Q301--Genomic RNA Sequencing

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through the Regional Procurement Office East, has awarded two distinct sole-source contracts to support genomic research. The first, contract 36C24E26D0011, was awarded to Rutgers, The State University, for 1,287,040.00 to provide genomic RNA sequencing of small tissue sample libraries for the VA New Jersey Health Care System. This firm-fixed-price arrangement is authorized under FAR 6.302-5 for the use of an affiliated academic institution, with a proposed performance period spanning from May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2030. The second, larger engagement is contract 36C24E26D0006, awarded to Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. for 13,582,092.32. This Commercial Firm Fixed Price IDIQ contract provides translational omics services, including bioinformatics, statistical analysis, and data curation for the Million Veteran Program. Running from September 26, 2025, to September 25, 2030, the contract leverages the incumbent's unique institutional knowledge of the GenISIS genomic data system to avoid significant transition costs and operational disruptions. The scope involves large-scale data annotation and mapping for over one million samples to support peer-reviewed research and clinical data integration.