DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
NETWORK CONTRACTING OFFICE 17 (NCO 17)
South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS)
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT
In Accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 5.201,
FAR 5.207, FAR 6.302-1, and the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) FAR Part 12
Date Posted: July 9, 2026
Response Due Date: July 20, 2026, 4:30 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Classification Code (PSC): J066 Maintenance, Repair, and Rebuilding of Equipment Instruments and Laboratory Equipment
NAICS Code: 811210 Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance
Small Business Size Standard: $34.0 Million
Contracting Office Address: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 17 (NCO 17), South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229
Set-Aside Status: No Set-Aside Sole Source
Solicitation Number: 36C25726Q0759
Intended Contractor: bioMérieux, Inc. (BioFire Diagnostics, LLC) | 100 Rodolphe Street, Durham, NC 27712
Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP)
Period of Performance: Base Year plus Four (4) Option Years (Base + 4 OYs)
Place of Performance: Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, Microbiology Laboratory, Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229
1. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT
The South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, has a requirement for an extended warranty to include comprehensive preventative maintenance and repair services for Government-owned BioMérieux (BioFire) Torch Instrumentation currently housed in the Microbiology Laboratory at the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, San Antonio, Texas. This acquisition is for a commercial service in accordance with RFO FAR Part 12.
The contractor service program shall include, at a minimum, the following:
Onsite repair services performed by a bioMérieux (BioFire) Certified Diagnostic Service Engineer (FSE) or a bioMérieux-Authorized Distributor (must provide an Authorized Distributor letter on company letterhead);
All replacement parts required for repairs;
All software upgrades, new software versions, and applicable releases;
All labor, travel, and expenses for both scheduled and unscheduled visits;
All replacement equipment necessary to complete repairs;
All applicable instrument shipping charges;
One (1) yearly scheduled preventative maintenance visit;
24/7 toll-free hotline with same-day technical response;
Emergency repair response within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of request;
Same-day onsite repair when both instruments are simultaneously non-operational;
Repairs performed during normal working hours, 8:00 AM 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
2. AUTHORITY FOR SOLE SOURCE ACQUISITION
This acquisition is being conducted without full and open competition pursuant to the authority of FAR 6.302-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements" (41 U.S.C. § 3304(a)(1)), as implemented under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO). The acquisition is processed as a commercial service acquisition in accordance with RFO FAR Part 12, subpart 12.102(a).
The BioMérieux (BioFire) Torch Instrumentation is proprietary equipment manufactured solely by bioMérieux, Inc. (BioFire Diagnostics, LLC). Due to the proprietary nature of the instrumentation, maintenance, repair, preventative services, software upgrades, and replacement parts can only be performed by a bioMérieux (BioFire) Certified Diagnostic Service Engineer or an Authorized Distributor certified by bioMérieux. Award to any other source would result in the use of uncertified technicians and non-genuine parts, creating an unacceptable risk to patient safety, instrument integrity, and compliance with AABB and College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation requirements. No other source is known to possess the certifications, proprietary technical data, and software access necessary to fulfill this requirement.
3. MARKET RESEARCH SUMMARY
Market research was conducted to determine whether any other responsible source could satisfy the Government's requirements. Research revealed that the BioMérieux (BioFire) Torch instruments are proprietary in design, and that all repair, maintenance, and software support services are controlled exclusively by bioMérieux, Inc. (BioFire Diagnostics, LLC). No independent third-party vendors were identified who possess the necessary OEM certifications, software access, or proprietary technical data to service these instruments without risking instrument damage, loss of warranty standing, or non-compliance with applicable laboratory accreditation standards.
4. NOTICE TO RESPONSIBLE SOURCES
THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS, AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. This notice is published for informational purposes in accordance with FAR 5.207(c)(15) and FAR 5.207(c)(16)(ii). In accordance with FAR 5.207(c)(16)(ii), all responsible sources that believe they can fulfill the Government's requirements as described in this notice may submit a capability statement, which shall be considered by the agency.
Any capability statement submitted must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that the vendor is authorized by bioMérieux (BioFire Diagnostics, LLC) to perform service and repair on BioFire Torch Instrumentation, and must include the following information:
Company name, address, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number;
Active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov);
Documentation confirming status as a bioMérieux-Authorized Service Provider or Authorized Distributor (Authorized Distributor letter on company letterhead required);
Demonstrated capability to provide all services described in Section 1 of this notice;
Evidence of compliance with AABB and CAP accreditation standards relevant to the serviced instrumentation.
5. RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS
Responses to this notice must be received no later than July 20, 2026, at 4:00 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT). Late responses will not be accepted. All responses shall be submitted electronically via email to the Contracting Officer identified below. Responses must be in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, or Adobe PDF format. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.
A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received in response to this notice will be retained as market research.
6. DISCLAIMER
THIS NOTICE DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE GOVERNMENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY ANY COSTS INCURRED IN THE PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF CAPABILITY STATEMENTS OR ANY OTHER COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.
7. POINT OF CONTACT
Contracting Officer: Ognian D. Ivanov
On Behalf Of: South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS),
Address: 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229
Email: ognian.ivanov@va.gov
Department of Veterans Affairs
South Texas Veterans Health Care System
