Q301-- Pharmacy Gloved Fingertip and Media Filled Testing

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to Requests for Information (RFIs) related to an unspecified solicitation, clarifying details about testing services, sample types, and contract line item (CLIN) structures.

• Clean Room/Hood Inspections: These are not included in this solicitation and are covered under a separate contract managed by FMS.
• Personnel Testing: The quantity of 3 for annual GFT/MFT refers to 3 oversight personnel, with 52 compounding personnel undergoing testing every six months.
• Chemical Wipes: These are included with plates and surface samples.
• Hazardous Drug Wipe Testing: This testing is required under the contract in accordance with USP 800 and should be included under CLIN 0004.
• CETA-Certified Technicians: This certification applies to personnel performing services, even if not explicitly listed in CLINs for room certification.

This document clarifies ambiguities in the solicitation, particularly regarding the scope of services, quantities, and specific requirements for various testing CLINs. Bidders should use these clarifications to accurately understand and price their proposals.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) provides responses to Requests for Information (RFIs) received regarding the solicitation.

• The amendment clarifies details related to various CLINs (Contract Line Item Numbers) and requirements.

• Specifically, it addresses questions about clean room and hood inspections (covered under a separate contract), personnel testing quantities, service charge calculations, hazardous drug wipe testing, and CETA-certified technician requirements.

• The amendment does not explicitly state changes to proposal deadlines or submission rules, but bidders should review the RFI responses carefully as they may impact their understanding of the requirements and their proposal preparation.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ), for gloved fingertip testing services. The services are required by the Pharmacy Service Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston, Texas, to comply with U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) <797> standards for sterile compounding procedures. This solicitation is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside and is expected to result in a Firm-Fixed Price Single-Award contract.

• Perform gloved fingertip and media-fill testing in accordance with USP <797>.

• Conduct initial evaluations for new employees, observing garbing and gloving procedures, and performing fingertip tests.

• Perform hazardous drug wipe testing as required by USP <800>, analyzing samples for specific drugs.

• Collect additional fingertip plates and surface samples as required by the latest USP <797> standards.

• Provide one to two Controlled Environment Testing Association (CETA)-certified technicians.

• Ensure all testing and reporting comply with USP <797> and USP <800> standards.

• Provide detailed reports of findings.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price Single-Award.

• Period of Performance: Base period from 05-01-2026 to 04-30-2027, with four option periods extending through 04-30-2031.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but pricing schedules for base and option periods are provided.

• Submission Deadline: April 8, 2026, 3:00 PM Central Time.

• Evaluation Criteria: Lowest Priced, Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Offers will be evaluated based on technical acceptability and lowest evaluated price.

• Technical Acceptability requires conforming to all stated terms and conditions, providing all requested information, and demonstrating the ability to provide CETA-certified technicians.

• Proposals should contain the offeror's best terms from a price and technical standpoint, as award may be made on initial offers without discussions.

• This solicitation is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside.

• Contractors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) as an SDVOSB.

• Offers from entities not certified as SDVOSBs and listed in the SBA certification database at the time of offer will not be considered.

• This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; a quote is being requested, and a written solicitation document will not be issued.

• Incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through FAC 2025-06, FAR Deviation NOV 2025, VAAR DEVIATION APR 2025, VAAM Alert 26-01, and Acquisition Policy Flash 26-23.

• The Statement of Work (SOW) is included as Section D.1.