V119--Customs Brokerage Services for Import of Pharmaceutical Products

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through its Regional Procurement Office East in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is conducting market research for a potential contract to secure customs brokerage and transportation services for the import of pharmaceutical products, including drugs, devices, and related materials, destined for the VA Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This effort is intended as a Total Small Business Set-Aside under FAR 19.5, with procurement activity managed under NAICS code 488510 and Product Service Code V119, and is currently in the sources sought phase to evaluate market capability rather than to issue a formal solicitation. The successful vendor must be capable of importing shipments from U.S. ports of entry to the delivery location while adhering to U.S. government standards for pharmaceutical imports, maintaining a continuous bond throughout the contract term, and possessing certification to handle shipments containing Schedule I-V controlled substances. The vendor is required to insure all freight during transit, provide temperature-controlled transport with logging capabilities where necessary, and support cold chain management for clinical trial materials. The vendor must serve as the primary liaison between the VA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Food and Drug Administration, and other regulatory agencies to facilitate seamless customs clearance and compliance. A power-of-attorney will be issued by the VA to authorize the vendor to act on behalf of the agency, requiring coordination with VA legal to establish mutual terms. Prior to each shipment, the vendor must submit a cost estimate to the contracting office to confirm funding availability and enable adjustments to the purchase order if needed. The vendor must also designate a single, reliable point of contact for communication regarding shipment details. Contracts awarded under this effort will consist of a one-year base period with four additional one-year option periods, but no pricing or contract value has been established as this is not a solicitation. Responses are being collected solely to assess industry capacity, socio-economic readiness, and operational capability before determining acquisition strategy.