7A21--New: Health Information Coding, Billing and Auditing (HICBA) Encoder Software Solution and Support (VA-26-00001127)

The Department of Veterans Affairs Technology Acquisition Center has issued a Special Notice (Solicitation Number 36C10B26R0007) announcing its intent to award a sole source, firm-fixed-price contract to Solventum Health Information Systems (HIS), Inc. for the development and support of a Health Information Coding, Billing, and Auditing (HICBA) Encoder Software Solution. This procurement is being conducted as a non-competitive award under Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul VA Deviation 6.103-1, which permits sole source awards when only one responsible source exists. The VA's market research, including two Requests for Information and technical reviews, determined that Solventum HIS is the only capable vendor meeting the government's specific interoperability, security, and integration requirements for this enterprise solution. The anticipated contract award date is December 18, 2025, or sooner.

The primary objective of this procurement is to obtain an encoder software solution and ongoing support services that meet the VA's stringent technical requirements for health information systems. While this is not a competitive solicitation and the RFP will be issued directly to Solventum HIS, the VA is accepting submissions from interested parties until December 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time to demonstrate that competition would be advantageous to the government. Notably, Solventum HIS has stipulated in a proprietary letter dated September 10, 2025, that they do not permit other companies to subcontract their services, further limiting alternative approaches. Interested parties may submit technical data or capability statements to challenge the sole source determination, but such submissions must clearly articulate competitive advantages that would benefit the VA. This notice falls under the Computer Systems Design Services category (NAICS 541512) and involves perpetual license software procurement (PSC 7A21).