66--Automated Blood Bank Analyzer and Reagents

This is not a solicitation. The information from this sources sought notice is for planning pur-poses only and will assist the Government in planning its acquisition strategy. The Government will not pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of information for responding to this notice. The intent of this sources sought notice is to determine the existence of any SDVOSB, VOSB, 8(a), WOSB, and HUB Zone, Small Business, and Large Business sources that are both interest-ed and capable of supplying the items referred to below. In an effort to automate testing and improve the sensitivity and specificity of anti-body detec-tion, the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, WV is seeking sources to that can provide an automated blood bank analyzer (and its associated reagents required for its operation). A description of the requirements are: " The testing methodology associated with the analyzer must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and meet the performance characteristics for accuracy and preci-sion as defined by the 1988 clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) and the College of American Pathology (CAP). " The analyzer must use Solid Phase Technology for the detection and identification of antibo-dies for phenotyping samples and use Hem-agglutination technology for the ABO/Rh identi-fication of samples. " The blood bank analyzer must automatically perform the following tests within the clinical parameters: " ABO/Rh Type " Donor Confirmation " ABO Retype " Phenotyping " 3-Cell Antibody Screen " Antibody Identification " IgG Crossmatch " Weak D " Discrete antigen phenotyping of C, c, E and e " DAT Testing " This instrument must have the ability to load and unload samples and reagents at anytime (i.e. be able to remove samples once pipetting is complete). " The analyzer must have priority sample handling with STAT testing capabilities. " The analyzer must have the ability for reflex testing. " The analyzer must have a touch screen interface. " The analyzer must be able to interface with the Laboratory Information System. The reagents needed for the analyzer should support the following test types and estimated an-nual workload: Assay Number of Tests per Year ABO/Rh Type (patient only) 787 ABO Retype (A, B, O, D) 787 Donor Confirmation (A, B, D) 795 Antibody Screen (3-Cell only) 787 Antibody ID (14-cell primary panel) 4 Total IgG Crossmatch 820 IgG DAT 5 Capable sources are encouraged to respond by providing a capability statement that includes in-formation pertaining to your company's abilities, experience, skills, business size, socioeconomic status, and relevant past performance (with Government POC information) for a similar acqui-sition (NAICS Code 532420 or 334516). Responses from this sources sought notice will ulti-mately determine the acquisition strategy (e.g. set-aside or full and open competition). The Gov-ernment intends to establish a 5-year IDV contract for this requirement. Contractor responses may be e-mailed to contact@example.gov. All responses must be re-ceived by 12:00 PM EST on August 29, 2011.