Q--KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS

The PITTSBURGH VA Medical Center 646 (VISN 4) is announcing its Intent to Award Sole Source a contract to provide qualified PERSONEL TO DELIVERY KIDNEYS FOR TRANSPLANTATION SERVICES FOR : PITTSBURGH AND SURROUND AREAS, CERTAIN AREAS IN OHIO, CERTAIN AREAS IN WEST VIRGINIA.FLY-OUT - SEND SURGEON ON CHARTERED PLANE TO LOCATION TO OBTAIN ORGAN. IMPORT - WE SEND TRANSPORATION BUT LOCATION'S SURGEON REMOVES ORGAN FOR TRANSPLANTATION. APPROXIMATELY 4 PROCEDURES PER MONTH FOR THE PERIOD OF 4/1/14 - 6/30/14. AWARD WILL BE MADE TO CENTER FOR ORGAN RECOVERY & EDUCATION F 204 SIMA DR, PITTSBURGH PA 15238. THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITAION AND OFFERS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AT THIS TIME. This acquisition will be accomplished in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, for Other Than Full & Open Competition. The Contracting Officer believes that it is in the best interest of the government to continue operations with this company for another three months of service. It is expected that the government will benefit from continuity of service until the projects are completed. While this is not a request for offers, the Contracting Officer would appreciate knowing about other contractors doing business in VISN 4 who could offer this service. A determination to compete this procurement will be based on responses to this notice and is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer. The anticipated date of award is April 1, 2014. Please direct all inquiries and responses to the Procurement Analyst, referencing VA244-14-C-0211. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition 1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 04, VA Pittsburgh Medical Center 2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: Provision of procurement and transportation of organs recovered from deceased organ donors for purpose of transplantation. 3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency's Needs: Procurement of appropriate human organs from deceased donors, (KIDNEY) to support transplantation services. 3 MO Total Costs: $401,700.00 Transaction Number: 646-14-3-216-0032 4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: (X) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per FAR 6.302-1; 5. Demonstration that the Contractor's Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): No other sources exist for organ procurement. "The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is one of 58 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations (OPO) in the United States. In addition to supporting families during the grieving process and talking with them about the opportunity to donate the agency also notifies the organ transplant team and coordinates the surgical recovery of organs tissue and eyes. CORE also is responsible for facilitating the computerized matching of donated organs and placement of corneas. Founded in 1977 as the Transplant Organ Procurement Foundation of Western Pennsylvania, CORE changed to its existing name in 1992 to reflect its expanding role in the procurement field. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, CORE is a well-established OPO. Its assigned region encompasses 155 hospitals and more than six million people throughout Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Chemung County, NY". "Each of the hospitals in CORE's designated region serves as a referral site for potential donors. Five of the hospitals also perform life-saving organ transplants: Allegheny General Hospital, Charleston Area Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Veteran's Administration Pittsburgh Health System." 6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: CORE has one of the lowest fees for procured organs nationally. 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: CORE has one of the lowest fees for procured organs nationally. 8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Not applicable. 9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: ): Not applicable 10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: NONE 11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required: Not applicable.