6550--Reagents and Consumables for Laboratory Tests. This is for Puget Sound VA Medical Center

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a contractor to provide reagents and consumables for laboratory tests at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center. The contractor will be required to provide a continuously stocked inventory of reagents, standards, quality controls, supplies, and other materials necessary for the proper operation of the equipment. The contractor will also be responsible for providing maintenance and training for government personnel. The equipment must meet specific technical requirements, including random access capability, simultaneous performance of complete profiles, and compliance with FDA and CLSI guidelines. Some key features of the required equipment include: * Ability to detect processing errors and provide error notification * Ability to separate serum/plasma from blood cells through centrifugation * Ability to detect short samples and clots * Ability to remove caps from blood collection tubes * Ability to recap and/or reseal tubes * Ability to remove an aliquot of serum/plasma using disposable pipette tips * Ability to print bar code labels and label daughter tubes * Ability to connect all primary and back-up testing analyzers * Ability to auto-archive, store, and retrieve specimens * Barcode reader stations with less than 1.0% failure rate * Ability to support multiple barcode formats and specimen identifiers * Ability to prioritize STAT testing without compromising existing programmed testing * Minimal operator intervention to introduce STAT specimens or change routine specimen priority * On-board reagent stability and ability to detect low reagent levels * Ability to load and unload reagents during operation without interrupting testing * Ability to support multiple reagent lots with active, valid calibrations * Ability to maintain multiple calibrations per analyte * Ability to calibrate assays during test run without aborting the run * Ability to store, print, and retrieve calibration data * Ability to detect and alert operator of out-of-range quality control results * Ability to record, store, and print quality control and instrument maintenance information * Ability to record, store, and print patient demographic information and specimen results * On-board reagent inventory system * Bi-directional, bar-coded computer interface compatible with the VA laboratory information system * Ability to transmit QC data directly to Bio-Rad Unity Real Time or other comparable online quality control programs