6550--Intent to Sole Source - Cepheid Reagents (Base plus 4) Cincinnati VAMC
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), specifically the Network Contracting Office (NCO) 10, has issued an Intent to Sole Source for Cepheid Reagents and Consumables for the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center (CVAMC). The VA intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price IDIQ contract with a five-year ordering period directly to Cepheid, a large business. This notice is for informational purposes only, but interested parties who disagree with the sole source action may submit a letter of interest. Responses are due April 28, 2026.
Scope of Work
This contract will procure reagents and consumables essential for the Cepheid GeneXpert System currently in use at the CVAMC's Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service. This system performs testing for Influenza A, Influenza B, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV2), and Group A Streptococcus (Strep A). The sole source justification is based on the proprietary nature of the analyzer, which requires only cartridges manufactured by Cepheid.
Specific items to be procured include:
- XPRS4PLEX-10: KIT,IVD,XPRESS,COV-2/FLU/RSV PLUS,10TEST (Quantity: 426 Units)
- XPRSTREPA-10: KIT,XPRESS,STREPA,US-IVD,10 TEST (Quantity: 76 Units)
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price IDIQ
- Ordering Period: Five (5) years
- Anticipated Award Date: May 31, 2026
- Set-Aside: None (Intent to Sole Source to Cepheid, a large business)
- NAICS Code: 325413 – In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (Size Standard: 1,250 Employees)
- PSC Code: 6550 – In Vitro Diagnostic Substances, Reagents, Test Kits and Sets
Submission & Evaluation
This is not a request for competitive quotes. The government does not anticipate receiving responses. However, firms that disagree with this sole source action may submit a letter of interest demonstrating their capability, certifications, and authorization to compete, along with a rationale for why competition would be advantageous to the Government.
- Response Deadline: April 28, 2026, at 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- Submission Method: Email only to Barbara.Robertson@va.gov
- Subject Line: "36C25026R0064 - Notice of Intent"
- Questions Deadline: April 20, 2026, at 12:00 PM EST to Barbara.Robertson@va.gov
Additional Notes
Late responses will not be accepted. Telephone inquiries are not permitted. Information received will be used solely to determine if a competitive procurement is feasible. The delivery of gray market items is considered a breach of contract.