Q515--Pathology Physician & Lab Testing

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Network 23 is soliciting comprehensive pathology physician and laboratory testing services for the Central Iowa VA Health Care System in Des Moines, Iowa, under solicitation number 36C26324Q0292. The procurement seeks an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract requiring on-site pathologist coverage Monday through Friday for microscopic examination of surgical specimens, pathology assistant services for gross examination, 24/7 on-call emergency coverage with 30-minute response times, off-site specialized consultation services in cytopathology, dermatopathology, and hematopathology, daily courier services, and various laboratory testing procedures. Key personnel must be board-certified pathologists with current licenses, National Provider Identifiers, and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate, while pathology assistants must be certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). The evaluation will be conducted using FAR 13.106-2(b)(3) comparative evaluation process, assessing technical capability, past performance, and price. Quotes are due by 10:00 AM Central Time on August 19, 2025, with an anticipated award date of August 7, 2025.

This procurement is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 621511 (Medical Laboratories) with a $41.5 million size standard, and no incumbent contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. The contract structure includes a base year from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026, with four one-year option periods and an additional option to extend services up to six months, establishing a contract minimum of $1,000 and maximum of $7.5 million. Services will be performed at the Central Iowa VA Health Care System located at 3600 30th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50310, with pathologists required to be on-site by 8:00 AM and pathology assistants by 12:30 PM Monday through Friday. The contract includes detailed pricing schedules for both hourly services and per-procedure testing based on specific CPT codes, with comprehensive quality assurance surveillance requiring 100% compliance with patient safety incident reporting within 24 hours and quarterly performance reviews. The procurement falls under the Service Contract Act wage determination requirements for Iowa counties, with established minimum wage rates and fringe benefits for applicable service contract workers.