NAICS 541380 watchlist: three lab/testing buys (BPA + IDIQ + sole-source intent) worth triage this week

Executive takeaway

These three NAICS 541380 notices are not interchangeable—each pulls for a different lab capability set and contracting posture. One is a short-fuse sources-sought for sterile compounding microbial monitoring and training under a contemplated BPA; another is a multi-year NAVFAC IDIQ for recurring/non-recurring environmental sampling and program support; the third is a Defense Health Agency notice of intent to sole source forensic toxicology testing (but still invites capability statements within strict page limits). If you do lab work, pick the lane that matches your accreditations, logistics, and reporting maturity—then respond with proof, not marketing.

What the buyer is trying to do

1) IHS Gallup Service Unit: BPA for USP <797> microbial monitoring support

The Indian Health Service is conducting FAR Part 10 market research toward a Blanket Purchase Agreement supporting sterile compounding quality requirements under USP <797>. The scope centers on providing specific media and testing services (finger tip/thumb sampling, surface sampling, media fill), incubation at dual temperatures, identification of recovered growth, and official final reporting—plus training on sample collection and shipment/return of media.

The notice indicates an anticipated 12-month base with three one-year option periods and highlights interest in locating Indian-owned economic enterprises. It is explicitly not a solicitation.

2) NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic: IDIQ for environmental sampling services

NAVFAC is seeking an IDIQ vehicle to handle recurring and non-recurring environmental sampling services at Naval Weapons Station Crane, IN and Lake Glendora Test Facility, Sullivan, IN. The stated needs span sampling plus consultation/program management support and testing/lab analysis related to asbestos, lead, PCBs, soil and water, and environmental condition of property assessments, along with ongoing library/database file and program support.

The contemplated term is a 12-month base with four 12-month options (not to exceed 60 months or total contract value, whichever comes first).

3) Defense Health Agency (AFMES): notice of intent to sole source forensic toxicology testing

DHA’s contracting activity, on behalf of the Armed Forces Medical Examiners System, published a notice of intent to award a firm-fixed-price sole source contract for forensic toxicology testing. While it states no competitive solicitation exists, it still allows interested sources to submit capability statements with technical/management data and cost information to support a potential decision to compete rather than proceed sole source.

What work is implied (bullets)

IHS BPA (USP <797> microbial testing and supplies)

• Provide Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) with Lecithin/tween, including certificate of analysis for growth promotion and quality.
• Perform media fill testing (hazardous and non-hazardous) with certificate of analysis for growth promotion and quality.
• Provide USP <797> microbial testing, including (not limited to) finger tip/thumb sampling, surface sampling, and media fill.
• Process samples, incubate at dual temperatures, and produce preliminary plate counts and morphology counts (bacterial and/or fungal growth).
• Identify all growth recovered and deliver an official final microbial analysis report.
• Train staff on how to take samples and pack/return media.

NAVFAC IDIQ (environmental sampling + program support)

• Perform environmental sampling services on a recurring and non-recurring basis at the identified Indiana facilities.
• Conduct building and equipment surveys.
• Provide consultation and program management support for asbestos, lead, and PCB programs.
• Perform soil and water sampling and related testing/laboratory analysis services.
• Support environmental condition of property assessments.
• Maintain/produce environmental program library and database files; provide program support tied to those environmental programs.

DHA/AFMES sole-source intent (forensic toxicology)

• Provide forensic toxicology testing in accordance with the attached performance work statement (verify in attachments).
• Support performance at the stated location and across the stated base/option periods (verify operational expectations in attachments).
• Submit a capability statement package (with cost information) that is persuasive enough to challenge a sole-source determination.

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

Bid if…

• You are a testing laboratory with demonstrated capability under NAICS 541380 aligned to the specific domain (sterile compounding microbial monitoring, environmental sampling/program support, or forensic toxicology).
• You can produce formal lab reporting outputs on schedule (e.g., microbial analysis reports; environmental analytical results; toxicology deliverables) and manage chain-of-custody where applicable (verify specifics in attachments where referenced).
• You can support multi-year ordering structures (BPA and IDIQ) with predictable turnaround times and consistent QA documentation (e.g., certificates of analysis called out in the IHS notice).

Pass if…

• You lack the ability to incubate at dual temperatures and perform identification for microbial growth recovered (IHS notice scope).
• You don’t have field-capable environmental sampling teams and the back-office program support (library/database file support) implied by NAVFAC’s IDIQ description.
• You cannot credibly displace an identified sole-source provider for forensic toxicology in the DHA notice with convincing, detailed capability evidence within the page limits.

Response package checklist (bullets; if unknown say “verify in attachments”)

IHS sources-sought (BPA market research)

• Capability statement describing ability to provide TSA with Lecithin/tween and required certificates of analysis (growth promotion and quality).
• Capability statement addressing media fill testing (hazardous and non-hazardous) and USP <797> microbial testing (finger tip/thumb, surface sampling, media fill).
• Description of sample processing workflow, dual-temperature incubation, preliminary counts, morphology counts, and identification methods for recovered growth.
• Example/redacted format of the final microbial analysis report.
• Training approach for client staff on sampling and packing/return logistics.
• SAM.gov registration confirmation (the notice cites FAR 4.1102(a) requirements at time of offer/quote submission).
• Submission deadline and any formatting instructions: verify in attachments and the full notice text (the snippet appears truncated).

NAVFAC IDIQ

• Technical approach for environmental sampling services across the stated program areas (asbestos, lead, PCBs, soil/water, property assessments).
• Plan for recurring vs. non-recurring tasking under an IDIQ structure.
• Approach to testing and laboratory analysis services; data deliverables and QA/QC approach (verify in attachments).
• Plan for library/database file and program support deliverables (verify in attachments).
• Past performance examples for similar facility programs and surveys (verify required forms in attachments).
• Pricing/fee structure instructions: verify in attachments.

DHA notice of intent to sole source

• Capability statement including management and technical data and cost information, in sufficient detail to demonstrate ability to meet the attached PWS (verify in attachments).
• Strict page limit compliance: capability statements shall not exceed 6 pages (8.5x11) with font no smaller than 12-point.
• Avoid “questions only” submissions; the notice states questions alone will not be considered an affirmative response.
• Submission due date/time and method: verify in the full notice.

Pricing & strategy notes (how to research pricing; do not invent pricing numbers)

• Anchor your pricing to the ordering vehicle. For the IHS BPA, think in terms of standardized test bundles and recurring monitoring cycles (finger tip/surface/media fill), plus separate line items for training and media supply with certificates of analysis. For the NAVFAC IDIQ, plan for task-order variability (mobilization, sampling events, analysis, reporting, and program support hours).
• Use comparable federal history to calibrate. Search BidPulsar for prior awards under NAICS 541380 and similar scopes (USP <797> microbial monitoring BPAs; NAVFAC environmental sampling IDIQs) and compare contract type, duration, and workload drivers rather than trying to match on title alone.
• Price the “hidden” effort explicitly. The IHS notice bakes in training and logistics for packing/returning media; NAVFAC includes library/database file support; these can become margin leaks if not scoped as deliverables.
• For the DHA sole-source intent, focus on cost realism and switching friction. Your capability statement must be persuasive enough to justify competition; pricing support should be credible and tied to how you meet the PWS (verify in attachments).

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• For the NAVFAC IDIQ, consider teaming field sampling capacity (surveys and sampling events) with specialized laboratory analysis support if your shop is stronger in one than the other.
• For IHS USP <797> monitoring, consider partnering with a training-focused provider if your lab is strong on analysis but needs a polished on-site training curriculum and materials.
• For environmental database/library support under NAVFAC, team with a firm that has disciplined document control and program support operations if your core competency is field/lab execution.
• For the DHA toxicology notice, only team if it strengthens end-to-end coverage of the PWS requirements in the attachments—otherwise the page-limited capability statement will be diluted.

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Short turnaround risk: the IHS sources-sought response window appears very tight in the snippet; confirm the exact deadline in the full notice.
• Not a solicitation: the IHS notice is market research; don’t over-invest in full proposal production—deliver a targeted, evidence-heavy capability response.
• IDIQ scope creep: NAVFAC’s description spans multiple contaminants and program support functions; ensure your assumptions about staffing, travel, and database/file support are aligned to the attachments.
• Sole-source inertia: the DHA notice states intent to sole source; if you respond, your capability statement must be decisive and compliant with the stated page/format constraints.
• Compliance gates: SAM registration is explicitly referenced for IHS; verify any additional registration/accreditation requirements in attachments for all three notices.

Related opportunities

• Blanket Purchase Agreement for Glove Finger Tip Sampling, Media Fill Test, Surface Sampling, Incubation and Microbial Analysis
• Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract for Environmental Sampling Services
• Notice of Intent to Sole Source NMS Labs

How to act on this

1. Pick the notice that matches your strongest, provable capability set under NAICS 541380.
2. Open the BidPulsar listing and download/read attachments (especially the DHA PWS and any NAVFAC instructions).
3. Draft a compliance-first response: concise technical approach, QA documentation approach, sample/report examples, and clear capacity.
4. Pressure-test your pricing structure against similar historical awards and the ordering vehicle (BPA vs. IDIQ vs. sole-source challenge).
5. If you want a second set of eyes on win probability and positioning, engage Federal Bid Partners LLC for capture and response support.