Bridge agreement for NIH Laundry Service (Notice of Intent to sole source)

The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center is issuing a sole source Notice of Intent to negotiate a bridge contract with Railroad Cleaners for essential laundry and cleaning services at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The procurement covers comprehensive laundry services for multiple facilities including the Clinical Research Center, Hospice Unit, The Children's Inn, and Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge, requiring 24-hour pickup and delivery turnaround with strict adherence to Joint Commission standards and infection control protocols. The NIH justifies the sole source approach under 41 U.S.C. 1901(a)(1) and FAR 13.106-1, citing that only one responsible source can satisfy the agency requirements and that Railroad Cleaners is already performing these services without requiring additional setup time. While this is not a request for proposal, other responsible sources may submit capability statements by email to lu-chang.lu@nih.gov with subject line "NOI-CC-25-003292" by 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on August 14, 2025. The government reserves the right to determine whether to proceed with full competition based on responses received.

This procurement does not utilize any set-aside designations and specifically identifies Railroad Cleaners as the intended sole source contractor who is currently providing the services under an existing contract. The bridge contract will cover approximately 2.5 months of service from August 16, 2025, to October 29, 2025, serving as a temporary continuity measure until a new long-term contract can be awarded. The scope involves processing approximately 1.3 million pounds of soiled linen annually, including sheets, towels, lab coats, scrubs, patient gowns, and other medical textiles across the various NIH facilities. Performance standards require 95% accuracy in pickup, delivery, cleanliness, and packaging, with penalties for non-compliance. The contractor must provide all personnel, equipment, and transportation while maintaining comprehensive quality assurance protocols to ensure patient safety and regulatory compliance throughout the performance period.