Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source

This is a notice of intent to award a sole source, Firm- Fixed Price (FFP) contract under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) pursuant to the Federal Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1 - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, to Virtual Imaging, Inc., located at 720 S. Powerline Rd., Suite E, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has a requirement for the purchase and installation of one (1) SecurPASS Whole Body Security Scanning System (SecurPASS) marketed by Virtual Imaging, Inc. at the BOP Central Office/ Office of Security Technology (OST) Lab for the purpose of conducting new/ongoing evaluations of possible uses of the SecurPASS technology's ability to screen and detect concealed contraband. This requirement is based on the BOP need for continued testing by OST of contraband detection systems capable of identifying items that have been swallowed or concealed in body cavities of inmates. BOP currently deploys a number of electronic devices used to detect contraband on the person such as metal detectors, electronic drug and alcohol detection devices, low dose backscatter, etc. However, none of these devices are capable of detecting plastic, wood, and other non-metallic (organic) contraband inside the human body, only medical x-rays can do that and medical x-rays are not normally used for routine inspection of inmates, the SecurPASS system has this ability. BOP needs to conduct ongoing evaluations at its OST Lab of screening devices that emit low dose radiation, that have been approved by the FDA and are currently being used in correctional screening applications by other local, state, and/or federal agencies and that is capable of screening high volumes of inmates during receiving and discharging of inmates such as those activities that take place at BOP's Federal Transfer Center. Recent ANSI, ISCORS, and NCRP guidelines have been published regarding the use of low dose x-ray devices (ionizing radiation) for the purpose of security screening of humans. This system is capable of providing variable effective output doses ranging from 0.1 uSv to 2.0 uSv. This system is able to record and track the annual exposure for each individual screened into a database that is accessible to staff, and provides warnings when the annual exposure limit has been reached for any individual screened. Virtual Imaging, Inc., is the manufacturer of the SecurPASS Whole Body Security Scanning System and is the only known company at this time which can provide the BOP with a system meeting the above-mentioned requirements and specifications. The NAICS code for this requirement is 334517. This notice of intent to award a sole source contract is not a request for competitive proposals. A Request for Proposal (RFP) will not be available for this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. Any firm that believes it can provide the stated equipment shall provide supporting documents demonstrating their products capability and specifications within three (3) days after date of publication of this notice of intent. Responses received will be used for future acquisitions. The point of contact for this acquisition is: Michael J. Connors, (202) 307-0954, m1connors@bop.gov . Contracting Office Address: Construction Contracting Section, 320 First Street, Room 5006, NW, Washington, DC 20534