Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

Network Contracting Office (NCO) 21

McClellan Park CA 95652

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Emily Trinh Emily.Trinh@va.gov

(916) 561-7489

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Sacramento VA Medical Center

10535 Hospital Way

Mather CA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Sources Sought Synopsis for Market Research The purpose of this Sources Sought Synopsis is to assist in our decision-making process for a service procurement. This is not a solicitation, nor a request for quotes or proposals. Responses to this sources sought synopsis will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions.

The Government is not obligated to nor will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to this sources sought synopsis request. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award of a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 21, is conducting market research to identify potential vendors with economic status of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Veteran-Owned, and other Small Businesses that can provide the general requirements below.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide Histopathology Services to include processing, cutting, and staining slides for routine histology H&E interpretation and diagnosis by the VA. All block and slide processing will be performed at the Contractor’s laboratory facility. Services shall include providing ground courier services to pick-up formalin fixed tissue cassettes on a daily basis from the Sacramento VAMC located at 10535 Hospital Way, Mather, CA 95655. Contractor shall then transport such cassettes to Contractor’s laboratory for processing and then deliver paraffin embedded tissue blocks and processed H&E slides to the Sacramento VAMC.

Place of Performance: Contractor’s histology laboratory within Mather, CA.

Period of Performance: The intended period of performance will be for five years, which may approximately begin around October 1, 2026.

RESPONSE METHOD

Responsible vendors are encouraged to submit a response to this sources sought synopsis.

Any inquiries are to be made in writing to the point of contact, Emily Trinh, Contract Specialist.

Responses shall be sent to the below email by the specified due date and time.

· Email: Emily.Trinh@va.gov

· Response Due Date: April 8, 2026 12:00PM PST

· Email Subject Line: SAM – Histology Slide Processing In response to this sources sought synopsis, please complete the information below.

1. Company Information Company Name

Company Address

Point of Contact Name

Phone Number

Email Address

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

☐ Small Business ☐ Emerging Small Business ☐ Small Disadvantaged Business ☐ Certified under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act ☐ HubZone ☐ Woman Owned ☐ Certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small in veterans.certify.sba.gov ☐ Certified Veteran Owned Small Business in veterans.certify.sba.gov ☐ Large Business ☐ Other:____________

2. Provide a capability statement to demonstrate the company’s ability to perform histology block and slide processing services.

3. Histology Lab Address:

4. Submit Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) Certificate.

5. What are standard/customary practices for providing histology block and slide processing services?

6. To meet the requirement, does the company plan on subcontracting? If yes, please indicate what actions the company will perform as the prime vendor and what actions the subcontractor will perform.

☐ No, our company plans to self-perform.

☐ Yes, our companies will utilize subcontractors

7. Identify the estimate pricing for histology block and slide processing services. This is NOT a request for quote. This is a request for pricing information for market research purposes only.

8. Additional comments regarding performance work statement, industry practices, etc.

Before responding, please carefully read and consider the following:

1. As this is a service acquisition, the Small Business Administration and the Federal Acquisition Regulation have a Limitations on Subcontracting requirement. For all small businesses, to include SDVOSB and VOSB, “At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.” See RFO 52.219-14 available in full text at https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/far-part-deviation-guide/far-overhaul-part-52#FAR_52_219_14

2. The Service Contract Act will apply.

3. Invoices will only be accepted on a monthly basis. Weekly invoices will not be accepted.

4. All vendors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management at www.sam.gov.

5. Please see the attached DRAFT performance work statement for further details.

DISCLAIMER

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. In accordance with RFO 15.101(c), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

See attached document: DRAFT Performance Work Statement - Histology Lab Services.

Sources Sought Notice