The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare System, has a requirement to procure services to assemble subretinal neurostimulators A fixed price requirements contract is anticipated and shall be awarded. It is the Governments belief that only Valtronic Technologies, possesses the required capabilities. It is the Governments intention to solicit and negotiate only with Valtronic Technologies. Concerns having the expertise and required capabilities to assemble subretinal neurostimulators are invited to submit complete and current information showing their capabilities within 5 calendar days from the day this notice is published. Concerns that respond to this notice must fully demonstrate the capability to accomplish the above and are to supply pertinent information to allow the VA to evaluate the proposal relative to the above requirements. This is not a solicitation; this is a request for information only. Inquires /information received after the established deadline shall not be considered. The submission of this data for review shall not impede award of this contract as planned. The Government does not intend to pay for information solicited. This synopsis is issued pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION 1. Identification of (1) the agency and (2) the contracting activity: (1) VA Medical Center, Boston, MA (2) Acquisition and Material Management Service 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved: The Boston VA Center for Innovative Visual Rehabilitation wishes to purchase retinal implant electronic assembly services from Valtronic Technologies. 3. Description of the supplies/services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value): The purpose of the retinal implant assembly services is to aid the CIVR in developing chronically implantable subretinal neurostimulators. This involves custom SMT assembly (including gold stud bump flip chip die attach operations) and highly specialized gold-tin soldering operations for critical prosthesis components at size scales below 500 microns. The estimated value for the assembly of 160 such neurostimulators is $50,000. 4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition: FAR Part 6.302-1, Only one responsible source. (See #5 for clarification.) *5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited: The proposed contractor has a highly skilled cadre of engineers that have been trained to develop specialized microelectronic assembly techniques which are specifically geared toward the creation of miniaturized neurostimulators for visual prosthesis research. Valtronic has the most experience of any commercial vendor in existence with building miniaturized neural stimulators and they provide circuit assembly for a major vendor in the field, Advanced Bionics. The development of retinal prosthesis that is the core mission of the CIVR is contingent upon microassembly of the components in a timely manner with great accuracy. *6. Describe the efforts that have been made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a Commerce Business Daily notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 (copy attached) and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies: The following vendors were contacted on May 8, 2008, and they were either unable to provide services meeting the standard of performance or they were unable to do so at any comparable price point: 1. I2A Technologies, Inc., Fremont, CA, 2. HEI, Inc., Victoria, MN, 3. Engent, Inc., Norcross, GA 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable: This determination will be made at time of award. 8. Description of the market survey that was conducted (i.e. names of firms and the date(s) the firms were contacted) and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted: See the survey results under #6 above. The CIVR (through the VA) has purchased micro-assembly services from the proposed contractor in the past at very favorable price points compared to similar vendors. 9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as - an explanation as to why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statement of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for competition have not been developed or are not available. The VA CIVR has carefully developed high technology assembly capabilities through the proposed contractor. These capabilities are not available elsewhere without substantial process development cost in time and dollars. 10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed an interest in the acquisition: To date, no additional sources have expressed an interest. 11. A statement of the actions, if any, that the department/service may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies/services is required in the future: If other vendors enter the field, or if existing vendors develop the necessary capabilities to meet the CIVRs needs at a competitive cost, consideration will be given these vendors in the future.
