The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCIRD/ISD, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Mailstop A19, Atlanta, GA, 30333, on February 7, 2013, hereby announces its intent to issue a sole source contract in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 to Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc., 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608-2916 to store and rotate pediatric vaccines in a national pediatric stockplie for use in the event of a disease outbreak or vaccine shortage.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as cited in FAR 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." As the manufacturer, Novartis is the only vendor with a market large enough to rotate older stockpiled vaccines into operating inventory before expiration and replace them in order to maintain a viable stockpile. Contracting with the manufacturer, Novartis, to store and rotate these stockpiled vaccines is the only alternative to keep CDC's purchased vaccines viable for use year after year, and maintain the stockpile in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Recent market research on manufacturer specific vaccines revealed multiple distributors capable of storing stockpile vaccines but none capable of rotating the vaccines. Without the capability for an organization to rotate the vaccines into the market and then replace those rotated vaccines with fresh vaccines, it could not most efficiently and effectively manage CDC's pediatric vaccine stockpile program. Novartis is the only company which has exclusive capabilities to store and rotate their own vaccines without the Government having to make additional purchases.

Responsible sources that believe they possess the expertise and capabilities identified above are encouraged to submit to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice, their written capabilities statement, proposal or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. Please forward the capability statement and/or pricing information to David Dombeck, Contracting Specialist, Reference 2013-54404, Centers for Disease Control, Procurement and Grants Office, ATTN: Maria Shamburger, MS: K14, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, or via email at [email protected]. All vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to an award of a federal contract. The website is: www.sam.gov.

The Government will review any/all capabilities statements and pricing information submitted and determine if other qualified sources do 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.

If no affirmative responses are received within 15 days, negotiations will be conducted with the Novartis, as the only source and a contract will be issued without any additional notices being posted.

 

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