Q301--Legionella Testing Services for the Minneapolis VA Health Care System

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a solicitation for Legionella Testing Services for the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. The contract was awarded on March 24, 2026, under award number 36C26326D0040 to HYPERION BIOTECHNOLOGY, INC. for $289,630.00.

While the full scope of work is not detailed in this excerpt, the subject indicates services related to Legionella Testing.

• Award Number: 36C26326D0040
• Award Amount: $289,630.00
• Award Date: 03-24-2026
• Contractor: HYPERION BIOTECHNOLOGY, INC.
• Contractor UEI: PNW3QK1KV3M3
• Contractor Address: 12002 WARFIELD ST STE 101, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78216

This information is not detailed in the provided excerpt.

• Set-Aside: SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business)

• Solicitation Number: 36C26326R0042

• Product/Service Code: Q301

• NAICS Code: 541380 (Testing Laboratories)

• Contracting Office Address: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, NETWORK CONTRACTING OFFICE 23, 2101 NORTH ELM STREET (04-S), FARGO ND 58102

• Point of Contact: Theresa (Tess) Thunder, Contracting Specialist, theresa.thunder@va.gov

Amendment / Modification

This amendment to Solicitation Number 36C26326R0042 addresses vendor questions. The solicitation's deadline for receipt of offers is NOT extended by this amendment.

• The amendment provides responses to vendor questions, detailed on the continuation page.

• No changes to the offer submission deadline.

• Key clarifications provided include:

  • Non-routine sampling response time: The requirement for sampling within 24 hours of notification for non-routine samples is considered reasonable by the VA, and the deadline is not extended.
  • Laboratory accreditation: The prime contractor does not need to be accredited, but the testing laboratory used for sample processing must be accredited.
  • Incumbent contractor: The current incumbent is Hyperion Biotechnology, Inc., under contract number 36C26321P0382. The total contract award amount will not be provided.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for an Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Legionella Water Sample Testing Services and Dental Water Line Samples for the Presence of Heterotrophic Bacteria for the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. The contract period spans from March 15, 2026, to March 14, 2031, with potential for option periods.

• Legionella Testing: Collection and analysis of water samples from various locations including distal points (sinks, showers), ice machines, cooling towers, and outdoor fountains. Testing must be performed quarterly, with specific parameters like water temperature, residual biocide, and pH to be documented. Non-routine sampling is also required within 24 hours of notification.

• Dental Waterline Testing: Collection and analysis of dental waterline samples for heterotrophic bacteria (cfu/ml). Sampling is required quarterly for each waterline in each Dental Clinic. Non-routine sampling must be provided within 2 business days of notification.

• Laboratory Accreditation: The testing laboratory must be certified by the CDC Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) program and possess environmental microbiology accreditation (EMLAP or NELAP). For dental waterline testing, accreditation by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) is required.

• Reporting: Analytical reports must be provided via email to the COR and Health Care System Point of Contact within specified timeframes (15 days for Legionella, 10 days for dental waterline samples).

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: March 15, 2026 – March 14, 2031 (Base period plus four option periods).

• Estimated Value: Approximately $19 Million (This is an estimate and not a guarantee of purchase).

• Submission: Offers must be submitted electronically via email to theresa.thunder@va.gov in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. Key documents include a completed SF 1449, Price/Cost Schedule, FAR provision 52.212-3, Limitations on Subcontracting Certificate, and technical documentation.

• Evaluation: The contract will be awarded using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) process. Offers will be evaluated on Price and Technical factors. Technical acceptability requires meeting minimum requirements, including providing current accreditation certificates.

• Deadline: Offer Due Date is March 3, 2026, at 16:00 CST.

• This acquisition is a total set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB).

• Offerors must review all attached documentation, including the Statement of Work (Section B.3) and relevant FAR/VAAR clauses.

• Specific locations and quantities for sampling are detailed in Attachments A, B, and C.

• Contractor employees must comply with VA security, access, and badging requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains three attachments (A, B, and C) that provide detailed testing schedules and location information for various facilities. Attachment A outlines water temperature and Legionella testing schedules for multiple buildings, including specific locations within those buildings, and lists the parameters tested (Water Temperature, Presence of Legionella, Biocide residual concentration, pH level). Attachment B details dental testing schedules for specific rooms in Building 70 and at the Northwest Metro CBOC. Attachment C lists cooling tower locations, including building names, parent facilities, street addresses, city, state, and zip code.

• Attachment A: Testing frequency (Quarterly) for water temperature and Legionella, specific locations (e.g., Building 70, BJ-101), and test parameters.
• Attachment B: Testing frequency (Quarterly) for dental-related tests in specific rooms and locations.
• Attachment C: Facility details for cooling towers, including address information.

This document provides critical details regarding the scope of work related to facility maintenance and testing. Bidders should review the testing schedules and locations in Attachments A and B to understand the frequency and specific areas requiring attention. Attachment C provides location data for cooling towers, which may be relevant for site visits or understanding the overall facility infrastructure. This information is essential for accurately estimating resources, personnel, and costs associated with any related service contracts.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is VHA Directive 1061, "Prevention of Health Care-Associated Legionella Disease and Scald Injury from Water Systems." It establishes policy for the prevention and control of these issues in VA medical facilities.

• Scope: Applies to VA-owned buildings where patients, residents, or visitors stay overnight, buildings where staff sleep overnight, and outdoor non-potable aerosol-generating water systems (e.g., cooling towers, irrigation systems).
• Key Changes in Revision: Expands scope to include non-potable water, updates testing and surveillance provisions.
• Definitions: Provides definitions for terms related to Legionella, water systems, and control measures.
• Policy: Outlines requirements for HCA LD prevention and scald injury prevention in all VA medical facilities.
• Responsibilities: Details responsibilities for various VA offices and personnel, including the Under Secretary for Health, Assistant Under Secretary for Health, Directors of Healthcare Environment and Facilities Program, National Infectious Diseases Service, VISN Directors, and VA Medical Facility Directors.
• Appendices: Includes detailed guidance on:
  • Appendix A: Health Care-Associated Legionella Disease Prevention Plans for Building Potable Water Systems.
  • Appendix B: Policy and Guidelines for Minimizing the Risk of Scald Injury.
  • Appendix C: Clinical and Environmental Validation of Engineering Controls.
  • Appendix D: Prevention of Legionella Disease from Cooling Towers.
  • Appendix E: Outdoor Non-Potable, Aerosol-Generating Water Systems Other Than Cooling Towers.

This directive outlines the comprehensive policy and procedures the VA follows for preventing Legionella disease and scald injuries related to water systems. Vendors involved in facility maintenance, water treatment, engineering, or related services for VA medical facilities should be aware of these requirements, as they will dictate the standards and expectations for any work performed in these areas. Understanding these guidelines is crucial for developing compliant proposals and executing contracts effectively.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination under the Service Contract Act (SCA). It lists the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations in specific geographic areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The document includes detailed occupational codes, titles, and corresponding wage rates, as well as information on health and welfare benefits, vacation, and holidays.

This wage determination is crucial for bidders on federal service contracts within the specified geographic areas. It establishes the minimum labor costs that must be factored into proposals. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and benefits meet or exceed these requirements to be compliant. The document also outlines procedures for conforming additional classifications and wage rates if an occupation is not explicitly listed, including the use of Standard Form 1444 (SF-1444).

Pre-Solicitation Notice

This is a pre-solicitation notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 23, for the procurement of Legionella Water Sample Testing Services at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.

• The primary service required is Legionella Water Sample Testing.

• Response Date/Time: February 17, 2026, at 17:00 Central Time (Chicago, USA).

• Potential offerors are responsible for monitoring the SAM.gov site for the release of the full solicitation package and any amendments.

• All questions must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Specialist, Theresa (Tess) Thunder, at theresa.thunder@va.gov. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.

• All interested parties must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov to be eligible for award.

• Set-Aside: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern (SDVOSBC).

• NAICS Code: 541380 – Testing Laboratories and Services.

• Size Standard: $19 Million.

• This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or pay for proposal preparation costs.

• The Government is not obligated to issue a solicitation as a result of this notice.

• No other information is available until the solicitation is officially issued.