Notice of contract action. Interim contract notice

NOTICE OF CONTRACT ACTION. INTERIM CONTRACT NOTICE. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VISN1) intends award an interim contract Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, 500 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ 07094.

This notice is NOT a request for quotes, but rather a notice of intent to sole source a procurement in accordance with FAR 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures for certain commercial items and specifically FAR 13.501 Special Documentation Requirements, where acquisitions conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt for the requirements of FAR Part 6, but require a justification using the format of FAR 6.303-2. The statutory authority for applying Simplified Procedures for commercial items of FAR 13.5 is 41 U.S.C. § 1901 and is implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) for restricting competition on this procurement.  Only one responsible source can continue critical patient care services.

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 621511, with a size standard of $41.5M.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the incumbent contractor currently providing Primary Lab Reference Lab Services under an interim contract for the Department of Veteran Affairs VISN1 New England. The contractor provides blood draws, courier services and analysis of patient tests to provide quality care without disruption. A new 5-year solicitation for the same services is in preparation. The five-year solicitation is a competitive, unrestricted solicitation.   The intent is to procure these services with the incumbent as sole source for a short, interim period until a competitive solicitation is issued in the near term.

Interested parties may identify their interests and capabilities by responding to this requirement by the due date listed on this notice.

As to the five-year solicitation, a separate pre-solicitation notice will be posted to SAM.gov.

This procurement is subject to prohibitions in VAAR 852.212-71 Gray Market Items and in 852.212-72 Gray Market and Counterfeit Items.

The authority for this action is FAR 6.302.1-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

Interested persons may contact the Contracting Officer by email at Cynthia.thompson2@va.gov regarding this procurement. The determination to conduct a competitive procurement of the interim contact based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer.