AJ11--Research Lab Services - Post-COVID Neurocognitive Dysfunction - DALLAS | EDA: 9/19/25

The Department of Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System has published a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a sole-source contract to Baylor School of Medicine for specialized research laboratory services. This procurement falls under NAICS code 541715 for Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences and utilizes Product Service Code AJ11 for General Science and Technology R&D Services. The contract is being pursued under FAR 6.302-3, which permits sole-source awards to educational institutions for essential research capabilities. The solicitation number is 36C24E25R0029, and the anticipated final award date is September 19, 2025. This notice serves as an announcement of the government's intended procurement approach rather than a competitive solicitation.

The primary objective of this contract is to conduct laboratory analysis of blood biomarkers related to neurological injury and neurodegeneration in stored blood samples, specifically investigating potential relationships between these biomarkers and long-term cognitive impairment following COVID-19 infection. The work requires specialized laboratory equipment that is housed at Baylor School of Medicine, justifying the sole-source approach. Although this is not a competitive solicitation, responsible sources who believe they can meet the requirements may submit capability statements to Contracting Officer Lynn M. Portman at lynn.portman@va.gov no later than August 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST. No telephone responses will be accepted, and the government retains complete discretion in determining whether to proceed with competition based on any capability statements received. The contract represents part of ongoing research efforts to understand post-COVID neurocognitive dysfunction and its long-term health implications for veterans.