36C24119A0016-001.pdf

VHAPM Part 819.7007/7008 Sole Source Awards to a Verified Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Business/Veteran-owned Small Business

Attachment 1: Request for SDVOSB/VOSB Sole Source Justification Format >SAT

VHAPM Part 819.7007/7008 Page 1 of 3 Original Date: 08/30/2017 Revision 02 Eff Date: 10/24/2018

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C24119AP0540

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 01; Network Contracting Office 1, 1 VA

Center, Augusta, ME 04330

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved: Veterans Integrated Service Network New England (VISN 1) of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) has a requirement for court reporting (stenography) and transcription services for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Medical Centers. The requirement is for a fixed price, commercial item Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with Alpha4 Solutions, LLC in the amount of $348,415.66 (estimated) for a three-year period.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: The Contractor shall provide all necessary resources to record examinations, testimony or other proceedings in connection with the investigation by manual, machine shorthand, video, or voice recognition as required by VA and described on individual task orders. The method of recording the event and medium (video, audio stenography) and whether in real-time or a combination of media is at the selection of the VA Counsel. The court reporter shall be able to read aloud or display real time, portions of the transcript during event in real time at direction of VA Counsel or upon the request of any panelist. The court reporter shall impromptu clarify inaudible statements. The court reporter shall transcribe recorded material using a computer or shall dictate the material into a recording machine. Court reporting services shall be provided on site throughout New England. The period of performance is July 14, 2019 through July 13, 2022.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: 41 USC §3304(a)(5), 38 U.S.

Code § 8127(c), as implemented by FAR 6.302-5 (Authorized or Required by Statute). COs may use the non-competitive (sole source) procedures authorized in VAAR 819.7007 or 819.7008 up to $5,000,000. Check the specific VAAR clause used below:

(X) 819.7007 Sole source awards to a verified service-disabled veteran-owned small business; or ( ) 819.7008 Sole source awards to a verified veteran-owned small business

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications and/or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): In accordance with VAAR 819.7007 (b), the contracting officer’s determination to make a sole source award is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer. Alpha4 Solutions has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance. The business meets eligibility requirements in 819.7003; Alpha4 Solutions meets the small business size standard under NAICS 561492 and the contractor has been verified in the VIP database at https://www.vip.vetbiz.gov .

Alpha 4 Solutions was awarded the Court Reporting/Transcription BPA, VA241-17-A-0010 in July

VHAPM Part 819.7007/7008 Page 2 of 3

Revision 02 Eff Date: 10/24/2018

2017 for a base year and four options; however, due to an increase in the amount of services needed, the BPA reached its ceiling in 2019. It is in the government’s best interest to continue services with Alpha4 solutions due to the vendor’s demonstrated success for services provided to each medical center in New England. Alpha4 successfully met last minute scheduling and rapid turnaround times. A new BPA will be awarded for 3 years.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed 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: The contracting officer’s determination to make a sole source award is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer. The requirement will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2. As required by VAAR

819.7007 (Sole source awards to verified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses), this justification will be posted in accordance with FAR 5.301(d).

7. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and

Reasonable: Final contract price will be determined fair and reasonable by reviewing historical prices on existing contracts or previously awarded contracts for similar items or services. The current BPA was competed through FBO.gov and awarded on July 6, 2017.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: The vendor met the eligibility criteria outlined in VAAR 819.7003, they are verified in VIP and the action is below the $5M threshold.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: None, authority is

38 USC 8127(c).

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: Alpha4 Solutions.

11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to

Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required: It is anticipated that the follow-on requirement will be a competitive acquisition in 2022.

12. Approvals in accordance with the VHAPM Part 806.3 OFOC SOP:

a. Contracting Officer or Designee’s Certification (required): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

TAMMY DAVIS Date NCO1 Contracting Officer

Tammy A. Davis 1408639 Digitally signed by Tammy A. Davis 1408639 Date: 2019.03.19 11:26:17 -04'00'

VHAPM Part 819.7007/7008 Page 3 of 3

Revision 02 Eff Date: 10/24/2018

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over the SAT but not exceeding $700K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

VICTOR MARTIN Date NCO 1 Branch Chief

Victor E. Martin 951727 Digitally signed by Victor E. Martin 951727 Date: 2019.03.19 11:39:23 -04'00'