Lab License - upgrade from 12.1.2 to 13.0.0 - valid service contract required

Normally you would purchase a yearly recurring maintenance contract with the license which is a percentage of the original purchase price, including lab licenses.

If this support contract is not renewed, then the service check date stops at the date that it expired.

You can install all versions of Big-IP upto this check date, as you indicated, there is a solution document that lists the versions and minimum required check date.

https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K7727

So, you have two options, buy a new license with a valid support contract or renew the support contract on this license but be warned you will have to pay for the support period all the way back to when it previously expired, in this case 11-Oct-2016