Pre-Solicitation Notice with Intent to Sole Source Software Developer/Engineer Services for Development and Integration of Histopathology Image Processing Tools

Pre-Solicitation Notice for the notice of intent to award a sole source contract. This is not a solicitation. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Office of Research and Development (R&D), Regional Procurement Office (RPO) East in Pittsburgh, PA intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with BARTEK LLC to obtain Software Developer/Engineer Services for Development and Integration of Histopathology Image Processing Tools for the Atlanta VAMC.

BARTEK s software developer/engineer services are required to deliver a turnkey solution for histopathological medical image processing by developing and managing a GitHub repository to host a series of Python-based tools and scripts for histopathology image processing. The histopathology imaging processing tool will ensure VA researchers receive accurate, reliable, and actionable data outputs that can significantly enhance their diagnostic and research capabilities.

The required services include setting up the repository, developing and containerizing Python-based scripts, documenting each tool with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), making foundation models available, creating a demo tool for interactive use, and ensuring these models can be integrated and utilized within the VA s infrastructure per the following line item structure: ITEM INFORMATION ITEM NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT 0001 GitHub Repository Setup and Tool Demo Integration - Part 1 40.00 HR 0002 GitHub Repository Setup and Tool Demo Integration - Part 2 40.00 HR 0003 Design and Conceptualization of Pipeline 40.00 HR 0004 Nuclei Segmentation Tool 40.00 HR 0005 Tissue Segmentation Tool 40.00 HR 0006 Feature Extraction Tool 40.00 HR 0007 Foundation Models Integration - Part 1 40.00 HR 0008 Foundation Models Integration - Part 2 40.00 HR 0009 Additional Tools and Maintenance 40.00 HR Tools must comply with VA s security policies and guidelines, and repositories and tools must ensure the confidentiality and non-disclosure of any sensitive information.

BARTEK LLC is the only known vendor that can provide the specialized services required due to BARTEK s expertise and specialized knowledge in developing and managing software repositories and tools specifically for biomedical image processing with a focus on histopathology images. Since the intent is to procure this on a sole source basis, no solicitation will be posted to Contract Opportunities. The applicable NAICS code is 541512 with a $34M size standard. The PSC is DA10.

The authority for this action is FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, any responsible source who can provide an equivalent service with the features described above, may submit a capability statement to the contracting office no later than Thursday, September 5, 2024, 1:00 PM, EDT.

Interest/capability statements which specifically detail how your service meets the requirement may be sent to Shannon Hukriede at shannon.hukriede@va.gov. No telephone responses will be accepted. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.