R416--Veterinarian Services for Research

Other / Unclassified

This document is an Award Notice for Veterinarian Services for a research award. It provides details about a contract that has already been awarded, including the contracting office, solicitation number, delivery/task order number, and the statutory authority used for the award (FAR 6.103-1 - Only One Responsible Source).

While this is an award notice and not a solicitation for new bids, it provides valuable information for potential future opportunities or for understanding the agency's needs in this area. Key details include:

• Awardee: KRISTA GIBBS DVM LLC
• Award Amount: $368,748.00
• Award Date: 04-08-2026
• Contracting Office: Veterans Health Administration, Regional Procurement Office East, Pittsburgh, PA
• NAICS Code: 541940 (Veterinary Services)
• Product Service Code: R416

The description outlines the required services, which include providing veterinary care for research animals at VAPHS, directing the animal research facility operations to ensure compliance with regulations, assuming Attending Veterinarian responsibilities (including IACUC), conducting regular on-site visits, supporting researchers with specialized techniques and experimental design, and establishing quality control programs for rodent colonies. This information can help vendors understand the scope of services the VA requires for animal research support.

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

This document justifies a sole-source contract for veterinarian services for the Pittsburgh VA Health Care System's animal research program. The services are required to maintain compliance with VHA Directive 1200.07, ensuring current veterinary standards for research animals.

• Provide veterinary care for animals housed at VAPHS for research.

• Direct the operation of the animal research facility, ensuring high quality and compliance with animal welfare regulations.

• Serve as the designated veterinarian, assuming regulatory responsibilities, including IACUC involvement.

• Conduct regular on-site visits (average of twice per week).

• Provide support to researchers and staff in specialized techniques, experimental design, protocol writing, reviews, and approvals.

• Establish and review a quality control program for rodent colonies.

• The estimated cost for the base year plus four one-year options is $368,789.00.

• Base Year (04/22/2026 - 04/21/2027): $69,463

• Option Year 1 (04/22/2027 - 04/21/2028): $71,547

• Option Year 2 (04/22/2028 - 04/21/2029): $73,694

• Option Year 3 (04/22/2029 - 04/21/2030): $75,904

• Option Year 4 (04/22/2030 - 04/21/2031): $78,181

This document is a justification for a sole-source award, not a solicitation. Therefore, there are no submission or evaluation instructions for bidders.

• The justification indicates that Krista Gibbs, DVM, LLC, is a small business.

• Market research did not identify any SDVOSBs or VOSBs available for this requirement.

• The justification cites FAR 6.103-1 (Only One Responsible Source) as the statutory authority for other than full and open competition.

• Market research included searches of SAM.gov, the SBA small business database, and a pre-solicitation notice, which yielded no other qualified sources.

• The agency determined that switching vendors would result in substantial duplication of costs, unacceptable delays, and a detrimental impact on the research program and animal care.

Pre-Solicitation Notice with Intent to Sole Source

This notice announces the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) intent to negotiate a sole source contract for specialized veterinary research services for the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) animal research program. The contract will be for a five-year period.

• Provide veterinary care for animals housed for research at VAPHS.

• Direct the operation of the animal research facility, ensuring compliance with animal welfare regulations and policies.

• Serve as the Attending Veterinarian, assuming related regulatory responsibilities, including IACUC appointment.

• Conduct regular, documented on-site visits to the animal facility (average of twice per week).

• Support VAPHS researchers and staff in specialized techniques, experimental design, and protocol writing/reviews.

• Establish, implement, and review a quality control program for rodent colonies.

• Direct and/or delegate authority for activities involving animals at VAPHS.

• This is a pre-solicitation notice, not a solicitation. The VA intends to award a sole source contract.

• The applicable NAICS code is 541940 (Veterinary Services) with a $10 million size standard.

• The Product Service Code (PSC) is R416.

• The authority for this action is FAR 6.103-1 (Only One Responsible Source).

• No solicitation will be posted to SAM.gov. This is an intent to award on a sole source basis.

• Interested parties may contact the Contracting Officer via email at annmarie.stewart@va.gov.

• The determination to conduct a competitive procurement based on responses is at the Contracting Officer's discretion.

• This action is intended to be sole source, awarded to Krista Gibbs, DVM LLC, due to specialized experience and expertise.

• The VA requires a written program of veterinary care for its animal research program, necessitating a qualified licensed Veterinary Medical Consultant (VMC).

• Krista Gibbs, DVM LLC, is identified as the only vendor capable of providing these specialized services due to extensive experience and ongoing research project ties.