DA10--Steris Software Connectivity
VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF.VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF.261-NETWORK CONTRACT OFFICE 21 (36C261) · Response deadline: Mon, 09 Nov 2026
What the government is buying
The Department of Veterans Affairs is soliciting offers for Steris software connectivity services. This falls under NAICS 541519, Other Computer Related Services—a broad category covering IT consulting, computer disaster recovery, software installation, and related technical support. The "software connectivity" language suggests work involving integration, configuration, or technical services related to Steris products, which are widely known in healthcare settings for sterilization equipment, surgical systems, and related infection prevention technologies. VA medical facilities rely heavily on such equipment, and software connectivity work typically ensures these systems communicate properly with facility networks, electronic health records, or centralized monitoring platforms.
Key facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contract Office 21 (36C261) |
| Notice type | Solicitation |
| Solicitation number | 36C26127Q0116 |
| NAICS | 541519 |
| Set-aside | None (unrestricted/open competition) |
| Response deadline | November 9, 2026, 10:00 AM Pacific Time |
| Place of performance | Not specified in notice; see the solicitation |
Who can bid
This solicitation is unrestricted—any responsible offeror, including small businesses of any size, can submit a proposal. There is no small business set-aside, no HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, woman-owned, or 8(a) preference applied. Large businesses and small businesses alike compete on equal footing.
That said, NAICS 541519 carries a Small Business Administration size standard of $34.0 million in average annual receipts. If your business falls below this threshold, you qualify as small for this procurement and may benefit from unrelated small business advantages in past performance evaluations or subcontracting plans if applicable.
Given the specialized nature—Steris software connectivity in a VA healthcare environment—bidders should realistically assess whether they possess or can acquire relevant technical competencies. Experience with Steris product suites, healthcare IT integration (particularly HL7, FHIR, or other interoperability standards), and VA network security requirements would strengthen any proposal.
How to put together a competitive bid
For unrestricted IT services solicitations, evaluation typically weighs past performance, technical approach, and price. Consider these specifics:
Technical approach: Detail your methodology for software connectivity implementation. Address how you would integrate Steris systems with existing VA infrastructure, minimize downtime, and maintain compliance with VA cybersecurity frameworks and healthcare data regulations. If you have direct Steris software experience, emphasize certified personnel or established vendor relationships.
Personnel qualifications: Identify proposed staff with relevant credentials—healthcare IT certifications, Steris-specific training, cybersecurity clearances, or VA system access experience. Unrestricted competitions mean you may compete against large integrators with deep benches; differentiate through specialized expertise.
Past performance: Prepare relevant contract references demonstrating comparable software connectivity or healthcare IT integration work. VA-specific or other federal healthcare agency experience carries substantial weight.
Pricing strategy: With no set-aside cushion, price competitiveness matters intensely. Review the solicitation for any cost realism or price evaluation methodology—sometimes VA uses price-to-technical tradeoffs, other times lowest-price technically acceptable. Structure your cost proposal accordingly.
Small business considerations: Even without a set-aside, if you are small, highlight any socioeconomic status, subcontracting partnerships, or agility advantages in your management approach.
Next steps
Download and review the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number 36C26127Q0116 or classification code DA10. The posted notice is brief; the complete solicitation contains the statement of work, evaluation criteria, deliverable schedules, and exact place of performance. Note the firm deadline of November 9, 2026, 10:00 AM Pacific Time—late submissions are generally inadmissible in VA procurements. Given the narrow response window of about nine days from posting, prioritize obtaining the solicitation immediately and confirm your system's SAM.gov registration and active status to ensure eligibility to bid.
View the official notice on SAM.gov →