VA119-15-A-0008-001.pdf

LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

ORDER >SAT

FAR PART 8.405-6

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C244-19-AP-2561___

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 4, VISN 04, Purchase Request Number 595-19-3-4448-0011.

2. Description of Action: This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple- Award Schedule Program (41 U.S.C. 251 and 40 U.S.C. 501). The order is for VISN 04 medical coding services and will be awarded as a new requirement.

Order against: FSS Contract Number: ____GS-35-283W______________

Name of Proposed Contractor: Cooper Thomas LLC

Street Address: 923 V ST NW

City, State, Zip: Washington DC 20001

Phone:

3. Description of Supplies or Services:

The estimated value of the proposed action, to include possible option period, is The requirement is for medical coding services for VISN 04. The Contracting Officer anticipates award of a one-year base period of performance, to include a possible 6-month option period under FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services.

(4) IDENTIFY THE AUTHORITY AND SUPPORTING RATIONALE (see 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A), (B), and

(C) or 8.405-6(b)), AND IF APPLICABLE, A DEMONSTRATION OF THE PROPOSED

CONTRACTOR�S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED SUPPLY OR SERVICE.

In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-on to an original Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original order must not have been previously issued under sole source or limited source procedures.

(5) DESCRIBE WHY YOU BELIEVE THE ORDER REPRESENTS THE BEST VALUE CONSISTENT WITH

FAR 8.404(d) TO AID THE CONTRACTING OFFICER IN MAKING THIS BEST VALUE

DETERMINATION:

Cooper Thomas, as the current provider of these services, does not require additional training to perform this requirement for VISN 4. This reduces the Government�s burden for training the contractor to provide continuity of services. Consequently, Cooper Thomas also will not experience a learning curve when performing this requirement for VISN 4. This ensures the Government�s need will continue to be met in a timely fashion and in full by the contractor immediately upon award; the work will not need to be shifted to government personnel for action to accommodate contractor training on the requirement. Moreover, because Cooper Thomas LLC currently provides VISN 4 medical coding services, they are currently staffed to provide continuous service without risking a lapse due to contractor on-boarding.

These are important factors as the Government has experienced a lag in hiring new full-time government employees to perform medical coding. VISN 4�s long-term intent is that medical coding will be performed in full by Government personnel. However, at this time the Government is still working to hire for these positions. Accordingly, it is essential that the contractor be able to meet the Government�s need immediately and in full at the time of award as the Government does not currently have the capacity to provide these services. Awarding a logical follow-on contract to Cooper Thomas for coding services provides efficiency in receiving coding services for VISN 4. Additionally, as the contractor�s rates have been found fair and reasonable both at the time of BPA award as well as at the time of the initial order award, which was competed, the contractor�s rates are found fair and reasonable, and demonstrate a cost savings to the Government.

(6) DESCRIBE THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AMONG SCHEDULE HOLDERS AND THE

RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED:

A solicitation was issued for this requirement to all VA HIMS medical coding BPA holders.

However, during the time of quote evaluation, the technical team identified that the SOW

. Due to this change in need, the solicitation was canceled. The Government intends to award a one-year follow-on contract for out-patient coding to ensure continuity of services for VISN 4. The Government also intends to compete and award to one of the BPA holders a short-term in-patient coding contract. These two requirements, once fully defined, will be solicited together for a long-term (five year) contract to meet the on-going needs of VISN 4.

(7) ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE JUSTIFICATION:

The current contract was competed amongst all VA HIMS BPA holders and awarded for a six-month base period with a six-month option period, which was exercised. The CO determined