AN11--Intent to Sole Source MRI Scanning and Image Analysis

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 4, through its Regional Procurement Office East (RPO-E R&D), has published a Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source a contract to the University of Washington for MRI scanning and image analysis services. This notice, issued on February 9, 2026, announces the VA's intention to award a Firm Fixed Price contract under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.101 and RFO 6.103-3 based on the contractor's unique research capability and expert services. The contract will support an approved merit grant (CSDR 1I01CX003005-01) focused on developing artificial intelligence-assisted imaging techniques for characterizing cerebral vascular atherosclerosis. While this is not a competitive request for proposals, the notice provides an opportunity for responsible sources to demonstrate their capability to perform the required work. Any other organizations interested in this opportunity must submit capability information to the listed contracting officer to be considered.

The primary objective of this procurement is to secure services for developing MRI sequences, platforms, and analysis tools needed to advance research on high-risk cerebral vascular atherosclerosis through AI-assisted imaging techniques. Interested contractors must submit capability information demonstrating their ability to perform the work outlined in the attached Statement of Work by February 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. EST, with submissions required via email to Contracting Officer Renee Kale at renee.kale@va.gov. The contract structure is a four-year indefinite-delivery firm fixed price agreement with a minimum award guarantee of $50,000, with work performed through government-issued task orders. Eligible organizations must be capable of providing 3T MRI protocol development, annual MRI scans, comprehensive image analysis services, and patient recruitment at a facility equipped with advanced imaging technology such as a Philips Ingenia 3.0T scanner and specialized post-processing software. The government retains sole discretion to determine whether to conduct competitive procurement based on the capability submissions received and explicitly states it will not be responsible for any costs associated with response preparation.