Sole Source_Redacted.pdf

This is a Justification and Approval (J&A) document for a sole source contract award by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through its Regional Procurement Office (RPO) East located in Pittsburgh, PA, seeks to award a Firm Fixed Price contract on a sole source basis to The Johns Hopkins University for specialized biomarker laboratory services. The services support the Translational Research Center for Traumatic Brain Injury and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) research project titled "Long Term Impact of Military Relevant Brain Injury Consortium (LIMBIC)." The contract scope includes biomarker generation and harmonization services, specifically Olink and Quanterix platform-based assays, mRNA, proteomic analyses, sequencing, data harmonization, and dataset delivery for up to 3,000 samples with a minimum of 1,250 samples in the initial year. All assays and harmonization will be performed within the PRECEDE Laboratory. The contract period is one year. The anticipated contract value is redacted in the document.

The J&A justifies sole source procurement under 41 USC §3304(a)(1) citing that only The Johns Hopkins University PRECEDE Laboratory possesses both required analytical platforms and proprietary harmonization methodologies necessary for the research. A notice of intent to sole source was posted to SAM on July 20, 2026, and closed August 3, 2026, with no responses received. Market research confirmed no alternative laboratory possesses the combined capabilities. The Contracting Officer will conduct price analysis and negotiations as necessary upon proposal receipt. The document is signed by Liz Weld (Acquisition and Utilization Specialist), Renee L. Kale (Contracting Officer), and Seth Custer (Division Chief, RPO East R&D).