Reference Laboratory and Esoteric Testing

Background
The Sources Sought Notice is issued by the VISN 2 Contracting Office in Albany, NY, aimed at gathering information regarding Reference Laboratory and Esoteric Testing services.
The goal is to assess market capabilities for these services to support the Veteran’s Integrated Network (VISN) 2, which includes facilities in Downstate New York and New Jersey.

Work Details
The contractor will be responsible for providing a full range of reference and esoteric laboratory services, which includes:
1. Pickup and transport of specimens to the contractor's laboratory.
2. Pre-analytic processing of specimens.
3. Analysis as defined by the Contractor’s Reference Test Manual.
4. Reporting of analytic results.
5. Consultation regarding test selection, specimen collection, transportation of samples, and result interpretation.
Additionally, contractors must provide all labor, courier services, supplies, equipment maintenance, information technology support, and supervision necessary to fulfill the requirements outlined in Attachment A.

Place of Performance
The services will be performed at multiple VA Medical Centers located in Downstate New York and New Jersey.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This opportunity for reference laboratory and esoteric testing for VISN 2 Downstate New York and New Jersey appears to have a confirmed incumbent, with Laboratory Corporation of America previously awarded multiple “send out” reference laboratory testing requirements for VISN 2 South (e.g., awards totaling approximately $5.7M for 04/01/24–06/30/25 and $5.2M for 07/01/25–06/30/26). The prior work is described as emergency/urgent reference lab send-out testing for VISN 2, which aligns closely with the current requirement to perform specimen pickup/transport, pre-analytic processing, analysis per a reference test manual, and reporting plus consultation on test selection and result interpretation. Additionally, Quest Diagnostics held a bridge FSS-BPA for VISN 2 South specialized genetic and esoteric laboratory testing, further indicating continuity of similar esoteric/reference lab functions in the same VISN region.