6540--VISN 1 Interim Optician Services IDIQ 06/01/2026 -09/30/2026
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 1, has issued a Notice of Intent to Sole Source an interim contract for Optician Services and Prescription Eyeglasses for Veterans across all VA Medical Centers in New England. The VA intends to award a firm-fixed-price bridge contract to P.D.S. Consultants Inc., an SBA-verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), to ensure continuity of critical patient care. This 4-month contract, valued between $4.3 million and $5 million, will run from June 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026.
Purpose
This sole source bridge contract is necessary to provide uninterrupted prescription eyeglass manufacturing and optician services to eligible Veterans within VISN 1. It serves as an interim solution while a long-term national consolidated acquisition is being developed and awarded, anticipated by October 1, 2026. The services are deemed critical for Veteran patient care, and any interruption must be avoided.
Scope of Work
The selected contractor will be responsible for:
- Providing prescription eyeglasses, including both dress and safety glasses, to eligible Veterans.
- Delivering professional fitting services by a licensed optician.
- Supplying all necessary labor and materials for prescription eyeglasses and in-house optician fitting services.
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), short-term bridge contract.
- Period of Performance: A 4-month base period from June 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026.
- Estimated Value: Approximately $4,300,000.00 for the base period, with the anticipated award price not exceeding $5 million.
- Set-Aside: Sole source award to a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), authorized under 38 U.S. Code § 8127(c) and VAAR 819.7008.
- Response Due: May 19, 2026, by 4:00 PM EST.
- Published Date: May 15, 2026.
Evaluation
This is explicitly NOT a request for competitive proposals, and no solicitation is available. The government intends to negotiate with P.D.S. Consultants Inc. under the authority of 41 USC §3304(a)(5) and 38 U.S. Code § 8127(c). However, all responsible sources that believe they are qualified to provide these products and services may submit a detailed response for market research purposes. The government will use this information to determine if a competitive procurement is warranted, though this decision remains solely at their discretion.
Additional Notes
The incumbent contractor, P.D.S. Consultants Inc., holds the current contract expiring on May 31, 2026, and is an SBA verified SDVOSB. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 339115 (Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing), and the Product Service Code (PSC) is 6540 (Ophthalmic Instruments, Equipment, And Supplies). The Contracting Officer has determined the pricing to be fair and reasonable based on historical data.