Cepheid BEM Area Wide Analyzer Supplies and Services

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE SOLE SOURCE AWARD The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Indian Health Service (IHS), Bemidji Area intends to award a Firm Fixed Priced Contract on a sole source basis to Cepheid for the BEM Area Service Units of Cass Lake, Red Lake, and White Earth. The anticipated period of performance will be for a Base plus 4 Option Years. The sole source action will be issued under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.501(a) - only one source reasonably available.

Only one source is reasonably available due to the fact that Cepheid Licensing and Software is proprietary in nature. Cepheid is the only authorized provider of maintenance services for GeneXpert systems to customers in the United States. Cepheid supplies and consumables must be manufactured by Cepheid in order to obtain accurate patient results using the Cepheid GeneXpert analyzers. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334516 – Analytic Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing.

Point of contact for this acquisition is Contract Specialist Mary Simon, at mary.simon2@ihs.gov. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit a quote to Contract Specialist Mary Simon, at mary.simon2@ihs.gov. Information received in response to this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. In doing so, interested sources must submit technical capabilities, and other information that demonstrates their ability to meet the Government's needs.