VISN Bridge BPA LabCorp

NOTICE OF INTENT The Department of Veterans Affairs, South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16), Contracting Office (NCO 16), in accordance with FAR 8.405-6, limiting sources, intends to award a sole-source, firm-fixed price VISN-wide Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for medical laboratory testing and analysis services to Laboratory Corporation of America, 231 Maple Ave, Burlington, NC 27215. The BPA standardizes the referral laboratory testing services for all medical centers and outpatient clinics in VISN 16 and decreases the costs associated with referral laboratory testing and analysis. This BPA will continue to enhance the laboratory s ability to support patient care by providing access to tests that due to test technical complexity, cost of reagents, equipment, and low volume are not performed within the VISN 16 Medical Centers Laboratories at this time. This short-term BPA is needed to ensure uninterrupted patient testing while the solicitation for a long-term, competitive RFQ can be posted, evaluated, and awarded. VISN 16 test menu includes over 1500 different tests/panels with an annual estimated volume of approximately 200,000 tests being performed. It is the intent to award this BPA to the current Referral Laboratory Testing Services Provider, Laboratory Corporation of America, against FSS contract V797D-50532. The base period of performance will be October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) shall continue to provide full scope of referral laboratory testing services to participating VISN 16 Laboratories. Services shall continue to include existing courier, collection, and testing services as well as LabCorp compliance with existing BPA requirements. Continuation of these services is critical to prevent a disruption in patient care testing services. Under this BPA LabCorp shall continue to meet the following: Certified as meeting the requirements of the Department of Health and Human Services Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988 (CLIA-88). Fully licensed and accredited ensuring compliance with CLIA, The College of American Pathologists (CAP), The Joint Commission on Laboratory Accreditation, and/or other state regulatory agencies as mandated by federal and state statues. Existing FSS 621-II contract covering all testing SINs 621-200 through 621-213 encompassing the required tests. Testing under SIN 621-INP may also be incorporated if the newer methodologies/tests were not listed under another SIN. Current, VA approved MOU/ISA for remote connection supporting interconnectivity (Laboratory Electronic Data Interchange-LEDI) between the Contractor s testing laboratory and the sending laboratory s VA VistA Lab Information System. Continued access to the established LEDI bi-directional interconnectivity between LabCorp s testing laboratories and the VA VistA Lab Information System at each sending VISN 16 laboratory for automatic electronic ordering and reporting of test results. Connectivity shall be immediately available for routine clinician ordering the via VA VistA LEDI connection between VA and LabCorp for reference laboratory tests currently established in the VISN 16 VA VistA lab test files. Any lapse in LEDI connectivity and access will have a negative impact on patient care. Established LEDI bi-directional interconnectivity for all Contractors tests with qualitative and quantitative results. Lab tests with complex written reports and interpretations may not be available for ordering and reporting via LEDI due to limitations in VistA. LEDI interconnectivity between LabCorp s testing laboratory and the VISN 16 sending laboratory shall operate successfully without the use of Data Innovations middleware. Meet VHA Directive and Handbook 6500 requirements that are applicable to the existing remote connection and sustain continued compliance as delineated in the VA approved MOU/ISA. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 621511, Medical Laboratories and the small business size standard of 35.0 million. This notice is NOT a request for competitive offers. No solicitation is available, and no telephone inquiries will be accepted. Any information provided in response to this notice of intent is strictly voluntary and at no cost or obligation to the Government.

Background
The Department of Veterans Affairs, South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16) intended to award a sole-source, firm-fixed price VISN-wide Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for medical laboratory testing and analysis services to Laboratory Corporation of America, 231 Maple Ave, Burlington, NC 27215 on July 26, 2023. However, this intention is herby cancelled in its entirety due to the need to readdress the VISN-wide Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for medical laboratory testing and analysis services requirements in light of recent circumstances and changed conditions.

Work Details
The BPA standardizes the referral laboratory testing services for all medical centers and outpatient clinics in VISN 16 and decreases the costs associated with referral laboratory testing and analysis. This BPA will continue to enhance the laboratory’s ability to support patient care by providing access to tests that due to test technical complexity, cost of reagents, equipment, and low volume are not performed within the VISN 16 Medical Centers Laboratories at this time. It is the intent to award this BPA to the current Referral Laboratory Testing Services Provider, Laboratory Corporation of America, against FSS contract V797D-50532. The base period of performance will be October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024.

Period of Performance
The base period of performance will be October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024.

Place of Performance
The geographic location(s) where the contract will be performed is not explicitly provided in the solicitation.