Q301--Specialized Fungal Reference Lab Testing Services for the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 10 is seeking specialized fungal reference laboratory testing services for the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and Toledo Community Based Out-Patient Clinic through this Sources Sought Notice. The procurement covers reference laboratory testing for patient specimens that cannot be processed in-house due to low testing volume or specialized equipment requirements, including antigen and antibody detection tests for fungal pathogens such as Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus. Contractors must maintain CLIA certification, CAP or Joint Commission accreditation, have a certified Pathologist/Bio-analyst as Laboratory Director, and possess at least three years of laboratory services experience. Key requirements include providing specimen collection tubes, shipping kits, courier services, 24/7 customer telephone service, monthly reporting, and results reporting within 24 hours with critical values reported within two hours. The response deadline for this Sources Sought Notice is September 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, with submissions required to include business details, GSA contract numbers, SAM UEID numbers, and completion of the attached Capabilities Questionnaire.

This procurement does not include any set-aside designations and no incumbent contractors are identified in the documentation. The contract structure includes a base year with four additional 12-month option years, totaling a potential five-year performance period. The procurement falls under NAICS Code 621511 (Medical Laboratories) with a size standard of $41.5 million, and interested businesses must identify whether they qualify as small or large businesses along with any special designations such as service-disabled veteran owned, 8A, or HUBZone status. The contractor must ensure that 80% of testing services are performed in-house to maintain optimal turnaround times, and all services must comply with VA and Joint Commission standards for patient safety and performance improvement. This is specifically a market research effort to identify potential capable sources, and the government emphasizes that no reimbursement will be provided for response costs.