The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare System, has a requirement to utilize unique facilities and experienced personnel to fabricate and characterize collagen tubes and membranes and collagen-glycosaminoglycan (GAG; CG) sponge-like scaffolds for the ultimate use in spinal cord tissue engineering to support research funded in VA Merit Review projects. It is the Governments intention to solicit and negotiate only with this source. Please refer to the Sole Source Justification. This is not a solicitation; it is notice of intent to sole source a requirement. Inquires/information received after established deadline of March 4, 2009 3pm EST shall not be considered. The submission of any data for review shall not impede award of this contract as planned. The Government does not intend to pay for information solicited. This synopsis is issued pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION 1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity. Agency: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Activity: Fabrication of collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffolds with various compositions and cross-linking and pore characteristics eventually to be suitable for implantation in defects in the intervertebral disc (IVD). 2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved. Sole Source procurement of the following: Fabrication of the scaffolds by an experienced technician and their characterization using the unique apparatus in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. *3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value). The scaffolds can only be produced in specialized, customized freeze-drying apparatus capable of freezing specimens to -40C under controlled cooling conditions. This apparatus is only available to us at MIT. The cost of conducting this work will be $55,000 to cover the technician cost and supplies. We will not be charged for usage of the apparatus as long as the experienced technician performs the work. 4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition. FAR 6.302-1, USC 253(c)(1) Only One Responsible Source. 5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority sited. The unique qualifications relate to the fact that the specialized, customized freeze-drying apparatus, capable of controlled freezing down to a temperature of -40C, is available only at MIT. Moreover, the experienced technician is also only available in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. The facility that will produce our specimens invented the method of their production and has been fabricating such specimens for over 20 years. 6. Description of efforts made to ensure that notice will be publicized as required by Far 5.2 and, if not which exception under 5.2 applies. We have searched in various directories for other facilities in the vicinity of the VA Boston Healthcare System and can find none that have the customized apparatus that we require and have experience in fabricating collagen scaffolds. MIT is not an affiliate of the Department of Veterans Affairs. This requirement is expected to exceed @25,000 and in accordance with FAR 5.201(b)1 a notice will be posted through FBO.. 7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. We have compared the technician cost to the technician expense that would have been incurred if the work had been performed at the VA. 8. Description of the market survey conducted (i.e., names, of firms and the date(s) the firms were contacted) and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted. No firms could be found to perform such market surveys for this type of activity. 9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as an explanation why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available. See number 5 for complete explanation. 10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. None. 11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required. The requirements for research are often so unique that only one source is available. MIT is not an affiliate of the Department of Veterans Affairs. This requirement will be posted to Fed biz Opts in accordance with FAR part 5. POC: Tracey Bissonnette, Contract Specialist Fax: 774-826-3347 e-Mail:
[email protected] Post on FBO Thursday, February 26, 2009 Deadline: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 3pm EST