Health Care Financing Administration, Office of Acquisition & Grants 7500 Security Blvd., C2-21-15, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850

H -- CYTOLOGY LABORATORY QUALITY CONTROL, TESTING AND INSPECTION SERVICES DUE 031596 POC Christine Kourkoules, Contract Specialist, 410-786-5152 Brian W. Hebbel, Contracting Officer, 410-786-5159. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) is seeking to identify sources of qualified firms that have the capability to conduct specialized on-site surveys of cytology laboratories. Because of the critical nature of cytology testing, i.e., the relationship of cytology slide examination results to cancer, there is a great deal of interest in cytology laboratories and concern about the validity of cytology reports. The majority of surveyors employed by State agencies are medical technologists, bacteriologists or chemists. Few State agency laboratory surveyors are skilled or experienced in the area of cytology. For this reason, the surveys of cytology laboratories have often lacked in-depth reviews of the entire process of testing or examination of cytology specimens, i.e., quality of slide preparations, adequacy of processing and staining, and validity of cytology examination reports. Because of the critical relationship of cytology procedures to diagnosis and treatment, it is essential that HCFA have an effective means of evaluating cytology laboratories. The on-site surveys will be used to evaluate cytology laboratories selected by HCFA for the quality of services provided and responses to specific complaints received by HCFA. In conducting on-site surveys, the Contractor will evaluate laboratories using the current applicable Federal requirement, HCFA survey forms and guidelines. The Contractor must demonstrate that it can employ directly, or have available on an as needed basis, a sufficient staff of cytotechnologists who qualify as General Supervisors in cytology, and pathologists who qualify as Technical Supervisors in cytology, in order to perform on-site laboratory evaluations. The Contractor must demonstrate that it has the capability and experience to perform the laboratory surveys above. Interested sources responding to this notice must furnish concise responses in sufficient detail to demonstrate that it can meet the above requirements. Information furnished should also include background information on the organization, name and telephone number of a point of contact, size status under SIC 8071 which has an annual small business size standard not to exceed $5 million, resumes, a description of general and specific facilities, an outline of previous similar projects, and other available literature for HCFA to perform a proper evaluation. This Sources Sought synopsis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a request for proposal, nor should it be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or otherwise pay for any information solicited. The information provided by respondents will be evaluated to identify capable potential sources for this effort only. Respondents will be included on any mailing list for any solicitation that may result from this notice. Capability statements must be submitted no later than 15 calendar days from the date of this publication to HCFA, Office of Acquisition and Grants, PHSCD, ATTN: Christine Kourkoules, 7500 Security Boulevard, C2-21-15, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. (0053)

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