Emergent reference lab testing

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Integrated Service Network 7, is seeking laboratory testing services for urgent and emergent patient specimens that lack on-site testing capability at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina. The contractor shall provide specialized testing including Mycobacteria Stains, Microbiology Specimens, Immunoperoxidase Stains, Therapeutic Drugs, Bone Marrow Workup, and Clotting Factor assays with a maximum turnaround time of 24 hours or less for STAT/emergent cases. Qualified vendors must maintain a current CMS CLIA Certificate for High Complexity Testing, hold a Laboratory Accrediting Agency Certificate such as CAP or TJC, provide twice-daily specimen pickup services, and offer 24/7 testing availability with strict HIPAA compliance and data security measures. Evaluation will be conducted through a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan that measures turnaround times, test completion rates, and error rates to assess contractor performance. The market research phase deadline for interested vendors to submit responses is November 19, 2025, at 4:00 PM CST, with the full solicitation due date currently set for November 19, 2026.

This procurement is designated as unrestricted with no set-aside provisions currently applied, though the VA may determine alternative procurement strategies including set-aside or sole source options based on market research responses. No incumbent contractor or current award value has been identified in the pre-solicitation notice. The solicitation targets small businesses under NAICS code 621511 (Medical Laboratories) with a $41.5 million size standard threshold, and vendors must demonstrate manufacturing capabilities, business size verification, and distribution access as part of their qualification documentation. The contractor will be required to provide specimen courier services and deliver results through both electronic and faxed formats to support the medical center's clinical operations. This is a sources sought notice intended to gather market information and assess vendor capabilities to inform the VA's final procurement strategy and contract structure.