1. JA PTSD Training_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL)

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 10300 Spotsylvania Ave, Suite 400

Fredericksburg, VA 22408

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR

CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL ACQUISITION

REGULATION (FAR) 12.201-1

(1) Identification of the agency and contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Sole Source Justification Under Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items in Accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation

(FAR) 12.201-1.”

This Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), National Center for PTSD

(NCPTSD).

(2) The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This proposed action is for a sole source Firm Fixed-Price (FFP), Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) follow-on contract for the procurement of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) assessment and military culture training with:

The Henry Jackson Foundation (HJF) 6720A Rockledge Dr. Ste 100 Bethesda MD, 20817

The services to be acquired from HJF require the contractor to provide PTSD Training services, which entails conducting multiple trainings for providers that are treating Veterans in their private practice. One of the goals is to improve the lives of our Veterans whether they seek treatment within VA or not. The contractor shall conduct separate trainings over the course of the contract’s period of performance. Each training will be approximately a 2-day training session for approximately 100 non-VA mental health providers.

(3) A description of the supplies and/or services required, including the delivery schedule and/or the period of performance (inclusive of all option periods), and the estimated dollar value of the acquisition.

The objective of this requirement is to provide education and consultation to providers who treat Veterans in any context with the goal of supporting the delivery of evidence-based care for Veterans with PTSD, regardless of where they receive mental health treatment. Enhancing community providers’ knowledge of PTSD assessments and treatments will help to improve Veteran outcomes related to PTSD co-occurring diagnoses. The desired outcome is to bridge training gaps identified among community

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

(non-VA) providers in the areas of military culture, PTSD assessment, and the management of co-occurring suicide risk.

The period of performance includes a Twelve month base period with Four, Twelve month options periods. The estimated ceiling for this contract action is

(4) The statutory authority permitting sole source.

This action is under the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.201-1 under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901, Simplified Acquisition Procedures

This acquisition is conducted under the procedures of FAR subpart 12.201-1, used in accordance with the authority of 41 U.S.C § 1901. FAR 12.201-1 authorizes the use of Part 12 simplified procedures for certain commercial items. FAR 12.102(a) is utilized to document the decision to restrict competition.

(5) A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring use of the authority.

The proposed requirement is to provide training in PTSD Assessment and Military Culture to providers treating U.S. Veterans outside of VA. This is a highly specialized training that requires extensive knowledge of PTSD assessment, military culture and Veteran mental health and recovery. The Henry Jackson Foundation is the only non- VA organization with the level of military culture and PTSD assessment expertise required that focuses solely on training providers who treat veterans and service members. Their training offers a unique focus on military combat trauma and/or the experience of military sexual trauma. They are recognized as a leader in military culture training. This is critical because aspects of military culture interfere and complicate reactions to trauma making it more difficult to treat PTSD. They have also trained many DoD providers, this would allow for continuity in the quality of care for Veterans who were seeking services while in the military and to continue this when they are discharged from the military.

(6) A description of efforts made to ensure offers/quotes are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

Market research was conducted, details of which are in the market research section of this document. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government’s requirements. There is no competition anticipated for this acquisition.

Additionally, the proposed action will be synopsized on SAM.gov in accordance with

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

FAR 5.201.

(7) The anticipated dollar value of the proposed acquisition, including options if applicable, and a determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable.

The estimated ceiling for this contract is . No award shall be made until the Contracting Officer determines the cost to the Government to be fair and reasonable. In accordance with FAR 15.404-1(b)(2), the Government may use various price analysis.

This determination will be based on a comparison of current contract pricing, an Independent Government Cost Estimate, past proposal submissions and other information as made available.

(8) A description of the market research conducted and the results or the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted via the Ability One website, GSA eLibrary and queried the Government-wide database of contracts and other procurement instruments to ascertain if it would be possible to procure the required specialized evidence-based training through the contracting vehicles listed. There was no acceptable schedule found as required for this procurement.

An RFI was published through the GSA Market Research as a Service (MRAS) on 9/2/2025 to further gauge market availability. The RFI’s main purpose was to seek new sources that could provide technical capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort. The RFI closed on 9/23/2025 with 42 total responses received. The search results were narrowed to nine vendors using the following review criteria:

Vendor Review Criteria:

• Product/Service is commercially provided

• Available via MAS

• Confirmed “Yes” to “capability to perform all required services”

• Recommended firm-fixed-price contract type

• Submitted capability document for review

• Subcontracting estimated at ≤15%

Vendors Reviewed in This Analysis: 9

• 6 Small Businesses (2 SDVOSBs)

• 3 Other than Small Business

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

A detailed analysis of the capability statements from the nine vendors was conducted, focusing on four areas crucial to this requirement: military culture expertise, PTSD assessment expertise, continuing education (CE) process, and training logistics expertise. This evaluation identified only one vendor, The Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) for the Advancement of Military Medicine, as meeting all four capabilities.

Based on the market research searches, no Government identified SDVOSBs or VOSBs were found that provide training, encompassing all four critical elements required to meet the requirement. The select services are not readily available on an existing purchasing vehicle (such as a GWAC, Internal IDIQ, GSA FSS, Ability One, etc.)

(9) Any other facts supporting the use of sole source.

At present, no market changes have occurred to result in competition that meets all four elements required by VA. Henry Jackson Foundation for The Advancement of Military Medicine, is the only organization outside of VA with the necessary training and experience to provide the necessary services outlined in this requirement and the content knowledge required to offer these unique trainings.

HJF provides specialized expertise, for which they are uniquely positioned with extensive expertise in military medicine, particularly in areas like PTSD. The foundation collaborates closely with military and veterans' healthcare providers, making it a trusted source of specialized knowledge and training materials. The training programs provided by HJF are comprehensive and designed to cover all aspects of PTSD, from identification and assessment to treatment. The foundation has a proven track record of successfully implementing PTSD training programs that have had a positive impact on the mental health outcomes of military personnel and veterans.

Regarding sub-contracting opportunities and possibilities: The Uniformed Services University’s (USU) Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP), is a collaborative program between USU and Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. CDP has multiple training programs for educating and training behavioral health providers and improving behavioral health care. CDP Personnel have spent the last 15 years developing, testing, and refining programs and curriculum to disseminate and promote the implementation of evidence-based psychotherapy (EBPs) at multiple levels within the Government. Faculty bring over 150 years of experience to teaching and adult learning through in-person and online trainings. CDP has robust program evaluation and process improvement systems that take feedback from thousands of participants every year and conduct complete course reviews every two years. Faculty attend annual conferences in their specialty area and many are board certified, nationally recognized and well-published in their area. The dissemination of highest

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) quality adult training, education and consultation is what CDP does full-time. The CDP does not allow non-CDP faculty to present HJF training programs, so a sub-contract with a small business would not be an option for any training programs with HJF’s content.

(10) A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Name: The Henry Jackson Foundation (HJF) Address: 6720A Rockledge Dr. Ste 100 Bethesda MD, 20817

(11) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

The long-term solution for PTSD treatment training is to increase the number of psychologists trained in these areas. Psychologist is a hard to fill position in VA and in general, filling positions for psychologists and psychiatrists nationwide is difficult. This is a long-term issue without a quick solution. In addition, a Request for Information (RFI) was published through the GSA Market Research as a Service (MRAS) on 9/2/2025 to further gauge market availability. Results and details of RFI are detailed in section 8 of this document. The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.

(12) Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (e.g., verifying the Government’s minimum needs or requirements or other rationale for an exception to fair opportunity) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel.

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Sonya Norman PTSD Consultation Program Manager

(13) Contracting officer certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer ’s knowledge and belief.

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. As this action does not exceed the certification required by FAR 12 102(a) serves as approval

Rodney Burgos Cabassa Contracting Officer Strategic Acquisition Center