USP 797 800 Lab Services for Env Monitoring and Comp Testing

Instructions: This Sources Sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this notice is marked as proprietary and will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this notice.

This notice is being issued in an attempt to determine the level of interest among all socioeconomic groups. Responses will assist VA planners in determining an appropriate acquisition and set-aside strategy which best fits VA requirements.

This action is to perform market research to determine if there is a sufficient number of qualified (1) Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business; (2) Veteran Owned Small Business; (3) Small or emerging small business firms; or (4) large business firms to set aside a single award contract.

SCOPE OF WORK: The Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) within Veterans Integrated Network Services (VISN) 4 consists of (9) VA Medical Centers located throughout Pennsylvania and into Delaware. The Laboratory and Pathology office recently notified us that the VA facility laboratories do not have the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) 17025 certification needed to perform this testing.

Consequently, they do not meet the specific microbiology testing and sample analysis requirements. This service is essential; its absence could lead to compromised sterility, increased infection rates, and a significant threat to patient safety. VISN 4 requires commercial laboratory testing of employees, compounding rooms, and equipment samples to ensure compliance with specific microbiology testing and sample analysis standards.

The purpose of this contract is to establish an Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) agreement with a commercial laboratory for USP 797/800 compliance. Quantities and types of or samples may vary year to year depending on facility s needs.

This contract will also provide Tryptic Soy Agar Plates/Paddles, Media Fill Test Kits, and laboratory environmental microbiology testing for surface samples on a monthly basis, media fill testing (MFT), gloved fingertip (GFT) samples, and Environmental HD (hazardous drug) surface sampling once every 6 months, as required by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Chapter 797/800 for VA facilities.

Certificates of analysis from the manufacturer will be provided for each lot of growth media, verifying that the media meets the expected growth promotion, pH, and sterilization standards. All samples will be processed according to the most current version of CAG-009-2011 (or its successor), and the results will be compared to the recommendations outlined in USP 797/800. Attached is a DRAFT copy of the PWS. Please review for additional information. The anticipated contract issued will be one five-year IDIQ. All interested firms who can meet the requirement should respond, in writing, and provide the following:

1. Please describe your business in a Capabilities Statement.

2. Please provide your SAM UEI number and CAGE Code.

3. Please provide your location / address.

4. What is your Socio-Economic status?

5. Please describe your Tiered Pricing, if applicable, based on quantity ordered. Provide this information to the Contracting Specialist, Cynthia Laemmerhirt at cynthia.laemmerhirt@va.gov no later than 10:00 am (Eastern Time), Thursday, June 26, 2025. Sources Sought 36C24425Q0769 USP 797 800 Lab Services for Env Monitoring and Comp Testing has been assigned and should be referenced on all correspondence regarding this announcement.

The NAICS Code 621511 is applicable to this acquisition, with a Business Size Standard of $41.5 M. Interested firms are reminded that in accordance with FAR 4.12, prospective contractors shall complete electronic annual representations and certifications in conjunction with FAR 4.11 required registration in the Systems for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award of a contract.