7A21--NEW: RFI - National Digital Telepathology - Artificial Intelligence (NDTP-AI) (VA-26-00058955)

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for the National Digital Telepathology – Artificial Intelligence (NDTP-AI) project. The primary goal is to design, deploy, and optimize a best-in-class digital telepathology solution within the VA's Enterprise Cloud (VAEC) environment. This system aims to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) for prostate and gastric cancer detection, leveraging cloud storage for historical Whole Slide Images (WSIs).

• AI Software Integration: Integrate AI software for prostate and gastric cancer detection with existing Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution (PIPS) software. The AI application servers will be hosted in Amazon Web Services (AWS).

• Cloud Storage: Implement a cloud storage solution for long-term archival of historical WSIs, enabling efficient storage and sharing across the VA enterprise.

• Implementation: Deploy the solution within the VAEC environment, ensuring it is fully functional within 120 business days of award. The contractor is responsible for application and Operating System (OS) management, while VA provides VAEC resources.

• Key Tasks: Includes project kick-off, project management (CPMP, DITP), reporting, method and distribution of deliverables, implementation in VAEC (architecture, planning, build, deploy, implement, operate, maintain), monitoring, and technical support.

• Uptime: Target uptime of 99.99% for the overall system, measured by 24x7 availability. Downtime is defined as failure impacting the ability to receive or interpret studies or transmit reports.

• Diagnostic Accuracy: Demonstrated accuracy for detecting prostatic adenocarcinoma and for image analysis of gastric pathology, including gastritis and gastric malignancies.

• Workflow Efficiency: Tools to triage cases, generate standardized reports, and optimize workflow.

• Technical Support: Minimum ticket resolution rate of 99% for in-scope support requests.

• AI Performance: Specific metrics include early cancer detection, correct prediction proportions, clinician review time reduction, and accuracy in separating cancer from non-cancer.

• Performance Period: 12-month base period plus four 12-month option periods.

• Place of Performance: Primarily remote performance, with on-site work required at VA facilities for installation and training. The solution will be delivered to a VA data center designated by the Government and operate within the VAEC environment.

• Cloud First Policy: Adherence to VA's Cloud First Policy.

• Security: Compliance with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, VA policies, NIST, FISMA, and VA security and privacy requirements. This includes Zero Trust principles, FICAM, and specific cybersecurity requirements outlined in various addenda.

• Data Management: Compliance with records management laws and regulations, including NARA policies.

• AI Requirements: Adherence to trustworthy AI principles, including truth-seeking, ideological neutrality, and protection of VA-sensitive data. Use of VA-hosted instances of generative AI services is required for VA-sensitive data.

• Personnel: Contractor personnel must meet background investigation requirements and complete mandatory security and privacy training.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for market research purposes to identify commercially available off-the-shelf Artificial Intelligence (AI) pathology solutions and cloud storage capabilities. The goal is to support the National Digital Telepathology – AI initiative.

The VA is seeking information on solutions capable of:

• FDA-cleared AI-assisted analysis of digital pathology images for prostate and gastric cancer.
• Integration with the existing Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution (PIPS).
• Supporting pathologist workflows, including image analysis, case triage, and diagnostic decision support.
• Scalable cloud-based storage, archival, and retrieval of Whole Slide Images (WSIs).
• Operating within the VA Enterprise Cloud environment and meeting VA cybersecurity requirements.
• Providing implementation, configuration, clinical validation, training, maintenance, and ongoing technical support.
• Supporting future expansion to additional VA facilities and VISNs.

The VA is contemplating a firm-fixed-price contract for a 12-month base period with four 12-month option periods. The contract is not expected to exceed five years.

• Responses are due NO LATER THAN June 23, 2026, at 10:00 am Eastern Standard Time.

• Submissions must be made via email to Samantha.McIntyre2@va.gov and Peter.Lewandowski@va.gov.

• The total email file limit size is restricted to 5MB; larger files must be submitted over multiple emails.

• Responses should be clear, concise, and comprehensive, addressing specific capabilities related to the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• No marketing materials or generic capability statements will be accepted.

• A page limitation of 15 pages or less applies to the RFI response (excluding cover page, title pages, and table of contents).

• Vendors are requested to provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate for planning and market research purposes.

• The primary NAICS code for this requirement is 541519, with a Small Business Size Standard of $34.0 million.

• Small Business companies are encouraged to participate.

• Vendors are asked to suggest alternative NAICS codes if they believe a different one is more applicable.

• Set-aside decisions may be made based on the information provided in response to this RFI.

• This RFI is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to award a contract.

• The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submitting information.

• Vendors should identify applicable contract vehicles and any additional relevant information.

• Interested vendors may submit "Equal" solutions that meet or exceed the Government's Salient Characteristics as defined in the PWS Section 3.1.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for planning purposes. The VA is conducting market research to identify vendors capable of providing commercially available off-the-shelf Artificial Intelligence (AI) pathology solutions and cloud storage for an Integrated AI Software for Prostate and Gastric Cancer Detection System. This RFI does not constitute a solicitation, and responses will help inform the Government's acquisition strategy.

• Product Service Code: 7A21
• NAICS Code: 541519
• Response Date: June 23, 2026, 10:00 AM Eastern Time
• Contracting Office: Department of Veterans Affairs, Technology Acquisition Center (TAC), Eatontown, NJ

Vendors should refer to the following attached documents for detailed information:

• RFI Coversheet and Questions - NDTP-AI v.2.1
• Draft PWS_NDTP-AI v.2.1

This RFI seeks information on AI pathology solutions and cloud storage. Responses are for market research and acquisition planning only.