6515--PATIENT CEILING LIFTS, 570-A68074

This contract is a sole-source award to Arjo Inc. for the procurement and installation of 110 new Arjo patient ceiling lifts, including 104 replacement motors and six additional units, at the Fresno VA Medical Center and Community Living Center in California. The award, issued under Federal Supply Schedule Contract 36F79725D0231 with a total value of $1,064,885.13, is justified under GSAM 538.7104-3(b)(ii) because only Arjo’s equipment is technically compatible with the existing Arjo ceiling rail infrastructure, ensuring patient safety, warranty integrity, and operational continuity. Any alternative product would void warranties, compromise structural safety, and necessitate costly and disruptive rail system replacements scheduled for 3–5 years in the future. The contract requires full integration with current turntables, recertification of ceiling tracks through weight and deflection testing, and strict adherence to Arjo’s specifications and VA safety standards, with no competitive bidding permitted due to the unique, non-interoperable nature of the systems. The period of performance is four months from award, with delivery and installation occurring on-site, and acceptance is contingent upon successful technical verification by VA subject matter experts and the Contracting Officer. Arjo Inc., identified as a large business with UEI W8MZPY6A2QD3, was selected over other potential vendors like Handicare USA, LLC, whose equipment was found incompatible, and no socioeconomic set-asides or alternative pricing strategies were considered. The contract is firm-fixed-price, funded through non-Recovery Act sources, and administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Network Contracting Office 21 in Mather, California, with Mohammed Hussain serving as the sole point of contact. No detailed packaging, marking, MIL-STD, invoicing, or COTR information is specified, and no option periods, modifications, or additional clauses are referenced, reflecting a narrowly focused, technically driven acquisition aimed at avoiding infrastructure redundancy and preserving existing investments.