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DESCRIPTION: This is a sources sought to determine the availability of potential sources having the skills and capabilities necessary to perform/provide the SPECIFIED REQUIREMENT. All interested vendors are invited to provide information to contribute to this market survey/sources sought synopsis only. Questions should be submitted by email to millicent.covert@va.gov. Provide only the requested information below. The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification (Service Disabled/Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB/VOSB), Hub-zone, 8(a), small, small disadvantage, woman-owned small business, or large business) relative to NAICS 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Science (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). Responses to this synopsis will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this sources sought synopsis, a solicitation announcement may be published on the Contract Opportunities website. Responses to this sources sought synopsis are not considered adequate responses to any future solicitation announcements. All interested offerors will have to respond to the solicitation announcement in addition to responding to this sources sought announcement.
The Regional Procurement Office (RPO) - East is seeking sources that can provide pathology services for the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. VA Salt Lake City Research requires specialty cardiovascular pathology services for a VA funded research project that will utilize 5 different sites nationwide. Services are required from a collaboratory facility that can process samples of all five sites for consistency and congruency to ensure results and accuracy for this research project.
Interested parties must be able to provide the following services:
1. Tissue Grossing, decalcification, digital photographs, digital radiographs, approximately 20 samples.
2. Slide production: Paraffin embedding, microtomy, staining with H&E, Movat Pentachrome and Masson s Trichome.
3. Digital slide scanning
4. Hard drive utilization
5. Histology check and validate release of information requests, approximately 12.5 hours/year.
6. The processing of specimens should include the following:
a. Tissue samples will be marked and imaged as needed to identify anatomical landmarks.
b. Tissue samples will be fixed in formalin and decalcified to specification per CV Path.
c. Tissue will be sectioned (roughly every 1-2 mm) and embedded in paraffin.
d. Tissue will be stained with H&E, Movat Pentachrome and Masson s Trichome.
e. Digitized tissue slides will be marked through regions-of-interest (ROI) to identify key plaque components, e.g.: lipid rich necrotic core (LRNC), Calcium, intraplaque hemorrhage, etc.).
Responses must be emailed to millicent.covert@va.gov no later than 11:59AM EST on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Please reference 36C24E23Q0039 in the subject line of your email when responding to this notice. Your response should include both the STATEMENT OF CAPABILITY and BUSINESS SIZE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS information as explained below. This notice is to assist the RPO - East with determining sources only. If a solicitation is issued it will be announced at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this announcement.
REQUESTED INFORMATION: (1) STATEMENT OF CAPABILITY: Submit a brief description [ten (10) pages or less] that includes product specifications. Include past experience with performing this type of service for the VA, other Government (Federal or State) agencies, or for a private medical facility. Please indicate your address (2) BUSINESS SIZE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS: (a) Indicate whether your business is large or small (b) If small, indicate if your firm qualifies as a small, emerging business, or small disadvantaged business (c) If disadvantaged, specify under which disadvantaged group and if your firm is certified under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (d) Indicate if your firm is a certified Hub-zone firm (e) Indicate if your firm is a woman-owned or operated business (f) Indicate if your firm is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB)(g) Include the DUNS number of your firm. (h) State whether your firm is registered with SAM System for Award Management https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/#1 and/or the VetBiz Registry at http://vip.vetbiz.gov/. If not, please NOTE: any future solicitation could only be awarded to a contractor who is registered in SAM and to receive award based on SDVOSB or VOSB status you must be registered in the VetBiz Registry.

Contracting Office Address:
VA Medical Center
Attn: RPO East
Building 32, Suite 1A111
1010 Delafield Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15215

Point of Contact:
Ms. Millicent Covert
millicent.covert@va.gov

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