7H20 - Sole Source Remote Automated Laboratory System Software and Support

The Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 21 is seeking a sole source, firm-fixed-price contract with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Informatics, Inc. to provide Remote Automated Laboratory System software and middleware support for the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. The primary objective is to interface point-of-care diagnostic instruments, including Abbott i-STAT, Roche, and GEM Premier devices, with the VISTA Laboratory Information System and CPRS electronic health records. This system will manage the transmission of patient test results, pull demographic data, and serve as the electronic storage for all test parameters and results while ensuring compliance with quality and regulatory standards. The scope of work includes the provision of server hardware, operating systems, software licensing, and technical support, with a requirement for the system to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The contract is structured with a 12-month base period starting October 1, 2026, and four subsequent 12-month option periods extending through September 30, 2031. Key deliverables include the provision of middleware upgrades and patches at no additional cost, the use of new parts for hardware maintenance, and the submission of written service reports following all technical work. The procurement is justified as a sole source action under 41 USC 3304(a)(1) due to the proprietary nature of the software. Award evaluation is based on price only, with the government assessing the reasonableness and completeness of the total evaluated price across the base year and all option periods. The contractor must adhere to strict VA cybersecurity and information security protocols, including VA Directive 6500, and is subject to scheduled or unscheduled on-site audits to ensure data privacy and security compliance.