Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chief, Acquisition and Materiel Management (90C), One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417

66 -- LABORATORY, COAGULATION EQUIPMENT SOL RFQ 618-107-99 DUE 021899 POC Linda Kelly 612-725-2183 The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Pharmacy Service have determined that a switch to Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) will be most advantageous to our patient treatment program. Safe implementation of the use of LMWH for patients will require new coagulation instrumentation to provide for the use of LMWH in special situations. The VAMC Minneapolis, MN requires a Coagulation System that provides simultaneous automated optical and mechanical clot readings combined into one instrument. This will reduce the equipment required by consolidating two platforms into one instrument and will also reduce labor and operating costs. The VA also requires an instrument that requires less reagent usage for PT testing. The VAMC requires an instrument that will provide fast first result as well as a system that will allow STAT testing anytime during operation of the analyzer. Other requirements include: Bi-directional host query interface with VA LIS (Data Innovations); On-board bar code reader; On-board reagent cooling system; Random access in order to perform several different analytes simultaneously without user reconfiguration; Ability to accommodate various tube sizes; Complete automation of system to include sample handling, reagent inventory and printing of results; reflex testing that automatically reruns samples if results exceed user defined parameters; Automatic dilutions. Under Statutory Authority 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, (VAMC) Minneapolis, Minnesota, will be conducting sole source negotiations with Sigma Diagnostics of St. Louis, Missouri, for AMAX CS-190 Coagulation Systems. The above statutory authority is cited and justification is made based on the requirements that the specialized needs of the VA can best be met by only one source. Solicitation documents will not be printed or made available. (See Note 22) All responsible sources who can provide item as listed above may respond by submitting their proposal on their companies letterhead furnishing detailed data and information concerning their capabilities to provide this item. All proposals are due by Noon CST, February 18, 1999. Submit proposals to Linda Kelly, Contracting Officer (90C), VA Medical Center, Room 4^-107, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417. Posted 02/09/99 (W-SN296568). (0040)

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