6515--Sources Sought: Colorectal Analyzer for the Northport VA Medical Center...

THIS REQUEST IS FOR SOURCES SOUGHT AND IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE SUBMISSION OF PRICING, CAPABILITIES FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, AND OTHER MARKET INFORMATION IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED UNDER THIS RFI IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) FAR 15.201(e). DISCLAIMER This Sources Sought Notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this Sources Sought Notice is marked as proprietary and will be handled accordingly. IAW FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Sources Sought Notice. SOURCES SOUGHT DESCRIPTION This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a Sources Sought Notice only. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS code 334516 analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing (size standard of 1,000 employees). Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this Sources Sought Notice, a solicitation announcement may be published. Responses to this sources sought synopsis are not considered adequate responses for a solicitation announcement. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 02 Network Contracting Office, is seeking sources that can provide a colorectal analyzer to support the mailed Fecal Immunochemical Testing Program for VISN 2 that at a minimum meets the following salient characteristics listed below. The VA is seeking a domestic source (manufactured in the United States) equivalent to the following salient characteristics: Technical parameters Equipment functionality is accurate, timely and reliable in performing the test and transferring the information across the interface if it is interfaced. The instrument and the test are FDA-approved. Preferably capable of Bi-directional Interface with Vista and/or Data Innovation (middleware). Any bi-directional interface to/from Vista must be able to handle necessary drivers to send/receive orders. Immediate start-up capabilities. Calibration frequency. Characteristics of analyzers: onboard stability of reagents and QC reagents. Vendor provides on-site technical assistance for the initial instrument set-up, including but not limited to data collection and analysis (e.g. data for methods and instruments comparisons). Detailed instrument specifications. Scan in patient samples. No manual entry. Ability to change or load reagents while instrument is operating. Ease of use, random access and walk away testing are all required. Reagents must have a minimum shelf life of six (6) months at the time of delivery. Equipment to be delivered/assembled upon receipt to the medical center. Training of staff, at least one person, to be performed on site. Statement of warranty of equipment, minimum one year. Statement of service included: preventive maintenance at least once per year; extended service and repair. capable of producing accurate and reproducible results on fecal specimens by established in vitro immunochemical diagnostic methods. capable of specifically detecting human hemoglobin, thereby removing the need for dietary restrictions and the collection and testing of more than one sample. a specimen transport system that is stable for a minimum of 14 days at ambient temperature for those specimens collected in the home setting mailing system for specimen transport that meets the US Postal Service mailing requirements, including but not limited to specimen collection and labeling instructions, specimen transport tube/vial/card, and mailing envelope. analyzers capable of providing printouts for all patient results, calibrators, and controls. a design that supports the result integrity removing the possibility of sample carryover. equipment that perform satisfactorily at any laboratory relative humidity between 15 and 85 percent and any laboratory temperature between 50- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 30 degrees Celsius). Analyzer equipment which includes 120-volt UPS that has a 2 3-hour back-up capability. Compatible with multiple barcode formats including but not limited to: Code 39, Code 128, and Codabar or current VA standardized barcode that may be enabled concurrently. System with ability to store and retransmit records (24 hours of maximum instrument throughput) Sufficient accuracy studies and validation methods to meet current standards defined by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The information identified above is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive and to indicate the quality of the supplies/services that will be satisfactory. It is the responsibility of the interested source to demonstrate