6505--LEVODOPA 36C77025Q0287

SPECIAL NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE. THIS IS A NOTICE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENT TO ISSUE A SOLE SOURCE AWARD. This Notice is to announce that the Department of Veteran Affairs, Consolidated Mail-Out Pharmacy (CMOP) located in Hines IL., is proposing to negotiate a firm fixed price, sole source basic in accordance with, IAW 41 U.S. Code 3304(a)(1), with Merz Inc., for the Brand Name pharmaceutical Levodopa 42MG INHL CAP 60. The pharmaceutical has been prescribed for patients by VA Physicians. Pharmacy employees do not have the training and/or authority to countermand physician orders. Brand Specific products are the same thing as dispense as written on a physician s prescription. No National Drug Code (NDC) substitutions are permitted. In the VA, Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) has determined that CMOP IDs in the National Drug File (NDF) will most always identify Brand Specific products in the VA PRINT NAME. The VA PRINT NAME is the official identifier of what the drug name should be. This along with the Product Code is how the facility identifies what drug they should dispense. This is not always inclusive where a particular NDC has been determined to be formulation specific by clinical evaluation performed by the PBM or in the case where only one product in the marketplace has been identified to contain the specific ingredients to match the product code. Only one source can provide the supplies required at the level of quality required because the supplies are unique or highly specialized; the item is Brand specific, the manufacturer, Merz Pharmaceuticals Inc, has only authorized one large business for its distribution. Furthermore, Merz Pharmaceuticals Inc has an FSS Contract Number: 36F79719D0246 for this item. While this notice is not a request for quotes, any interested party may notify the network contracting office (NCO) 15, by contacting Jennifer Knight via email to Jennifer.Knight@va.gov, to express their ability to support this type of acquisition for future needs.