Laboratory Proficiency Testing for the Red Lake Service Unit

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 Analytical Products Institute (API) for Red Lake Indian Hospital, Red Lake, MN. The anticipated period of performance will be a Base plus 4 Option Years. This Intent to Sole Source is in accordance with FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Items. Under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other will satisfy agency requirements, the Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed price Sole Source contract to Analytical Products Institute as only one source reasonably available. Special requirements exist under this acquisition due to the requirements and standards that must be met for CLIA and TJC. The Contractor shall be a CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) approved Proficiency Provider as required to maintain TJC accreditation and CLIA licensure. Upon completion of testing and submittal of PT unknown samples, the PT results are provided to the Laboratory in a final report. This report indicated acceptable or unacceptable testing performance. The Laboratory's long-term testing performance must be monitored to ensure consecutive reported Proficiency testing events of the same unknown PT material does not occur. Should consecutive reported testing events occur, the Laboratory shall take remedial action and cease patient testing until satisfactory performance can be proven. Analytical Products Institute is the only vendor that possesses the capability to provide PT material for all test systems on the Red Lake Service Unit test menus. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 621511, Medical Laboratories with a size standard of 41.5M. Point of contact for this acquisition is Contract Specialist Mary Simon, 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, 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.