20F0040 JA for 6 month EXT Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL)

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 5202 Presidents Ct, Suite 103

Frederick, MD 21703

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR AUTHORIZATION OF SIX-MONTH CONTRACT EXTENSION

PURSUANT TO FAR 52.217-8

(1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a "Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition for authorization of a bridge contract pursuant to 52.217-8."

This Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition for authorization of a six-month contract extension pursuant to FAR 52.217-8 is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Financial Services Center (FSC).

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

This activity proposes to negotiate a sole source extension under FAR 52.217-8 via non-competitive modification to include a 6-month extension pursuant to FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services. The requested action is for a two-month base period and two two-month options totaling six months of performance. The current GSA contract includes the applicable FAR Clause. The 6-month option was not negotiated at the time of award of the base contract. The current contract GS-23F-053AA, Order 36C10X20F0040 was awarded to GenTech Associates, Inc. on 01 June 2020 with a total contract value of $5,465,105.76. The current Period of Performance ends on 31 May 2025. The two-month period of performance will be 01 June 2025 through 31 July 2025 with an estimated value of $189,445.68. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would ultimately end on 30 November 2025, and the total contract value would be $568,337.04.

(3) A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The purpose of this contract is to provide Payment and Payment Resolution services in support of the VA FSC and its customers. The contractor shall provide services in support of the VA FSC’s Payment and Payment Resolution environment as described herein. Currently there are in excess of 1.8 million payments processed annually. The invoices received will generate approximately 120,000 payment input and 520,000 payment exception actions respectively. Contractor personnel will be required to input payments and perform payment adjustments actions. The contractor shall provide contractor personnel services in support of VA FSC’s Payment and Payment Resolution Services.

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

(4) An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 6.302- 5(b)(6), “Authorized or required by statute,” which provides for sole source awards to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). This action is conducted in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 8127(b), which authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to make sole source awards to SDVOSBs under specific conditions.

This justification is used in conjunction with FAR clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, to authorize a six-month extension to the current SDVOSB contractor, GenTech Associates, Inc.

(5) A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

GenTech Associates, Inc. is a verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and the incumbent contractor currently providing Payment and Payment Resolution services under the existing order. The six-month extension is necessary to ensure continuity of services during the reprocurement of a follow-on contract. GenTech has demonstrated satisfactory performance and institutional knowledge of VA Financial Services Center operations, which reduces the risk of service disruption. Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8127(b) and FAR 6.302-5(b)(6), VA is authorized to award a sole source extension to a SDVOSB when it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government.

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

In accordance with FAR 5.2, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to award a sole source extension under FAR 52.217-8 will be posted on SAM.gov, notifying industry of the Government’s intent to extend the contract non-competitively. No responses expressing interest have been received as of the time of this justification. The six-month extension will allow time for a competitive reprocurement to be completed in accordance with VA’s Veterans First Contracting Program, and market research is being conducted to ensure adequate competition among verified SDVOSBs for the follow-on requirement.

(7) A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-5#FAR_Subpart_5_2 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-5#FAR_5_202

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

No award shall be made until the Contracting Officer determines the cost to the Government to be fair and reasonable. This determination will be based on a comparison of current contract pricing, an Independent Government Cost Estimate, past proposal submissions (if available), and other information as made available.

(8) A description of the market research conducted (see part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

For the reprocurement, market research will be conducted to ensure sufficient efforts are made to solicit from as many potential sources as practicable.

(9) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

GenTech Associates, Inc., a verified SDVOSB, is currently performing in accordance with the awarded contract. Due to delays in the reprocurement process, a short-term extension is required to avoid a lapse in critical financial operations. Transitioning to a new vendor for a limited extension would pose unnecessary risk and administrative burden. Awarding this extension to the incumbent SDVOSB aligns with VA’s mandate under 38 U.S.C. 8127 to give preference to veteran-owned small businesses and ensures mission continuity during the interim.

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

Not Applicable.

(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.

Refer to (6) above.

(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.

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

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.

Signature: _________________________________ Date: ____________ Janis Welsch

Management & Program Analyst/COR

Financial Services Center

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

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. As this action does not exceed $750,000, the certification below required by FAR

6.304 serves as approval.

Signature: _________________________________ Date: ____________

Justin Cole Contracting Officer Strategic Acquisition Center

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