Q301--Histology Block and Slide Processing Lab Services VANCHCS

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Integrated Service Network 21, is conducting market research to identify vendors capable of providing histology block and slide processing laboratory services for the Sacramento Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Mather, California. The contractor will be responsible for processing, cutting, and staining tissue slides for routine H&E interpretation and diagnosis, including daily ground courier pickup of formalin-fixed tissue cassettes from the VAMC (between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm), transport to the contractor's laboratory facility, and delivery of paraffin-embedded tissue blocks and processed H&E slides back to the VAMC by 11:00 am the next business day. Key qualifications include a minimum of five years of experience in hospital-based histology work, CLIA certification, CAP accreditation, ASCP-certified supervisory staff, and professional liability insurance. The contractor must be capable of handling variable daily workloads ranging from 20 to 200 tissue blocks and maintain a laboratory facility within commuting distance of the Sacramento VAMC to meet strict turnaround requirements. Responses to this sources sought notice must be submitted by April 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM Pacific Time to Emily Trinh at Emily.Trinh@va.gov, and this notice is for market research purposes only and does not constitute a formal solicitation or commitment to award a contract.

This is a pre-solicitation notice with no set-aside designated, though the government is particularly interested in identifying Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), and other small businesses as potential contractors. No current contractors or incumbent vendors are identified in this market research notice. The intended contract period of performance is five years, with an anticipated start date of approximately October 1, 2026, and the government estimates an annual workload of approximately 11,500 units of histology block and slide processing services. Respondents should include company information, socio-economic status certification, a capability statement, CLIA certification, standard industry practices documentation, subcontracting intentions, and estimated pricing in their responses. Prospective vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), comply with the Service Contract Act, and adhere to the 50 percent limitation on subcontracting requirements for small businesses, with monthly invoicing required upon contract award.