6640--FY25 requirement KC & STL automated special staining instrumentation lease & bulk reagent purchase

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 15 (VISN 15) is seeking a contractor to provide automated special staining instrumentation lease and bulk reagent purchase for VA medical centers in Kansas City and St. Louis. The solicitation (36C25525Q0298) requires a vendor to supply continuously stocked inventory of reagents, controls, and supplies for specialized laboratory staining procedures. Technical evaluation will focus on technical capabilities, past performance, and pricing, with technical and past performance being significantly more important than cost. Vendors must submit technical responses and pricing schedules, with technical questions due by June 2, 2025, at 10:00 AM CST, and final quotes due by June 9, 2025, at 3:00 PM CST. The contract is set aside for small businesses under NAICS code 532490, with a size standard of $40 million.

The five-year contract, valued at $40 million, will run from July 1, 2025, through April 30, 2030, consisting of one base year and four one-year option periods. The procurement covers specialized laboratory staining services for three VA medical centers (Kansas City, Marion, and St. Louis), with an estimated annual volume of approximately 20,700 stained slides. Pricing is structured at $15.03 per slide, with additional specialized staining kits including Iron Stain, Congo Red, Acid-Fast Bacillus, and Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) kits available in 50 and 100 test configurations. The contract includes leasing automated special staining instrumentation and purchasing bulk reagents, with delivery and performance across multiple VA facilities in Kansas and Missouri. The comprehensive procurement strategy aims to ensure uninterrupted patient care operations through a consistent supply of high-quality laboratory diagnostic equipment and consumables.