M5-Q50A-03-R8: 65IB Drugs, Pharmaceuticals & Hematology Related Products Solicitation Refreshment
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), National Acquisition Center, is seeking offers for a Worldwide Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contract for Drugs, Pharmaceuticals & Hematology Related Products (FSC Group 65, Part I, Section B). This is a standing solicitation (M5-Q50A-03-R8), meaning offers are accepted on a continuous basis with no closing date. The opportunity is open to all responsible offerors, with various small business set-aside clauses applicable at the order level.
Purpose & Scope
This solicitation aims to establish Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Multiple Award Schedule contracts for a broad range of drugs, biologicals (FSC 6505), and medicated cosmetics/toiletries (FSC 6508). Key technical requirements include National Drug Codes (NDC), bar coding (GS1-128 or HIBCC compliant), FDA "A" rating for specific SINs (42-2a and 42-2b), and compliance with various contractual terms and regulations.
Contract Details
The contracts are Fixed-Price with Economic Price Adjustment (EPA). The initial period of performance is typically 5 years, with options to extend for up to three additional 5-year periods, potentially totaling 20 years. Contractors are expected to achieve minimum sales of $25,000 within the first two years and annually thereafter.
Key Amendments & Updates
This solicitation has undergone several amendments. Amendment 0010 (April 2026) formally established the standing solicitation status (A-FSS-11), confirming no closing date for offers, and updated clauses related to contract extensions. Amendment 0009 (December 2025) incorporated a new GSAM clause for Economic Price Adjustment (552.238-120), updated Responsibility Evaluation requirements (Oct 2025), and revised the Signature Authority form (Aug 2025). Amendment 0006 (December 2023) reduced the grace period for Industrial Funding Fee (IFF) reporting and remittance from 60 to 30 days. Amendment 0004 (March 2020) revised electronic offer submission procedures, emphasizing digital signatures, specific email addresses (vafssoffers@va.gov), file formats, and a maximum file size of 10MB.
Submission Requirements
Offers must be submitted electronically to vafssoffers@va.gov. Digital or scanned wet signatures are required for documents needing signatures, and the SF1449 signature date must be no earlier than 10 calendar days prior to submission. Offerors must use specified file types (Word/PDF for fill-ins, Excel for price lists) and ensure 508 compliance for all documents. New offerors are required to complete GSA's "Pathway to Success" seminar.
Evaluation & Eligibility
Awards will be made to responsible offerors based on best value, reasonable pricing, and conformity to the solicitation. While the solicitation is open to all, various small business set-aside clauses are incorporated, allowing for orders to be set aside for Small Business, HUBZone, Veteran-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses.
Contact Information
For further information, contact the FSS Help Desk at FSS.help@va.gov or 708-786-7737.