The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to solicit and negotiate a sole source, indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with Merck Sharp and Dohme, Corp. (“Merck”), 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, for the storage and rotation of pediatric vaccine doses manufactured by Merck in a national stockpile for use in the event of a disease outbreak or vaccine shortage. This notice is provided in accordance with FAR 5.203(a).

The contemplated IDIQ contract has a five-year ordering period and a minimum ordering quantity of $1,000 and a maximum ordering quantity of $13,000,000. The initial task order contemplates the storage and rotation of approximately 12 million doses of various pediatric vaccine types manufactured by Merck and owned by CDC.

The authority permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." Merck is the only source capable of performing this service for the following reasons: (1) All of the vaccines in this stockpile are manufactured by Merck; (2) to maintain the integrity and viability of the stockpile, all doses in storage must be maintained with a minimum shelf-life of 12-months to ensure readiness for a vaccine deployment from the stockpile; (3) this large stockpile can only be rotated by a vendor that has a large enough market base or product throughput to withdraw expiring product for current sales and replace with new, viable product that meets the required shelf-life; and (4) without the rotation of expiring vaccines with new product, CDC would have to purchase large quantities of vaccines year-after-year to maintain a viable stockpile of vaccines in case of emergency. Further, should the vaccines expire from year-to-year, a sufficient volume of vaccine may not be available to CDC should a stockpile deployment need arise during the new vaccine production cycle.

All responsible sources my submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation to Joshua Houston, Contract Specialist, at [email protected], which shall be considered by the agency. The deadline for submissions is April 19, 2021, at 4:30pm Eastern time.

The Government will review any/all information submitted to determine if other responsible sources exist that could provide this requirement. Information received in response to this announcement will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.