GE Vivid E95 Ultrasound System Renewal

This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to award a fixed price contract to GE Healthcare, on a sole source basis to renew GE Vivid E95 ultrasound system at the NIH Clinical Center (CC).

The GE Vivid E95 ultrasound system renewal is considered a critical function for the continued operation of the echo lab. This system is in daily constant use. Fluid operation of this system is crucial for patient evaluation and care. The maintenance contract renewal covers software updates and discounted software upgrades, 24hr phone support, weekday on-sight support within 6hrs, corrective and annual maintenance, accidental damage probe replacement, discounted technical training, technical support for software related issues. GE Healthcare is the original equipment manufacturer, which is a GEHC proprietary product.  The material or service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with the existing GE healthcare systems presently installed. The current equipment is GE VE95 SN#90560768 ultrasound machine.  Maintaining Echo-Lab GE equipment by third party vendors may create patient safety issue and reliability of clinical and research data involving patient care, prognosis and treatment outcomes. Installation of non-GE sourced parts can prevent GE Healthcare from working on the equipment and/or placing the equipment on future service contract. For safety and quality control purposes, GE Healthcare service representatives cannot install parts that are not sourced directly through GE Healthcare sourcing channels.   As such, no other vendor is capable of providing the Government with the X-ray chair. 

This acquisition is being conducted using policies unique to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstance of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.  Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6-Competition Requirements.

Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this posting. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Comments to this announcement, referencing this posting number, may be submitted to the CC, Office of Purchasing and Contracts, prior to the closing date specified in this announcement, electronically to the attention of Noelle DeCenzo, Contract Specialist, noelle.decenzo@nih.gov by the due date and time marked in this notice.