36C10X22C0002_1.docx

SUBJECT*

Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) - Suicide Prevention Communication Support Attn: Micah Wanda Edwards and Dante Ruiz

GENERAL INFORMATION

BASE NOTICE TYPE

SET-ASIDE

Department of Veterans Affairs

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103 Frederick MD 21703

POINT OF CONTACT*

Dante Ruiz Dante.Ruiz@va.gov Wanda Edwards Wanda.Edwards@va.gov dante.ruiz@va.gov 240-215-1654

AWARD INFORMATION

LINE ITEM NUMBER

AWARDEE ADDRESS LINE 1*

AWARDEE ADDRESS LINE 2*

AWARDEE ADDRESS LINE 4*

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

Award Notice Award Notice

DESCRIPTION

*= Required Field Award Notice Award Notice DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL) Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103 Frederick, MD 21703

Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

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), Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP).

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

This activity proposes to negotiate a non-competitive award (sole-source) with The District Communication Group (DCG), LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), to support the suicide prevention program. DCG will develop and implement a variety of communication products and tools, proactive strategies, and effective distribution processes related to suicide prevention efforts to ensure and support a public health, community approach to reducing Veteran suicide.

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

The Government requires contractor support that will bridge the gap between the current contract (BPA VA119A-17A-0027 36C10X20F0009, period of performance 10/30/2019 through 10/29/2021), and the award of a new contract. A new package is currently being compiled for submission to the contracting office. This effort is to provide support to develop products, and leverage VA and partner delivery mechanisms (VA publicly facing webpages, blogs, social media, etc.) in new and creative ways, to reach Veterans. Efforts will ensure that a diverse set of VA personnel as well as a multitude of Federal and community organizations, family and friends, and policy makers that support Veterans are educated and capable of communicating, with the provided tools. VHA’s OMHSP suicide prevention communications efforts include supporting the Veterans Crisis Line and providing the community with these lifesaving resources for preventing Veteran suicide.

Further, this information will be shared with external audiences, including, but not limited to other Federal agencies; state and local governments; non-governmental entities both non-profit and for-profit organizations; faith-based communities, volunteers; non-VA health care systems and providers; and other interested parties with a vested role in furthering the overarching suicide prevention effort. The estimated value for this purchase is $4,995,000.00.

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 41 U.S.C.

§ 3304(a)(5) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-5 entitled, “Authorized or required by statute”. The applicable statute is Public Law 109- 461: “Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006” specifically, the “Veterans First Contracting Program” outlined in 38 USC § 8127(c).

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

The District Communications Group, LLC is a registered and verified SDVOSB. DCG provides strategic communications that specializes in raising awareness for socially responsible programs, specifically those intended to support Veterans, servicemembers and their families. They have subject matter expertise related to strategic communication development and implementation, graphic design, content development, branding, video production, outreach and stakeholder engagement and research and evaluation. DCG has specific communication experience and knowledge as it relates to VA suicide prevention efforts including supporting the Veterans Crisis Line in providing support for the VA’s national efforts to address the number one clinical priority.

Overall, the firm offers an exceptional combination of necessary supervision and management, subject matter expertise directly related to Veterans and suicide prevention needed to complete the requirements of this effort.

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.

IAW VAAR § 819.7007 Sole source awards to service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns (b), “The contracting officer’s determination whether to make a sole source award is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer. A determination that only one SDVOSB concern is available to meet the requirement is not required.”

A notice will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

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, past proposal submissions (if available), other information made available, and an Independent Government Cost Estimate.

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.

Market research was conducted, and DCG has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance. They are registered and certified in VetBiz.gov as a SDVOSB with the NAICS code for this requirement which in accordance with Public Law 109-461 Section 502(c) meets the requirements of this statute to sole source to a SDVOSB. A review of their Representations and Certifications was conducted in the System for Award Management (SAM) as well as a review of the General Services Administration (GSA) elibrary and DCG represented that they are a SDVOSB.

In addition, the Federal Awardee Performance, and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) was reviewed and FAPIIS shows no reports for DCG that would indicate defective pricing, instances of contractor fault or recipient not-qualified, terminations for cause, default, or material failure to comply, or non-responsibility of the contractor.

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

In accordance with Public Law 109-461, codified at 38 USC § 8127, in order to increase contracting opportunities for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans with service-connected disabilities, contracting officers of the VA are given specific statutory authority to award a contract to a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans using procedures other than competitive procedures (i.e. a “sole source” contract). The contracting officer may do so if:

(1) such concern is determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance of such contract opportunity;

(2) the anticipated award price of the contract (including options) will exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (as defined in section 134 of title 41) but will not exceed $5,000,000; and

(3) in the estimation of the contracting officer, the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States.

This procurement meets all of these conditions.

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

The District Communications Group, LLC 151 N Nob Hill Rd Suite 309 Plantation, FL 33324

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.

All future requirements will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Currently the Government requires short term contractor support that will bridge the gap between the current contract and the new contract which will be competitively solicited.

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