65--NEPTUNE 2 ROVER WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition 1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 1, VA Maine Healthcare System Contracting, VA Maine Healthcare System. 2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: One-time Sole Source Firm Fixed Price purchase order for the acquisition of equipment from American Medical Depot to handle surgical waste disposal 3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency's Needs: The Operating Room (OR) currently disposes of 13,885 pound of surgical irrigation fluid a year. With the purchase of the Neptune Waste Management System, the staff will be able to dispose of the fluid more safely and efficiently. The Neptune eliminates the splash risk from disposing contaminated fluid down the hopper and changing suction canisters. The Neptune is on wheels and is far ergonomically superior to our current methods of fluid waste disposal minimizing the risk of injury from carrying heavy container fluid. There is a decreased risk to housekeeping workers who will no longer have to handle heavy biohazard fluid waste from the Operating Room. Neptune offers superior digital readout for fluid collection giving the OR and Anesthesia staff a better indication of operative blood loss. Neptune offers emergency back-up suction ability in the event of a facility loss of vacuum because Neptune functions on electricity. 4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: ( X ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per FAR 6.302-1; 5. Demonstration that the Contractor's Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): The Neptune has a dedicated service team available to address any issues or concerns regarding the product. There are over 15,000 total rovers in the United States, with 86% market share in the Cart Based Waste Management Systems. Over 38 of the top orthopedic hospitals use the Neptune Rover System. The Neptune is a totally closed system. There are no lids to take off the collection canisters and they are completely enclosed with the frame of the system. The advantages to this feature are primarily infection control related. The Neptune 2 has two independent suction control levels. All other similar products on the market have one vacuum source, which does not allow for versatility during a single surgery. The advantage to this feature is that the surgeon/anesthesiologist can choose to use a high or low suction level at the same time. The Neptune 2 is able to separate two fluid types, once being blood and the other being irrigation. The advantage to this feature is that if these fluid types mix together, it is difficult to determine the amount of blood loss during the surgery. The feature allows more accuracy in making this determination. The Neptune 2 includes a power IV pole, which holds four bags of saline at once. The advantages to this feature are that there is no manual lifting of the saline bags, and there is no separate IV pole. This leads to less manual labor for the nurses and less poles in the operating room, which already has limited space. The Neptune 2 includes a smoke evacuation unit with an ultra low penetrating air filter (ULPA), which helps suction away smoke created when cauterizing tissue during surgery. Advantage to this feature is that it is included within the frame of the system saving valuable OR space and does not require separate purchase of equipment. 6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: A Sources Sought Notice was issued on FedBizOps on 1/19/2012 and no responses were received. Approximately 36% of the VA Medical Centers are using the Neptune Waste Management System. 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: Pricing is deemed fair and reasonable as it is the same pricing offered to American Medical Depot's other commercial customers in the marketplace. 8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Based on prior market research VISN 1 Contracting has documentation that American Medical Depot is the sole source for Stryker products. The Neptune waste management system is manufactured by Stryker. Based upon the use of product by 36% of the VA's, and satisfaction of the facilities, the request is submitted. 9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: Please refer to Section 8 above. 10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: none - Sources Sought Notice was issued on FedBizOps 1/19/2012 with no responses 11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required: The Government will continue to conduct market research for each requirement received to locate alternative products. However, until Stryker allows other companies to sell their equipment/supplies, all Stryker equipment will have to continue to be purchased from American Medical Depot on a Sole Source basis.