Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Business Center, 5901 East Seventh Street, Bldg 149, Long Beach, CA 90822

66 -- VARIANT A1C ANALYZER SYSTEM. SOL RFQ 600-041-99 DUE 012199 POC Harold W. Fleming, Contracting Officer This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with subparts in the Federal Acquisition Regulation 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-09. The Government intends to negotiate with Bio-Rad laboratory, Clinical Division, in this Solicitation No. RFP 600-041-99, a sole-source estimated requirements contract for a Variant System and Autoprep Instrument on a Cost Per Test basis (SIC 5047). The Variant System will be utilized in a clinical laboratory setting for analyzing hemoglobin A1c as a measure of glycemic control and hemoglobinopathy analysis. Pricing shall be based on the estimated annual quantity for the following media items: Item No. 001, Hemoglobin A1c reorder pack, Catalog No. 270-0003, 12 test kits (1000 per test kit); Item No 002, Beta-Thalessemia Short Reorder Pack, Catalog No. 270-0019, 1 test kit (250 test per kit); Item No. 003, Lyphochek Diabetes Control 6x.5ml, Catalog No. 740, 12 boxes; Item No. 004, Lyphochek Hemoglobin A2 Control 4x1ml, Catalog No. 553, 3 kits: Item No. 005, Variant Thermal Paper, Catalog No. 270-0017, 6 boxes (2 per box). Proposal shall include pricing for the base year, effective from 2-1-99 through 1-31-2000, and for four option years through 1-31-2004. Included in the pricing for above listed items are: 1) Variant System and Autoprep Instrument manufactured by Bio-Rad Laboratory; 2) Installation, start-up and validation study; 3) Set-up of equipment, to include training of Government employees; 4) Preventive maintenance (except for routine operator maintenance described in operating manual; 5) Emergency repair; and 6) Trouble shooting via telephone. The Variant System equipment includes the following: 1) Variant System Catalog No. 270-0001Rincluding one Auto Diluter, Catalog No. 196-7393 1 Ea; 2) Autoprep Instrument, Catalog No. 210-0500, which includes one Auto Prep Computer and Monitor, Catalog No. 210-0501, one Barcode Wand, Catalog No. 270-0160 and one Barcode Wand Holder, Catalog No. 270-0172, 3) Operators Manual. The Contractor warrants that at the time of delivery, the Variant System will be free from defects in material and workmanship and will be in good working condition. All said equipment will remain the property of the contractor. The Contractor shall provide technical support on a 24 hours a day, 7 days per week basis. Response time for on site service shall be twenty-four (24) hours from time of notification of malfunction by the Government. All tools, parts labor and travel needed to repair the malfunction will be furnished by the Contractor. The user agrees to maintain and operate the Cost Per Test system in the manner described by the Protocol. Requests for telephone troubleshooting, if due to analytical problems, require a response time of two (2) hours from receipt of initial call. Software and analytical instrument upgrades that are made available during the term of the contract shall be provided to the Government at no additional cost. Delivery of Variant System equipment shall be F.O.B. Destination to the VA San Diego Healthcare System, Pathology and Laboratory Service, 3350 La Jolla village Drive, San Diego, CA. 92161. Delivery of Consumable Supplies shall be to the same address, with delivery terms to be: F.O.B. destination, with transportation charges to be paid by Bio-Rad Laboratories. The required date of delivery is 3 to 5 days from receipt of award and from receipt of subsequent orders. Offeror shall submit a completed copy of representations and certification -- at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certification -- Commercial Items (Oct 1998), Offerors will be required to sign the Certification of Year 2000 Warranty -- Commercial Supply Items. The full text of clauses identified herein may be accessed electronically at these addresses: http://www.arnet.gov/far and http://www.va.gov/oa&;mm/baar. The following Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) clauses and provisions also apply to this acquisition: 52.212-1, Instruction to offerors -- Commercial (Aug 1998); 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (Apr 1998); 52.212-5, Contract Terms and conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items (Oct 1998); 52.216-21, Requirements (Oct 1995); 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services (Aug 1989); 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Mar 1989); 52.232-19, Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal year (Apr 1984); 52.233-2, Service of Protest (Aug 1996), 52.242-13, Bankruptcy (Jul 1995), 52.242-15, Stop-Work Order (Aug 1998). In addition, incorporated hrerein by reference are the following VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) Clauses and Provisions; 852.203-71, Display of VA Hotline Poster (Dec 1992); 852.210-70, Service Data Manuals (Nov 1984), 852.216-70, Estimated Quantities for Requirements Contracts (Apr 1984); 82.233-70, Protest Content (Jun 1987); 852.270-4, Commercial Advertising (Nov 1984); 852.203-70, Ethics in Government Act (Apr 1984); 852.233-71, Alternate Protest Procedure (Jan 1998); 852-237-70, Contractor Responsibilities (Apr 1984); and 852.270-1, Representatives of Contracting Officers (Apr 1984). Facsimile offers are accepted at (562) 494-5828 FAR Provision 52.215-18, Facsimile Proposals, is hereby included. Offerors must hold prices firm in its offer for 30 calendar days from the date specified for receipt. Documents cited in the solicitation may be obtained from the General Services Administration, Federal Supply Service Bureau, Specification Section, Suite 8100, 470 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, D.C.20407, Telephone No. (202) 755-0325 or 0326. Offers are due January 21, 1999, 1:00 PM Local Time. Address Offers to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Business Center, Bldg. 149, Attn: Harold W. Fleming, Long Beach, CA 90822. ContactHarold W. Fleming at (562) 961-8041 for information regarding this solicitation. (Numbered Note 22) Posted 12/22/98 (W-SN282878). (0356)

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