Sole Source Notification for Ventana Medical Systems Brand Reagents and Related Supplies

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) located in Ames, IA, intends to issue a sole source, 5-year Blanket Purchase Agreement award to Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. located in Tucson, AZ for Ventana brand reagents and related supplies under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). The reagents are used with Ventana brand slide staining equipment used in the detection of Scrapie, Chronic Wasting Disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The slide staining equipment is one of three brands specifically identified for use in recently developed standard operating procedures (SOP-PPE-0046) at the NVSL. The three brands of slide staining equipment (Ventana Medical Systems, Bio-Care, and Leica Microsystems were selected for use based on the results of a previously posted "Request For Information" notice dated 12/07/2010. The usage of Ventana brand equipment identified in the NVSL standard operating procedures require the use of Ventana brand reagents. No other brand reagent is available for use with the Ventana brand equipment. The Ventana brand reagents and related supplies to be purchased are listed below: 760-2021 Hematoxylin 760-2037 Bluing Reagent 1632900 Ebar Ribbon 1418702 Ebar Bar Code label 650-010 LCS 950-300 Reaction Buffer 760-231 Anti-Prion (99) Detection Kit 760-154 UltraMap Red anti-Ms 760-4204 Discovery Antibody Block 760-160 Chromo Map Red Detection 790-2209 Anti-Prion Antibody A 5-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) will be awarded to establish firm-fixed pricing for the Ventana brand reagents and related supplies. The anticipated BPA value over 5 years is not-to-exceed $600,000.00. This notice is for informational purposes only. No formal solicitation will be issued. Any questions or inquiries must be mailed, e-mailed or faxed to the attention of the Contracting Specialist listed below as the point of contact in this notice. Point of contact: Michael Chiodi, Contracting Specialist, (612) 336-3203, FAX: (612) 336-3550, E-mail: [email protected].