99--Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The United States Army Medical Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) intends to negotiate a sole source Requirements Delivery Indefinite Delivery contract with Collaborative Testing Services, Inc, 21331 Gentry Drive, Sterling, VA 650820, in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 (1), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The requirement for The Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) is for reagent tests kits shipped at specified dates (vendor dependent) to include testing materials and reagent kits. To maintain the College of American Pathologist (CAP) accreditation, the laboratory must do at least one CAP proficiency test. An effective proficiency testing program will (as closely as possible) test analysts to the extent of their casework duties. The Nuclear section does a lot of criminal paternity cases, and the CAP paternity proficiency test are the only mechanism we currently have for continuing to demonstrate acceptable performance of the calculations and interpretations for these types of cases. The CAP paternity tests are a resource for our laboratory to stay current with the paternity testing community. This is important because we do not currently participate in the AABB relationship testing accreditation program which is the standard for paternity testing laboratories. Current Blanket Purchase Agreement is W81K0410A0001 administered by MEDCOM is due to expire 17 Nov 11. This award will be for a new firm-fixed price Requirements Indefinite Delivery contract in support of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES), Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), currently located in Rockville, MD. Beginning June 2011, the AFMES will begin transition operations to Dover AFB, DE. These funds are obligated only upon the issuance of delivery orders. The contract will include a one-year base period with four one-year option periods. The proposed contractor for this action is College of American Pathologists (CAP). The primary mission of the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) is to support the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner in their role to properly identify and return fallen US service members throughout the world, to include missing service members of the past conflicts of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. With this mission, the AFDIL is an accredited forensic laboratory, holding accreditations through the CAP and the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB). The DNA Act of the 1998 Crime Bill establishes that each DNA casework analyst must be proficiency tested every 180 days. This is the language echoed by the FBI's DNA Laboratory Quality Assurance Standards document, and mandated compliance by the AFDIL is required in order to maintain accreditation status. The College of American Pathologists is the only test provider that has been recognized by the accrediting agencies, ASCLD and CAP, to provide paternity testing proficiency for AFDIL. College of American Pathology Product Specifications and Minimum Essential Characteristics: Vendor shall provide the following products for proficiency accreditations: DNA database analysis in three 0.5 ml whole blood specimens DNAF in three blood-stained filter paper challenges DNA and DNAF shall be approved and comply with the standards of The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board Proficiency Review Committee PARF Parentage/Relationship/Paternity testing shall comprise of three blood-stained filter paper paternity trio specimens; two buccal swabs for a second alleged father challenge. Vendor shall provide these products in a specific scheduled delivery basis so as not to cross other laboratory schedules. All capability statements received by closing date of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Based on the above information, the only technically acceptable supplies and reagents can be provided by the College of American Pathology This Notice of Intent is not a request for proposals. Information received from interested parties will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Please submit your email capability statements (using PDF, MS Word, Excel attachments) to Colleen Barnes at, [email protected]. Statements are due no later than 10:00 A.M. EST on 30 September 2011. No telephone calls will be accepted.