WHOLE BLOOD SPECIMEN COLLECTION, TRANSPORTATION, AND TESTING (GUAM, HAWAII)

This is a notice of intent to award a sole-source contract and is not a request for competitive proposals.  However, if interested, the Government shall consider all responses.  Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), San Diego, CA, intends to solicit a proposal and enter into a contract with DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY SERVICES, INC., AIEA, HI.  The statutory authority for this sole source procurement is 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) per FAR 6.302-1(c)(1).  The contract will be evaluated on most advantageous and best value to the Government.  Please reference N63116-25-Q-0538 on all quotes.

The NAICS code for this contract will be 621511. NHRC requires that all contractors doing business with the Acquisition Office must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).  No award can be made unless the vendor is registered in SAM.

SCOPE

NHRC Operational Infectious Diseases (OID) Directorate requires the purchase of the following services via Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Inc. (DLS):

1. Conduct verification testing of the BIOFIRE Tropical Fever Panel per BIOFIRE TECHNICAL NOTE: Protocols for Laboratory Verification of Performance of the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY Tropical Fever (TF) Panel.
2. Arrange and coordinate the transportation of specimens from Guam to Hawaii via DLS courier services.
3. Perform testing on forty-five (45) specimens submitted by NHRC using the BIOFIRE Tropical Fever Panel, over twelve (12) months.
4. Total TAT from collection to reporting will average 4-7 days.

NHRC shall provide DLS all necessary testing materials, including verification controls and the BIOFIRE Tropical Fever Panels.

DELIVERABLES

DLS courier will pick up specimens at Navy Hospital Guam laboratory during twice daily courier runs at 08:00 (ChST) and 14:30 (ChST). Specimens will be accessioned at DLS-Guam and shipped with cold packs per IATA regulations by certified packers/shippers. DLS will transport specimens to United Cargo at Guam airport on the same day 20:00–21:00 (ChST). Specimens will be routed on a direct flight to Hawaii (Monday–Friday; Friday collections ship Monday). DLS informatics will track transit time. Total transit time is approximately 36 hours, packages may be subject to United Cargo or Customs delays. Upon arrival in Hawaii, DLS courier will transport specimens to the DLS Hawaii lab. DLS accessioning will unpack, inspect, and confirm cold packs and contents remain cold to the touch, ensuring sample stability is maintained.

DLS Molecular team will conduct testing per BIOFIRE Tropical Fever Panel IFU on verified instrumentation. DLS will perform a verification as outlined in BIOFIRE’s TECHNICAL NOTE: Protocols for Laboratory Verification of Performance of the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY Tropical Fever (TF) Panel. https://www.biofiredx.com/wp-content/uploads/BFR0001-0957-BIOFIRE-FILMARRAY-Tropical-Fever-Lab-Verification-Tech-Note.pdf. ZeptoMetrix, NATTFP-BIO Control Materials will be provided by NHRC and will be used in this verification.

Verification results will be submitted to NHRC prior to testing. Specimens’ validity will be evaluated per IFU within 1-2 days of receipt in the DLS-Hawaii Molecular Department. Total TAT from collection to reporting will average 4-7 days.

DLS Molecular will provide electronic test report summaries to NHRC collaborators via encrypted email upon completion of analysis. If requested by NHRC, DLS Molecular will also record results into the NHRC-provided spreadsheet.

Panel Tasks:

1 Each - Biofire Global Fever Panel Verification

45 Each - Biofire Global Fever Test on Whole Blood

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

7/1/2025-6/30/2026 as outlined below:

Project Start Date                    7/1/2025

Verification Start Date            7/1/2025

Testing                                    7/7/2025 - 6/30/2026

Final Reports Delivered          7/7/2025 - 6/30/2026

Project End Date                     6/30/2026