66 -- Notice of Intent to Negotiate Solely with bioMerieux, Inc.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) intends to negotiate solely with bioMerieux, Inc. located at 595 Anglum Road, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042-2320 to obtain four (4) VIDAS Test Systems. The VIDAS system was selected for adaptation by FSIS based on evaluations in FSIS and the use of the system by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Agency (FSIS) has committed to using the VIDAS test system for certain food bio-threat agent testing in response to an inter-agency effort to harmonize food bio-threat agent testing methodologies wherever possible. These particular bio-threat agent tests, evaluated by FSIS and used by FDA, can only be used in the VIDAS system instruments, supplied by bioMerieux, Inc. The ability to respond to a national crisis situation involving bio-threat agents as adulterants in meat, poultry, or egg products is critical to the Agency mission and bio-threat agent response capabilities. It is critical that products that have already been implicated by risk analyses and testing be evaluated in field studies ASAP using the VIDAS system to maintain Agency credibility and improved testing capability. Literature reviews, internet searches, and contacting industry representatives and scientific experts were performed to identify alternatives for testing food samples for the bio-threat agent of interest. The VIDAS test system was chosen based on expert advice, available scientific literature, and scientific evaluations, as well as its compatibility with FDA methods. This is not a request for quotation or an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation. Requests for copies of this solicitation will not be honored or acknowledged. The Government does not intend to pay for information received. All interested parties must respond within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of this notice. Written responses must provide clear and concise documentation indicating your firms capability to provide the system detailed in this announcement. Verbal responses will not be accepted or considered. When responding to this announcement respondents should refer to FSIS-33-B-03. If after June 27, 2003, no viable responses have been received in response to this announcement, FSIS shall negotiate solely with bioMerieux, Inc. IMPORTANT: Written inquiries should be addressed to Megan Robey who can be reached by email: [email protected] , regular mail: 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Maildrop 5230 Location 2-L188B, Beltsville, MD 20705-5230, by facsimile 301-504-4276, and by telephone 301-504-3989.