The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to award a sole-source contract to Abbott for a middleware solution aimed at enhancing point of care (POC) testing connectivity within its Upstate Medical Centers. This procurement seeks to acquire equipment that is compatible with existing i-STAT devices and server systems, which are critical for effective medical testing and data management. The decision to proceed with Abbott stems from market research indicating that other competitors, such as Roche and Siemens, cannot provide the necessary interoperability with the VA-owned i-STAT systems. Interested parties may submit capability statements by September 10, 2024, to Lindsay Goldsmith, Contracting Officer, at lindsay.goldsmith@va.gov. The VA emphasizes that gray market items are prohibited, ensuring that all procured items meet quality and reliability standards.