7A20--NEW - RALS Abbott

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through the Network Contracting Office 17 in San Antonio, Texas, has awarded a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract to Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Informatics, Inc. for the Abbott Remote Automated Laboratory Systems (RALS) Software Technology System License Agreement and related support services, valued at $396,625.50. The acquisition, conducted under FAR 6.302-1, is justified on the basis that Abbott is the only responsible source capable of providing the proprietary RALS software required to maintain seamless integration with existing point-of-care diagnostic devices, including glucometers, i-STAT, and GeneXpert, as well as the VISTA/CPRS electronic health record system. Disruption to clinical workflows and loss of accreditation compliance would result from any migration to an alternative vendor. The contract includes a perpetual software license along with ongoing technical support, remote system management, and maintenance to ensure continuous, uninterrupted data transmission and operational functionality within the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, which is also the designated place of performance. The award was issued on June 25, 2026, following a response deadline of May 21, 2026, with no competitive solicitation process. The contracting officer, Ognian D. Ivanov, is the sole point of contact for all matters related to the contract, with submissions required via email to his official VA address. No set-aside designation, socioeconomic category, or special representation certifications were applicable or required due to the sole-source nature of the acquisition. Although the contract is described as firm-fixed-price, specific terms relating to delivery schedule, period of performance, invoicing methods, payment office, FOB terms, packaging, marking, or inspection criteria beyond system compatibility and operational continuity are not detailed in the available documentation. The procurement is not subject to traditional evaluation factors, nor does it include option years, clause references, or attached documents. No contracting officer’s representative or technical representative is identified, and no additional clauses, certifications, or special requirements beyond the sole-source justification have been provided.