Q301--Histology Block and Slide Processing Laboratory Services

This presolicitation notice (Solicitation Number 36C26126Q0917) announces that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Network Contracting Office (NCO) 21, intends to issue a Request for Quote (RFQ) for histology tissue block and slide processing laboratory services. These services will support the Sacramento VA Medical Center located in Mather, California. The RFQ is scheduled for release on or about July 10, 2026, with an anticipated response deadline of July 31, 2026. The procurement is designated under NAICS code 621511 (Medical Laboratories), which has a size standard of $41.5 million. To be eligible for contract award, interested contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). Inquiries regarding this upcoming solicitation should be directed to Contract Specialist Emily Trinh at Emily.Trinh@va.gov.

This federal solicitation (36C26126Q0917) is a Request for Quote (RFQ) issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 21, to procure Histology Tissue Block and Slide Processing Laboratory Services for the Sacramento VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Mather, California. The government intends to award a single Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The contract features a guaranteed minimum of $1,000 and a maximum aggregate value of $2,000,000 across five ordering periods, spanning from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2031. The selected contractor must provide all personnel, equipment, and ground courier services to support routine histology hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) specimen processing. Daily responsibilities include picking up formalin-fixed tissue cassettes from the Sacramento VAMC between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM, transporting them to the contractor's laboratory, and returning the processed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks and H&E-stained slides by 11:00 AM the following morning. To meet these strict turnaround times, the contractor's histology laboratory must be located within commuting distance of the Sacramento VAMC. Additionally, the contractor must maintain CLIA certification, have at least five years of experience in hospital-based histology services, employ ASCP-certified histopathology supervisory staff, and demonstrate the capacity to handle fluctuating daily workloads ranging from 20 to 200 blocks. Quotes must be submitted by July 31, 2026, at 12:00 PM PDT, and will be evaluated in accordance with healthcare resource sharing authorities.

This Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) outlines the systematic method used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Northern California Health Care System to monitor and evaluate contractor performance for Histology Block and Slide Processing Laboratory Services. It establishes roles, defining the Contracting Officer (CO) as the final authority on performance adequacy and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Theng Vang, as the lead for technical surveillance. The QASP evaluates four primary performance measures: * **Licensing, Accreditation, and Certification:** Requires 100% compliance with CLIA certification and CAP accreditation standards. * **Technical Quality:** Demands that 95% of test results meet quality standards and correlate with clinical diagnoses. * **Timeliness:** Regulates daily pickup, processing, and delivery of tissue blocks and slides, requiring delivery by 12:30 p.m. the next business day. * **Invoicing:** Requires 95% accuracy and timeliness in monthly electronic invoice submissions. Surveillance methods include daily 100% inspections, monthly observations, and customer complaints. Performance is documented quarterly and rated on a scale from Exceptional to Unsatisfactory, directly influencing past performance evaluations in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). If performance falls below acceptable quality levels, the CO will issue a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR) requiring a corrective action plan. This living document ensures objective, fair, and consistent contract oversight.

This document is a federal Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Determination (No. 2015-5631, Revision 27, dated May 13, 2026) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor for the state of California, covering the counties of El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo. It establishes the minimum hourly wage rates and fringe benefits for various service occupations required under federal government service contracts. Key provisions outlined in the document include: * **Occupational Wage Rates:** Specific hourly pay rates are listed for a wide range of job categories, including administrative support, automotive service, food preparation, health, information technology, mechanics, and protective services. * **Fringe Benefits:** Covered employees must receive health and welfare benefits of $5.55 per hour (or $5.09 per hour if the contract is subject to Executive Order 13706 for paid sick leave). Additionally, workers are entitled to a minimum of eleven paid holidays per year and progressive paid vacation (starting at 2 weeks after 1 year of service). * **Executive Orders:** Guidance is provided regarding the application of EO 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and EO 13658 (Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors). * **Pay Differentials & Allowances:** Rules are established for hazardous duty pay (4% to 8% differentials), uniform allowances, and night/Sunday differentials for air traffic controllers and weather observers. * **Conformance Process:** Instructions are detailed for utilizing Standard Form 1444 (SF-1444) to establish wage rates for unlisted employee classifications.