C01 LSJ Altoona Mammography Coach_Redacted.pdf

Effective Date: 02/01/2022 Page 1 of 5

LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

ORDER > SAT

FAR PART 8.405-6

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C244-23-AP-3584

(1) Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 4, located at 1601 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington, DE 19805, in support of VISN 4 VA Health Care System at James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Altoona, PA 16602. Purchase Request # 503- 23-2-225-0111.

(2) Description of Action: This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program (41 U.S.C. 152(3) and 40 U.S.C. 501).

Order against: FSS Contract Number: 47QMCA23D000U

Name of Proposed Contractor: FARBER SPECIALTY VEHICLES

Street Address: 7052 AMERICANA PARKWAY

City, State, Zip: REYNOLDSBURG, OH 43068

Phone: (614) 863-6470

(3) Description of Supplies or Services:

The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, PA is working to extend services to remote areas at satellite clinics. The purchase of a specialized 45-foot Mobile Mammography Coach to house advanced diagnostic mammography equipment will provide comprehensive and convenient care to patients in remote areas and underserved communities. The Government has purchased the mammography equipment valued at nearly $1,000,000.00, including the HOLOGIC Affirm Prone Biopsy System. This innovative table, equipped with a vacuum assist core needle biopsy device, offers enhanced precision and efficiency in diagnosing breast abnormalities. The inclusion of ultrasound equipment in the coach allows service to give more extensive healthcare services but requires a larger coach vehicle to fit the equipment. Accommodating this specialized equipment necessitates a 45-foot coach, which is larger than most mobile mammography coaches on the market. Additionally, a 12’ L x 24” W slide-out will accommodate patient registration and dressing rooms, ensuring privacy, comfort, and a smooth flow of operations within the mobile clinic. The estimated value of the proposed action is

(4) Identify the Authority and Supporting Rationale (see below and if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service.

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FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(A): An urgent and compelling need exists and following the ordering procedures would result in unacceptable delays:

FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(B): Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized;

Based on market research that included contacting potential sources and discussing coach requirements with HOLOGIC to best accommodate the mammography equipment, only one source, Farber Specialty Vehicles, proved capable of providing the coach and medical equipment installation services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are highly specialized. The Government has made a significant investment in the highly specialized mammography equipment and requires the coach and equipment installation services to ensure the equipment is installed in accordance with HOLOGIC’s specifications and can be operated properly in a safe operating environment.

The Government met with HOLOGIC to determine if this type of mammography equipment had been installed in a mobile coach before. HOLOGIC stated that Farber Specialty Vehicles had completed the installation of the same equipment in a 45-foot coach built by Farber Specialty Vehicles for HOLOGIC to use has their mobile showroom. To HOLOGIC’s knowledge, Farber Specialty Vehicles is the only company to install this mammography equipment in a mobile coach. Farber Specialty Vehicles is HOLOGIC’s preferred vendor of choice for manufacturing the coach that will house HOLOGIC mammography equipment.

The requirement for a 45-foot coach, specifically a 40FL-XCR coach that can be extended to 45 feet in overall length using a tag axle option, is a unique and precise requirement. Farber Specialty Vehicles is the only vendor that provides this particular configuration, making them the sole source capable of meeting this specific need. Furthermore, the need for a custom slide-out room adds to the specialized nature of the coach required. Farber Specialty Vehicles exclusively offers a custom slide-out room that can extend up to 12 feet in length and 24 inches in depth, powered electrically.

The potential costs and schedule delays that may come with selecting a contractor that does not have experience building a coach of this size and installing this the highly specialized mammography equipment represents a risk to the Government that it is not willing to accept.

In summary, the authority supporting the selection of Farber Specialty Vehicles as the sole source is based on the unique and highly specialized nature of the required supplies and services. The specific requirements for a 45-foot coach with a tag axle option, a custom slide-out room, and specialized installation services, as offered exclusively by Farber Specialty Vehicles, establish them as the only vendor capable of meeting these specific needs at the required level of quality.

FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(C): 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.

FAR 8.405-6(b): Items peculiar to one manufacturer:

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A patent, copyright, or proprietary data limits competition. The proprietary data is:

These are “direct replacements” parts/components for existing equipment.

The material/service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit and function) with existing systems presently installed/performing.

(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:

GSA has already determined the prices of supplies under schedule contracts to be fair and reasonable.

Therefore, ordering activities are not required to make a separate determination of fair and reasonable pricing. By placing an order against a schedule contract using the procedures in 8.405, the ordering activity has concluded that the order represents the best value (as defined in FAR 2.101) and results in the lowest overall cost alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government’s needs.

(6) Describe the Market Research Conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

The Government conducted targeted market research to assess the offerings and capabilities of 9 potential sources, identified through GSA Federal Supply Schedule queries, FPDS queries, and Internet research. The Government sent a Request for Information (RFI) to gauge vendors’ ability to meet the requirements for a mobile mammography coach housing a HOLOGIC mammography unit with a prone biopsy system, an ultrasound unit, and other necessary equipment.

Four vendors responded to the Government’s RFI: Armor Mobile Systems, Matthew's Specialty Vehicles, Farber Specialty Vehicles, and Odulair, LLC.

Upon evaluating the responses received, it became apparent that only one vendor was able to meet all the necessary requirements: Farber Specialty Vehicles. The other vendors were not able to demonstrate they could meet all the Government’s requirements based on their RFI responses.

Armor Mobile Systems did not provide a clear response regarding their ability to provide a 45-foot coach to accommodate the prone biopsy system and other details related to the HOLOGIC equipment. The lack of information hindered a comprehensive evaluation of their capabilities. Their response also stated that a slide-out feature was not available.

Matthew's Specialty Vehicles only offered a 37-foot coach, which did not meet the specific size requirement of 45 feet. As a result, their offering did not align with the Government’s needs.

Odulair, LLC provided the least descriptive response regarding their ability to meet the requirements.

Their feedback lacked the necessary information to evaluate whether they could accommodate the HOLOGIC equipment and the prone biopsy system.

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Farber Specialty Vehicles was the only vendor whose response demonstrated a thorough understanding of the requirements and its ability to meet them by providing a detailed set of specifications, sample floor plan, and sample quote. Farber offered a 45-foot coach, ensuring sufficient space for the prone biopsy system and other necessary accommodations for the HOLOGIC equipment. Farber addressed the provision of a slide-out to accommodate all necessary requirement and space for patient care. Farber provided details for a similar coach project for the Cleveland VA Medical Center in June 2019 (Purchase Order 36C24C18P0141). This prior experience demonstrates to the Government that Farber possesses the necessary technical knowledge to design and build a mobile mammography coach that integrates the HOLOGIC equipment, ensuring optimal functionality and performance while minimizing the risk of compatibility issues and potential delays.

Market research did not indicate that the Government could expect to receive quotes from at least 2 SD/VOSB firms able to meet the Government’s requirements. Therefore, the VA Rule of Two has not been met and this acquisition will not be set aside for SDVOSBs or VOSBs.

(7) Any Other Facts Supporting the Justification:

None.

(8) A Statement of the Actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made:

The Government has not identified any actions it can take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before purchasing this coach and installation services. The highly specialized mammography equipment that has already been purchased dictates the need for the coach and installation services described above.

(9) Requirements Certification: I certify that the requirement outlined in this justification is a Bona Fide Need of the Department of Veterans Affairs and that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that processing of this limited sources justification restricts consideration of Federal Supply Schedule contractors to fewer than the number required by FAR Subpart 8.4.

SIGNATURE

Robert M. Davis Radiology Supervisor Radiology

NAME TITLE SERVICE LINE/SECTION

James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center

FACILITY

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(10) Approvals in accordance with the VHAPM Part 806.3 OFOC SOP:

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

CONTRACTING OFFICER, NCO 4

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over the SAT but not exceeding $750K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

BRANCH CHIEF, NCO 4

HIGHER LEVEL APPROVAL (Required for orders over $750,000):

c. VHA RPO HCA Review and Approval (over $750,000 to $75 million): I have reviewed the foregoing justification and find it to be complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and approve for restricting consideration of the Federal Supply Schedule contractors to fewer than the number required by FAR Subpart 8.4.

JOSEPH P. MALETTA

VHA Head of Contracting Activity (HCA)

ANDREA

BUCKLEY

Digitally signed by ANDREA

BUCKLEY

Date: 2023.06.13 14:26:07 -04'00'

BRANDI

SHELLHAMMER

Digitally signed by BRANDI

SHELLHAMMER

Date: 2023.06.13 15:26:26 -04'00'

JOSEPH MALETTA

Digitally signed by JOSEPH

MALETTA

Date: 2023.06.21 15:52:44 -04'00'