65--NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE. UPGRADE PURITAN BENNETT 840 VENTILATORS THOUGHOUT VISN 6 MEDICAL CENTERS.

VISN 6, Centralized Acquisition Service intends to procure sole source with Covidien to upgrade the VISN 6 fleet of Puritan Bennett 840 Ventilators. VISN 6 standardized on Puritan Bennett 840 (PB840) ventilators in 2004 under a competitive FSS procurement. This acquisition is to upgrade the existing PB840 ventilators at each medical center with the latest software upgrades available. This will bring the ventilator fleet up to current commerical standards and will be less costly than procurring new ventilators. Covidien owns the proprietary rights to software and hardware and is the only source for these upgrades. NAICS code 325411 applies to this procurement. The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit quotations. This notice of intent is not a request for quotations. Interested parties that believe they can meet these needs must supply information about their capabilities no later than 5:00pm EST, March 10, 2009. All information shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the Government. This award will be made using simplified acquisition procedures. No solicitation will be made available. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The anticipated award date is March 16, 2009. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Telephone or faxed inquiries will not be accepted.