Department of Veterans Affairs, Great Lakes Healthcare Systems, Great Lakes Acquisition Center, Bldg. 5, 5000 West National Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53295

65 -- COSMED K4B2 PULMONARY GAS EXCHANGE SYSTEM SOL 69D-425-99 DUE 092399 POC Michael Cunningham, 414-902-5407 The Great Lakes Acquisition Center intends to negotiate a sole source contract with JMC Distribution of Chicago IL for the purchase of the Cosmed K4b2 Pulmonary Gas Exchange System for the Research Dept at the Hines IL VA Hospital. JMC is the only authorized distributor of this system in the area. The reasons why this is considered to be a sole source include the following: It will be used to measure the energy cost of activities of daily living in persons with spinal cord injury, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoarthritis and heart failure. It is the only system which weighs less than one kilogram which is critical both for the types of patients being studied and so as to have the least impact on the data generated. It is the only system that has been validated by rigorously empirical methodology and that also possess all the features necessary for research. It has the most stable oxygen analyzer among those available and is also able to do breath by breath measurement. It is the only system that can be used in nearly any situation or environment and without having to make adjustments. Other firms who believe that they can meet the needs of the VA must provide information about their equipment by no later than Noon on September 23, 1999. This information can be mailed to this office or it can be faxed to 414-902-5440. Posted 09/15/99 (W-SN380553). (0258)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0245 19990917\65-0010.SOL)