Page 3 of 3 Sources Sought Notice This notice is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or as an obligation of the government to acquire any products or services. Responses to this notice will be used for informational purposes only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs from the government will arise as a result from a response to this announcement. No contract will be awarded from this notice. The information requested in this notice will be used to determine if there are sufficient small business socioeconomic concerns that are capable of performing the work described for the requirement. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 17 is seeking sources for the following procurement: Laboratory Testing Services; Contractor shall provide Reference Laboratory Testing Services to the VA, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 17 locations listed in the background. BACKGROUND Testing will be provided for the following locations in VISN 17: Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Services (P&LMS) 7400 Merton Minter Blvd. San Antonio, TX 78229 Olin E. Teague Veterans' Center Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services (P&LMS) 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive Temple, TX 76504 Dallas VA Medical Center Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services (P&LMS) 4500 South Lancaster Road Dallas, TX 75216 Thomas E. Creek Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Services (P&LMS) 6010 Amarillo Boulevard, West Amarillo, TX 79106 El Paso VA Clinic Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Services (P&LMS) 5001 North Piedras Street El Paso, TX 79930 Harlingen VA Clinic Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Services (P&LMS) 2601 Veterans Drive Harlingen, TX 78550 George H. O'Brien, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Services (P&LMS) 300 Veterans Boulevard Big Spring, TX 79720 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES VISN 17 requires reference laboratory testing of patient specimens that the facilities do not have the capacity or capability to perform on-site. A laboratory test is an examination, diagnostic, or monitoring procedure on a human specimen removed from the body to determine specific information for diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease, and to detect the impairment of health status, or to assess the health of human beings. Laboratory testing must be provided in compliance with the requirements in VHA Handbook 1106.01 and 42 CFR Part 493. Testing provided to the first three locations listed above will be requesting routine testing. All other locations will be requesting STAT testing, as necessary. The contractor must hold and maintain a certificate of accreditation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), as meeting the requirements of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 and must hold …