SAIC infuses VA blood bank with tech support

Science Applications International Corp. will provide technical support to the Veterans Affairs Department under a five-year award that could be worth as much as $14 million.

The task order from the Office of Enterprise Development in VA’s Office of Information and Technology calls for SAIC to provide technical assistance to the Blood Bank Program managed by the VA’s Health Provider Systems Program Office.

SAIC will support all development activities and resolve customers’ technical issues concerning software and associated interfaces. SAIC also will provide IT product development, quality management, testing and system administration, among other services.

The Blood Bank Program supports clinicians in delivering patient care, and helps laboratory staff provide safe blood transfusions, meeting blood bank regulatory agency requirements, and required hospital reporting services, according to an SAIC announcement.

The program also is responsible for maintaining and enhancing legacy software, including the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture Blood Bank, the VistA Blood Establishment Computer Software, and vendor interface applications.

The task order was awarded under the General Services Administration’s Information Technology Schedule 70.

The work will be performed primarily in Chicago at the Hines VA Field Office.

SAIC, of San Diego, ranks No. 7 on Washington Technology’s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.