VSCAN AIR CL and SL Portable Handheld Ultrasounds: INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: SDVOSB Sole Source VAAR 819.7008/Brand Name FAR 12.102-1(a)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Network Contracting Office 1 (NCO 1) has issued an Intent to Sole Source (Solicitation 36C24126Q0777) for a one-time procurement of GE VSCAN Air CL and SL portable handheld ultrasound systems, accessories, and training for the VA Medical Center in Togus, Maine. The acquisition is structured as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Sole Source procurement valued above the micro-purchase threshold but below the simplified acquisition threshold. The contract will be awarded to TrillaMed LLC, which is the only OEM-authorized SDVOSB distributor for GE Healthcare’s handheld ultrasound equipment. The VAMC Togus Cardiology Department has standardized its operations using the proprietary GE CASE and GE MUSE cardiac systems. The GE VSCAN Air CL and SL units are the only handheld devices compatible with these existing platforms, integrating directly into the facility's workflows via proprietary GE communication protocols. These highly specialized, battery-powered devices offer unique clinical capabilities, including dual-headed probes and high-intensity processing, which cannot be matched by other manufacturers. Market research confirmed that the required equipment is not available through the National Acquisition Center (NAC), GSA Advantage, or the DLA Electronic Catalog (ECAT). An SDVOSB set-aside is not feasible because the "Rule of Two" cannot be met. However, utilizing a class Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR) waiver for NAICS code 334510, NCO 1 justified the sole-source award to TrillaMed LLC under the authority of VAAR 819.7008 and FAR 12.102-1(a).