Whole Blood & blood products for ViSN 8 facilities   2

Background
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking a contractor to provide whole blood and related blood products for facilities within the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 8), which includes multiple healthcare systems in Florida.

The goal of this contract is to ensure the availability of safe and compatible blood products for patients, adhering to FDA regulations and AABB standards.

Work Details
The contractor will supply whole blood and blood components daily to various VA facilities, maintaining an emergency supply of each blood type.

The products must be delivered F.O.B. destination in protective packaging that maintains temperature and ensures undamaged delivery. Key requirements include:
- Blood must be typed for ABO and Rh antigens and screened for red cell antibodies.
- All components shipped must be tested non-reactive according to FDA and AABB standards.
- Blood must be collected under aseptic conditions, labeled with expiration dates not exceeding 42 days unless otherwise approved by the FDA.
- All supplied blood must be leukocyte reduced and free from hemolysis, excessive chyle, and clots.
- Packaging must include bar code labels conforming to ICCBBA standards.
- Specialized services such as consultation for difficult crossmatches, Tissue Typing Services, Flow Cytometric Services, and Therapeutic Apheresis Services are also required.

Place of Performance
Products will be delivered to various locations within VISN 8, including Bay Pines Healthcare System, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Miami VA Healthcare System, Orlando VA Medical Center, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, and West Palm Beach VAMC.