6550--Benchmark Ultra Plus

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through Network Contracting Office 17 in San Antonio, Texas, has awarded a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract valued at $132,000 to Roche Diagnostics Corporation for the delivery, installation, validation, training, and ongoing support of one VENTANA BenchMark ULTRA PLUS IHC/ISH stainer system at the VA North Texas Health Care System in Dallas, Texas. The award, made under FAR 6.302-1, is justified solely on the technical exclusivity of the BenchMark ULTRA PLUS system, which is the only platform fully compatible with existing VENTANA reagents, assays, and laboratory workflows; replacement with any other system would require extensive revalidation, disrupt patient care operations, and introduce unacceptable technical and logistical risks. The contract includes comprehensive responsibilities such as initial and annual operator training, preventive maintenance with all parts and labor covered at no extra cost, 24/7 technical support, and on-site resolution of issues within 48 hours, along with detailed service reporting after each visit. All work must be performed at Room 1B-328 in the Histology Section, and contractors are strictly prohibited from accessing any VA Laboratory Information System or handling VA data. The system, which includes software, UPS, monitor, scanner, and printer, must be fully installed and validated to meet manufacturer specifications and VA-Roche contractual validation requirements without altering existing infrastructure. Delivery and performance are scheduled to begin immediately following the award date of May 14, 2026, with no defined end date as ongoing service obligations extend through the warranty and support lifecycle. The contracting specialist, Ognian D. Ivanov, serves as the primary point of contact, and proposals were submitted exclusively via email by the April 27, 2026 deadline. No competitive bidding was conducted, no contract options are included, and no other socioeconomic set-asides, certifications, or modifications apply. The acquisition follows strict security protocols requiring supervised contractor access and explicitly excludes any VA data exposure or system integration beyond the stainer’s physical and operational interface.