J--Notice of intent to make sole source award to Edstrom Industries, Inc for preventative maintenance and repairs on an Edstrom automatic animal watering system.

The VISN 9 Network Contracting Activity plans to award a sole source contract to Edstrom Industries, Inc. for the maintenance and repair of an existing automatic animal watering system at the Memphis VA Medical Center. This contract covers a base year with three additional option years for a basic service plan focused on preventative maintenance and repairs. The contract value is expected to range between $25,000 and $100,000. Market research confirmed that Edstrom Industries is the only provider capable of servicing this equipment due to the proprietary nature of the components and warranty requirements, which mandate the use of Edstrom certified technicians. The contract solicitation number is VA24911RQ0674, and the NAICS code associated is 339999, indicating the specialized nature of the service. Since no other companies offer service for Edstrom systems, this sole source award ensures continuity and proper maintenance of the equipment critical to operations at the Memphis VA Medical Center. The contract was publicly posted in September 2011, reflecting the specialized need and justification for bypassing competitive bidding.