USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, ASD, PCS, Room 2161 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700

65 -- BIOCHEMICAL TESTING OF SALMONELLA SPP. SOL FSIS-22-W-96 DUE 091096 POC Contact Point, Julie Adams, (202) 720-9891 The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) intends to award a contract to BioMerieux-Vitek System, Inc. for a Vitek 240 system and a Vitek Vidas system. FSIS intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). These automated biochemical testing system for identifying Salmonella spp. are needed to fulfill the requirements of the Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Systems Final Rule. The Vitek system provides unique comparability and compatibility with current systems in use, including FSIS' Eastern Laboratory automated biochemical identification system and the Agricultural Research Services method development systems. To be considered, the system must be fully automated, capable of handling at least 50-100 samples per day, and be a ''walk-away'' or turn-key system. FSIS is looking for a low cost, accurate testing system that produces minimal environmental and human health hazards. Only fully developed, commercially available test systems shall be considered. All interested concerns must identify their interest in writing and fully document their capability to meet the agency's requirements by forwarding a detailed response within 10 days of publication of this notice. All responses must be in writing and may be faxed to 202-690-1814. All proposals from responsible sources will be considered by the Agency. If no affirmative written responses are received within 10 days of publication of this notice to determine that a comparable source is available, or is more advantageous to the Government, negotiations will take place with BioMerieux-Vitek Systems, Inc. See Note(s): 22. (0235)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0222 19960823\65-0001.SOL)