A--Notice of Intent to Sole Source R&D Testing Samples for Complement Analysis to the Diagnostic Complement Laboratory at National Jewish Health

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 7, hereby provides notice of its intent to award a sole-source, firm fixed contract to the Diagnostic Complement Laboratory at National Jewish Health. Address: National Jewish Medical and Research Center, M013F, BB Building, 31400 Jackson St., Denver, CO 80206. Funding will be less than $36,000.00. The contract is expected to be awarded under FAR 6.302-1(b)(1)(i), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements. A Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition has been prepared. The period of performance shall be 12 months from September 1, 2014. The contractor will perform complement analysis (Bb, C3a, C5a, and AH50/Factor H Function) in support of studies and research regarding the interacting of smoking and complement Factor H Haplotypes in patients and examines whether smoking-related pathology is amendable to complement base therapies in mouse models. The Diagnostic Complement Laboratory at National Jewish Health will conduct experiments utilizing specialized equipment to study Complement Factor H Haplotypes from a single blood draw of a control group of 300 subjects. The Diagnostic Complement Laboratory at National Jewish Health is the only known approved laboratory in the United States capable of performing complement analysis of serum and blood samples. In addition, the Diagnostic Complement Laboratory at National Jewish Health has developed a novel technique to measure complement activity, a tool necessary to complete the requisite analysis. NAICS Code: 541711 Research and Development in Biotechnology (Size Standard 500 Employees) The services required meeting Department of Veterans Affairs' legal obligation to continue developing and supporting the measuring and analyzing of C3b, C3a, and C5a levels as well as CFH activity levels in human serum and blood samples to study Complement Factor H Haplotypes are uniquely provided by the Diagnostic Complement Laboratory at National Jewish Health. The Department of Veterans Affairs believes that awarding the proposed contract to another source would result in unacceptable delays in meeting this legal obligation, as well as substantial additional costs to the government, as the new source gradually developed the skills needed to meet Department of Veterans Affairs' requirements. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement no later than August 12, 2014, 11AM, EST. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. All responsible sources may submit an offer; however, only services meeting the Department of Veterans Affairs requirements will be considered for award. The Department of Veterans Affairs will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice of intent. Only written responses will be considered. All responses from responsible sources will be fully considered. As a result of analyzing responses to this notice of intent, the Government shall determine that a solicitation will be issued. Any prospective contractor must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to be eligible for award. Interested parties are encouraged to furnish information. All documents submitted will not be returned. All interested parties shall submit clear and convincing documentation demonstrating their capabilities to satisfy the requirements listed above to Contract Specialist, David W. Decker by email at contact@example.gov. The capability documentation should include general information and technical background describing in detail the prospective contractor's capabilities and experience that will demonstrate the ability to support these requirements. Point of Contact: David W. Decker, Contract Specialist (e-mail: contact@example.gov)