TFS is the only known source which can provide the required ARIS2X unit, TREK Diagnostic Sensititre equipment. It's the only equipment that can be used to generate the Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) information that is in the same format as all of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) participating laboratories that can be updated to PulseNet and be fully compatible with the preexisting software and database. Thermo Fisher Scientific is the only company to provide this equipment. This includes the brand names of Sensititre ARIS® 2X, Sensititre OptiRead^TM, SWIN® Software, Sensititre AIM^TM Automated Inoculation delivery system, Nephelometer and the Sensititre VIZION® system.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service (USDA/ARS) and Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) Eastern Laboratory use the same Trek Sensititre instrument to ensure compatibility of results. The acquisition is being conducted on the basis of other than full and open competition as the needs of the requisitioner can only be met through one source, under the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The Trek Sensititre instrument is used for the rapid testing of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) in FSIS samples, baselines, and cecal samples. The use of other instruments could adversely affect results, and would require expensive validation studies by CDC, FDA, and USDAFSIS and ARS. The Eastern Laboratory provides AST data to the NARMS. The results obtained through the use of the Sensititre instrument are a vital component of the CDC, FDA, and USDA tri-agency National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System program (NARMS).

The supplying vendor is the sole source distributor for this equipment and there is no other vendor or manufacturer who can provide comparable equipment.

This procurement will be conducted under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Authority: 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). The unit will be shipped to our Eastern Lab which is located in Athens, GA. It is anticipated that this procurement will be conducted as a Commercial Item acquisition under FAR Part 12. This is not a request for quotations or an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation. Request for copies of this solicitation will not be honored or acknowledged. The Government does not intend to pay for information received. All interested parties must respond within ten (10) business days from the date of this notice. Written responses must provide clear and concise documentation indicating your firm's capability to provide the unit. Verbal responses are not acceptable and will not be considered. When responding to this announcement, respondents should refer to Announcement AG-3A94-S-14-0139. If after August 11, 2014, no viable responses have been received in response to this announcement, USDA/FSIS shall negotiate solely with TFS.