Q301--NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE Reference Laboratory Specialized Testing

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: This is a notice of intent to award a sole source contract and is not a request for competitive quotes/proposals. The statutory authority for this sole source procurement is prescribed by FAR 13.501(a). The Department of Veterans Affairs, NCO 16, in accordance with FAR 6.302.1 (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with MAYO CLINIC LABORATORIES of Rochester, Minnesota for the service of Reference Laboratory Specialized Testing. NAICS 621511 applies; the small business size standard is $41.5 million. The Contractor shall provide Reference Laboratory Testing for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS), Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) in Little Rock, Arkansas for a base year plus four (4) option year (one 12-month base year; and four 12-month option years).

Background: The requirement is to procure Reference Laboratory Services on an as needed basis for the Laboratory Department at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS). A reference laboratory can be defined as a laboratory typically privately owned - that performs quality and cost-effective high-volume and esoteric testing of biological samples for physicians, hospitals, and other laboratories; alternate names include referral or diagnostic laboratory. As a College of American Pathologist (CAP) and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JHACO) requirement, all reference laboratories must be certified. The CAVHS needs to ensure it has access to high-quality, specialized testing services to support its diagnostics and patient PURPOSE: to ensure it has access to high-quality, specialized testing services to support its diagnostic and patient care needs and to ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards. Services shall include the performance of analytical testing as defined by the Contractor s reference test manual, and the reporting of analytical test results and consultative services as required to assimilate the scope of its laboratory operations to CAVHS.

The reference laboratory will provide testing services for the following tests:

Test Name

Alpha Internexin, Cell Binding Assay, Spinal Fluid

Alpha Internexin, Cell Binding Assay, Serum

Coccidioides immitis/posadasii, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Alpha Subunit Antibody, Cell Binding Assay, Spinal Fluid

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Alpha Subunit Antibody, Cell Binding Assay, Serum

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Alpha Subunit Antibody, Immunofluorescence Titer Assay, Spinal Fluid

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Alpha Subunit Antibody, Immunofluorescence Titer Assay, Serum

Glycine Receptor Alpha1 IgG, Cell Binding Assay, Serum

Histoplasma capsulatum/Blastomyces species, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies

Neuronal Intermediate Filament Heavy Chain, Cell Binding Assay, Spinal Fluid

Neuronal Intermediate Filament Heavy Chain, Cell Binding Assay, Serum

Neuronal Intermediate Filament Light Chain, Cell Binding Assay, Spinal Fluid

Neuronal Intermediate Filament Light Chain, Cell Binding Assay, Serum

Neuronal Intermediate Filament IgG, Immunofluorescence Titer Assay, Spinal Fluid

Neuronal Intermediate Filament IgG, Immunofluorescence Titer Assay, Serum

Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) IgG, Tissue Immunofluorescence Titer, Spinal Fluid

Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) IgG, Tissue Immunofluorescence Titer, Serum

Psychosine, Whole Blood

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. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement demonstrating the ability to provide the services requested, which shall be considered by the agency before the intended award date. Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature.

The Government shall not reimburse interested sources for any information provided. No requests for capability briefings will be honored. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested vendors must respond to this notice on or before November 10, 2025, at 4:30 pm Central Standard Time by sending an email to arlene.blade@va.gov. Subject Line shall include Reference Lab Specialized Testing 36C25625Q1508.