CONDUCT PROTEIN ANALYSIS SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF CANCER RESEARCH

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through its Network Contracting Office 5 in Linthicum, Maryland, is seeking a contractor to perform high-throughput proteomic analysis services in support of a longitudinal cancer research study conducted at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. The primary objective is to analyze serial peripheral blood plasma specimens from Veterans with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer using the SomaLogic SomaScan® platform to generate quality-controlled measurements of approximately 11,000 proteins. All work must be performed in a CLIA-certified laboratory at the contractor’s facility, with specimens delivered to the research department at 50 Irving St. NW, Washington DC 20422 under FOB Destination terms. The contract has a two-year total potential duration, structured as a base year from July 17, 2026, to July 16, 2027, with an optional one-year extension through July 16, 2028, exercisable at the government’s discretion. The contractor is required to confirm sample inventory within two business days of receipt and deliver analytical data in a format suitable for downstream statistical analysis by the study team, with all deliverables subject to rigorous review for completeness, data quality, timeliness, and regulatory compliance. Any deficiencies must be corrected at no additional cost, and chronic non-compliance may lead to contract termination. The contract operates under commercial services provisions, governed by FAR 52.212-4 with a supplementing addendum, and incorporates critical clauses on whistleblower rights, prohibition of confidential non-disclosure agreements, contractor employee rights, and protection against contracting with disqualified entities. Payment will be made monthly in arrears via electronic funds transfer using the VA’s e-invoice portal, with invoices submitted electronically per VAAR 852.232-72. The contractor must comply with stringent data security protocols, including physical and logical segregation of VA information, encryption, media sanitization, and full audit access for VA, OIG, and GAO inspectors. Personnel handling sensitive data must meet VA Directive 0710 screening requirements, and all operations must occur within the United States. Offerors must hold a valid Unique Entity Identifier in SAM, submit current representations and certifications per FAR 52.212-3, demonstrate relevant experience within the past three years, and provide pricing that remains firm for 30 days after the submission deadline of June 26,