Q301--Non GYN Cytopathology Assessment (VA-25-00002399)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), intends to award a sole source contract to the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for their Non-GYN Assessment. This presolicitation notice is for a commercial service contract which is being prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services and FAR Subpart 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services. The intended services are being procured as a sole source requirement pursuant to FAR 13.501(a)(2)(ii).

The non-GYN Assessment must be provided by a CMS approved Cytology Proficiency Testing vendor.

A summary of the Tasks involved in the scope of work include:

Task 1, Supporting Activity:

2.1.1 Provide VHA laboratories and COR with at least the same electronic portal access for Non-GYN assessment participation as commercial customers.

2.1.2 Provide a method for VHA general laboratory staff to receive live (not automated) technical support and/or customer service from the contractor for contractor portal web site during normal business hours, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Central Time, and a method for after-hours follow-up.

2.1.3 Each enrolled facility and participant must be identifiable on the contractor portal back to the VA provided facility/participant list. Each participant and facility shall have a unique identification for tracking over multiple events. COR shall have access to VA site/participant information on contractor portal.

2.1.4 The contractor shall provide the COR electronic reports with agreed upon data elements and format 4-6 weeks after event 2 and event 4 deadlines (mid-year and year-end). These reports shall contain:

Listing of all facilities and submitting participants with corresponding participant scores for each event

Comparison statistics of VA performance versus Non-VA performance for each event

Task 2, Assessment Product:

2.2.1 Provide Non-GYN assessment products for all VA participants annually.

2.2.2 The contractor shall provide annual assessment introduction packet and assessment information annually. This information shall be communicated to site coordinators and made available to participants on contractor portal.

2.2.3 The contractor shall provide personalized response forms for each participant for each event. Completed response forms shall be summitted electronically through the contractor portal prior to the event due date provided by the contractor.

2.2.4 The contractor shall evaluate the participant responses for target response. Electronic feedback and discussion of each case shall be available to the participant after event submission.

2.2.5 The Contractor shall award Continuing Medical Education to each participant per assessment event for participants who fulfill the assessment requirements with response grading >80% after 3 attempts. Credits are maintained on the vendor portal via an online transcript system.

This notice will result in a Firm Fixed price contract. This notice to award a sole source contract is not a request for competitive quotes. There will be no Request for Quotation (RFQ) available for competitive quotes. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement or quotation via email to kristal.hall@va.gov, which shall be considered by the agency, no later than 12:00 PM ET on November 29, 2024. The point of contact for this procurement is Kristal Hall, Contracting Officer/Contract Specialist. Phone calls will not be accepted. A determination not to compete this proposed contract action upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The justification for this sole source procurement will be made available within 30 days after contract award.