Rapid ID and AST System

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a single contractor to provide a rapid identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) system for the St. Louis VA Medical Center. The instrument must be FDA‑cleared, support a “sample‑to‑answer” workflow, and be able to operate with a continuously stocked inventory of reagents. The solicitation outlines pricing options including a Cost‑Per‑Reportable‑Result (CPRR) model, a one‑time capital purchase with separate consumable kits, and annual service contracts. Key requirements include: • FDA clearance for the rapid AST instrument (organism ID optional). • Ability to process positive blood cultures directly. • Built‑in quality‑control program and manual breakpoint modification capability. • 24/7 technical support with a 2‑hour callback and on‑site service within 48 hours. • Training on‑site (approximately 2 weeks, $2,500 per week) for up to 11 technologists. • Continuous inventory of reagents, consumables, and optional UPS. • Interface to the VA’s LIS (Data Innovations middleware, transition from VISTA to Cerner). • Annual service and optional non‑warranty service charges. The contract is structured for a five‑year ordering period with option years, covering instrument, consumables, service, training, and interface costs.