardware and software systems. Thus, DSI is the only company EPA may purchase this compatible equipment from. A sole source purchase order is appropriate and necessary since all accompanying equipment that is currently operated in the laboratory is manufactured by DSI. EPA is not aware of any other contractor that would have these proprietary telemeter models and associated receivers. Selection of any other contractor would delay the scientific professional services, result in compatibility issues, and duplicate cost to the government that is not expected to be recovered through the competition of this requirement. Notwithstanding, any contractor that believes they are capable of meeting EPA's requirements as stated herein may submit evidence of such capability within 15 days of this posting. A determination not to compete the proposed purchase order based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All questions and capability statements regarding this procurement shall be addressed in writing to the Contracting Officer, Harold Honegger, at
[email protected]