Q301--Laboratory Reference Short-Term Contract

The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS), Network Contracting Office 8 intends to negotiate a sole-source contract under the authority of FAR part 13.106-1(b). The associated NAICS code for this service is 621511 with a size standard of $36.5 M and PSC Code Q301. The identified vendor is Quest Diagnostics Inc.

The services that will be procured are laboratory reference tests services at the VACHS in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A short-term service contract for the proposed period of July 1, 2022 February 28, 2023 with no option periods is anticipated and shall be awarded. This short-term sole source contract is proposed to allow the long-term laboratory services contract for this region to be fully competed and awarded (under Request for Proposal no. 36C24821R0112). It is being proposed on a sole-source basis due to the fact that the incumbent contractor, Quest Diagnostics, Inc. has the required bidirectional interface systems needed to satisfy the appropriate Laboratory Electronic Data Interchange (LEDI), and that a sudden change in vendor that does not have the necessary bidirectional tools in place could disrupt the end-user s ability to process each patient s needed laboratory test.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. It is not a solicitation or

request for offers. No solicitation package is available. Any response to this notice

must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to

the Government. Responses must be received no later than 8:00 AM Atlantic Standard Time (AST) on Monday, June 20, 2022, via email to Wilfredo Perez, Contract Specialist, at wilfredo.perez3@va.gov.