Q301--Notice of Intent to Sole Source VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System HLA Tissue Typing STAT Laboratory Services

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, through the Network Contracting Office 4 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, intends to award a sole source firm-fixed-price contract under FAR 6.3 for Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) tissue typing and reference laboratory services to UPMC Presbyterian, utilizing Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The procurement, identified by solicitation number 36C24426Q0739 and NAICS code 621511, is not a competitive solicitation but a notice of intent, with a response deadline of July 1, 2026. The contract will cover the full spectrum of reference laboratory operations including specimen collection, preparation, storage, and transportation of clinical and microbiological specimens, as well as analytical testing and reporting of results, with a specific focus on HLA tissue typing for the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. The services are to be performed in Pittsburgh, PA, and must comply with strict regulatory standards including 42 CFR Part 72, 49 CFR Parts 171 and 173, and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for the transport of Hazardous Materials Class 6, Division 6.2 specimens. The contractor must provide all necessary packaging, labeling, and shipping materials that maintain temperature integrity and ensure the safety of biomedical specimens throughout transit. The contract has a base performance period of one year, with the potential for up to four additional one-year option periods, but performance is restricted after September 30th of each year unless explicitly authorized in writing. The contractor is required to validate approximately 3,000 laboratory tests across three phased timelines: tests 1–125 within 1–90 days of interface connection, tests 126–470 within 91 days to six months, and tests above 471 as needed throughout the contract term. STAT test results must be communicated within two hours of specimen pickup notification, and all specimen pickups must occur within two hours for STAT requests or four hours for transplant requests, with a 100% performance standard for timeliness and specimen integrity. Invoicing must be submitted electronically via OB10 by the 10th of each month with full compliance to PWS requirements, and payment is contingent upon documented service delivery. Quality assurance is mandatory, including participation in a joint Government-Contractor Quality Assurance Surveillance Program covering all phases of testing, and failure to meet Acceptable Quality Level standards may result in payment delays