Solicitation Description
Solicitation No. 36C25726Q0816
Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 7 Pro Real-Time PCR System, or Equal
Solicitation Number
36C25726Q0816
Contracting Office
Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 17, 5441 Babcock Road, Ste. 302, San Antonio, TX 78240
Contracting Officer
Ognian D. Ivanov, Contracting Officer, Lab Support Team, Network Contracting Office 17
Requiring Activity
VISN 17 Center of Excellence, 4800 Memorial Drive, Building 93, MRI W93, Waco, TX 76711
Place of Delivery/Performance
Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Olin E. Teague VA Hospital, Attn: Pathology Lab Med Svc., Temple, TX 76504
NAICS Code
334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
Product/Service Code
6640 Laboratory Equipment and Supplies
Small Business Size Standard
1,000 employees (NAICS 334516)
Set-Aside Status
Unrestricted / Full and Open Competition (Open Market)
Acquisition Type
Firm-Fixed-Price, Commercial Products and Commercial Services (FAR Part 12)
Basis of Award
Brand Name or Equal (FAR 52.211-6)
Contract Structure
Base period plus four (4) one-year option periods
1. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT
The Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 17, on behalf of the VISN 17 Center of Excellence, intends to award a firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of one (1) Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 7 Pro Real-Time PCR System, or equal, including all associated accessories, consumables, on-site training, and four (4) annual option-year preventive maintenance service agreements. The system will support RT-PCR research activities at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Olin E. Teague VA Hospital, Temple, Texas, advancing research into biological and molecular differences between Veteran and civilian populations in support of personalized medicine initiatives.
2. TYPE OF SET-ASIDE
This acquisition will be conducted on an UNRESTRICTED, FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (OPEN MARKET) basis. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. §§ 8127 8128 and VAAR 819.7004, the Contracting Officer conducted market research and a Rule of Two analysis, which the Small Business Administration (SBA) has reviewed and approved, confirming that a reasonable expectation does not exist that offers would be received from two or more Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) capable of performing this brand-name-or-equal requirement at a fair and reasonable price. Accordingly, this solicitation is unrestricted and open to all responsible sources, consistent with FAR 6.101 and RFO FAR Part 6 policy favoring full and open competition.
3. BASIS OF ACQUISITION BRAND NAME OR EQUAL
This solicitation is issued on a Brand Name or Equal basis under FAR 11.104 and FAR 52.211-6, incorporated in full at Section E.2 of the solicitation. The Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 7 Pro Real-Time PCR System (manufactured by Thermo Fisher Scientific) is cited solely to establish the minimum salient physical, functional, and performance characteristics required by the Government, and is not intended to restrict competition to that specific brand. Offerors proposing an equal product must demonstrate, through descriptive literature and a salient characteristics comparison, that the offered product meets or exceeds every characteristic identified in Section B.2, Section 4 of the Statement of Work.
4. APPLICABLE ACQUISITION AUTHORITY
This procurement will be conducted using commercial product and commercial service acquisition procedures in accordance with FAR Part 12 and the corresponding provisions of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO FAR), as implemented through the RFO FAR Commercial Checklist, applicable VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) deviations, and VA Acquisition Policy Flash 26-30. Where RFO FAR guidance has not yet superseded a legacy FAR provision or clause applicable to this acquisition, the corresponding FAR provision or clause remains in effect consistent with VA implementation memoranda directing that RFO FAR serve as guidance rather than the exclusive acquisition authority.
5. ESTIMATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
Base Period: One-time purchase, delivery, and installation of the laboratory instrumentation and initial training, with performance beginning on or about 08-31-2026 and concluding 08-30-2027.
Option Periods: Four (4) consecutive one-year option periods (Option Year 1: 08-31-2027 08-30-2028; Option Year 2: 08-31-2028 08-30-2029; Option Year 3: 08-31-2029 08-30-2030; Option Year 4: 08-31-2030 08-30-2031) for annual preventive maintenance services, exercisable at the sole discretion of the Government pursuant to FAR 52.217-9. The total duration of the contract, including all exercised options, shall not exceed five (5) years.
6. EVALUATION AND AWARD BASIS
Award will be made on a best-value or lowest-price technically acceptable basis, as specified in FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation Commercial Products and Commercial Services, incorporated at Section E.4 of the solicitation. Offerors proposing an "equal" product will be evaluated for technical acceptability against the salient characteristics identified in the Statement of Work, in accordance with FAR 52.211-6.
7. REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND APPLICABLE SOCIOECONOMIC PROVISIONS
Offerors shall comply with all representations and certifications identified in Section E of the solicitation, including Buy American Act/Trade Agreements Act certifications (FAR 52.225-4), Security Prohibitions and Exclusions representations (FAR 52.240-90), and all other applicable provisions. Although this acquisition is unrestricted, all offerors including small, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, and woman-owned small businesses are encouraged to submit offers.
8. POINT OF CONTACT
Contracting Officer: Ognian D. Ivanov (ognian.ivanov@va.gov), Contracting Officer, Lab Support Team, Network Contracting Office 17, Department of Veterans Affairs, 5441 Babcock Road, Ste. 302, San Antonio, TX 78240.
(End of Solicitation Description)
