6550--Intent to Sole Source Blood Gas Analyzers and Consumables

The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to award a sole-source contract to Werfen USA LLC for the acquisition of GEM Premier 5000 Blood Gas Analyzers and associated consumables. The contract is a logical follow-on to an existing Federal Supply Schedule order and is in the interest of economy and efficiency. The GEM Premier 5000 analyzers are already installed and operational at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, and transitioning to a new vendor or device would result in unacceptable delays and risks to patient care. The key features of this opportunity include: • The acquisition of seven GEM Premier 5000 blood gas analyzers • The provision of associated consumables • The requirement for the analyzers to be fully compatible with the hospital's Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) • The need for minimal disruption to patient care and rapid turnaround of test results • The importance of continuity of care and avoiding unnecessary duplication of effort.