DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition 1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 1, VA Medical Center Providence, Rhode Island 650/90C Medical Center. PR #: 650-13-2-871-0056 The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Contracting Office at Providence VAMC, proposes to purchase on the basis of other than full and open competition the ECIS (Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing) System requested in the ShEEP (Shared Equipment Evaluation Program) Request for Research Equipment, 2012. 2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: Contracting Action: Acquisition of the ECIS (Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing) System. 3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency's Needs: Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) technology is a powerful tool to assess changes in cell-cell interactions and subcellular adhesion, which are reflective of multiple cellular functions, including cell migration, proliferation, transmigration, adhesion, and barrier function. The investigators at the Vascular Research Laboratory, Providence VAMC have an older model of ECIS instrument (Applied BioPhysics, 8 independent electrodes in 16 well array), purchased with NIH funds (Brown University), which has been used on a daily basis for the past 14 years to investigate the role of pulmonary vascular cellular functions. Due to the age of the ECIS machine, there are frequent equipment failures, resulting in delays in experiment performance, wasted reagents, and loss of research productivity. In addition, the manufacturing company, Applied BioPhysics, no longer provides support for this system. The new system requested can be configured to address 16 or 96 independent electrodes pattered in various 1, 2, 8 and 96 well cultureware. This newer model is superior to the current system and can perform truly high throughput analysis, thereby significantly increasing the productivity and more economical to use. Additionally, data originally obtained using the original ECIS system will be able to confirmed and combined with data obtained using the updated ECIS system. Hence, the ECIS system proposed is a more efficient, economical, and ideally suited to serve the purposes of multiple investigators. Estimated cost including Freight: $45,345.60 " ECIS Z? controller System including: o Elevated Field Module (EFM) for Wounding Healing & Migration assays o Dell Latitude including Windows 7 and ECIS Software " 16 Well Array Station " CO2 incubator (50L) with custom port for ECIS leads (Shel labs) " ECIS 8-well arrays of your choice (8W1E, 8W10E or 8W10E+) 4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: 41 USC 3304(a) as implemented by: ( X ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per FAR 6.302-1; ( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per FAR 6.302-2; ( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per FAR 6.302-3; ( ) (4) International Agreement per FAR 6.302-4 ( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute FAR 6.302-5; ( ) (6) National Security per FAR 6.302-6; ( ) (7) Public Interest per FAR 6.302-7; 5. Demonstration that the Contractor's Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): The purchase relates to the specific nature of the current research being performed in the Vascular lab. Consistency in research results is crucial and this system will allow for precise results. This specific unit will replace the existing one, performing the same functions and will integrate well with the existing unit by giving us the same type of data as the existing unit. This newer model is superior to the current system and can perform truly high throughput analysis, thereby significantly increasing the productivity and more economical to use. Applied Biophysics is the only company that manufactures the ECIS system. Applied BioPhysics has over 25 years of experience with impedance-based cell assays put into one instrument line. Their ECIS instruments and consumable 8-well and 96-well arrays are used in biological research and drug discovery. ECIS offers the ability to measure both simple and complex impedance over a wide range of AC frequencies. Applied Biophyics is the only company to develop, commercialize and market ECISâ„¢ and other biophysical technologies 6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: A FedBizOps notice relating to this contract action will be posted. Future requirements are indeterminate at this time. 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable. The quote and estimated cost was reviewed and funded for additional equipment purchases at the Providence VA for research purposes. Price analysis will be performed in accordance with FAR 13.106-3. Comparison of quoted price ($45,345) will be compared to reviewed purchases of similar equipment. 8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Market research was conducted through a search of scientific equipment. The requested scientific equipment is only produced by Applied BioPhysics. Applied Biophyics is the only company to develop, commercialize and market ECISâ„¢ and other biophysical technologies 9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: Funding for this request was received March 2013 and is an essential addition to the research to assess changes in cell-cell interactions and subcellular adhesion, which are reflective of multiple cellular functions, including cell migration, proliferation, transmigration, adhesion, and barrier function. . Data originally obtained using the original ECIS system will be able to confirmed and combined with data obtained using the updated ECIS system. 10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: See Section 6 above. 11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required: The investigators in Research Service continue to monitor scientific and technological and pricing developments in this market sector.

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