AN11--Request for information - Enterprise Optimization Industry Partnership - Increasing access to Clinical Research

VHA Regional Procurement Office East R&D is issuing this Request for Information ( RFI ) to solicit proposals to further advance efforts to increase Veteran access to participate in clinical research opportunities. Information collected from this RFI will serve as continued market research for the potential development of a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with a Community Partner(s) (CPs), e.g., retail pharmacy locations, community health centers, academic medical centers and facilities, clinical laboratory sites, etc., to accomplish this objective. Such an agreement will detail the resources to be provided by the VA and the Cooperative Studies Program (CSP) and describe the purpose and expected work to be accomplished between the CSP and Million Veteran Program (MVP) research teams and the identified CP. CPs with the infrastructure and capacity to operate in rural areas of the United States (or its territories) will be prioritized. The VA would like to explore the feasibility of establishing community partnerships with community-based locations to serve as additional clinical research study locations for identified CSP clinical trials and/or epidemiological studies. The intent of this effort is to increase the number of research study sites that Veterans have access to for their participation in clinical research. It is anticipated that these CPs will have the necessary infrastructure in place (dedicated clinical research exam rooms, exam rooms, diagnostic tools (e.g., otoscopes, ophthalmoscopes), vital sign monitors, and medical carts, etc. to complete clinical research study visits (enrollment, follow-up) and all research activities associated with those visits (informed consent, data and blood/specimen collection and shipping, study procedures, etc.) and will supplement existing locations that have been traditionally employed as CSP research sites, e.g., VA Medical Centers (VAMCs), Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), etc. Additionally, the selected CP will have infrastructure and locations in United States geographic regions that align with the CSP Network of Dedicated Enrollment Sites (NODES) so that this clinical research network can support the coordination of start-up, operations, and logistics at these sites. CSP Node sites are currently at the following U.S. locations (Ann Arbor, MI; Atlanta, GA; Aurora, CO; Boston, MA, Bronx, NY; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Hines, IL; Houston, TX; Long Beach, CA; Madison, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Omaha, NE; Palo Alto, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; San Diego, CA; & Seattle, WA). The MVP is interested in expanding blood collection capabilities to include rural and remote collection facilities not already covered by the MVP footprint. Activities would include 1) CP staff collecting and labeling blood from consented MVP participants (MVP would securely confirm consent has been obtained) and 2) secure shipment of blood specimens to approved VA/MVP facilities. Please see the attachments for more information. This notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents may be notified of the results of the evaluation. This is a request for information only. All responses shall be submitted in writing via email no later than 10:00am (ET) April 20, 2026 to Ms. Renee Kale at renee.kale@va.gov. E-mail: renee.kale@va.gov. Facsimile or telephonic responses will not be accepted. DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.