P03 JA - 36C24E-26-AP-0455 - Firearm Injury and Prevention - PORTLAND - HCA signed.pdf

Acquisition ID#: 36C24E-26-AP-0455 - Fire Arm Injury and Prevention

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C24E-26-AP-0455

1. Contracting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Procurement Office (RPO) – East 1010 Delafield Road. Bldg. 32, Suite 1A111 Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Requesting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs VA Portland Healthcare System 3710 SW Us Veterans Hospital Rd Portland, OR 97239

2237 Number: 648-26-3-369-0808

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved:

The VA Portland Healthcare System Research Service (VAPHSRS), Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), under VA Health Systems Research (HSR) Center of Innovation (COIN), intends to negotiate a new sole source Firm-Fixed-Price contract with the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), the primary academic affiliate, to support the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) aim for research services in multiple studies related to public health approaches to firearm violence prevention and suicide prevention among Veterans.

CIVIC’s mission is to support high quality research on patient-centered approaches that promote Veteran engagement and active participation in VA and non-VA healthcare and other resources to improve Veteran health and well-being. CIVIC’s vision is to continue its development as a multidisciplinary, collaborative team of health-systems investigators who conduct innovative, high-quality research on Veteran-centric care that has relevance and impact for Veterans and other VA stakeholders. The content and methodological expertise, established relationships, cultural competency, and advanced research skills OHSU brings to our studies are critically needed to support our core research staff.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs:

The proposed action is to support CIVIC with a variety of research activities related to a public health approach to firearm injury prevention among Veterans. The tasks include presenting and distributing findings using advanced quantitative methodologies (e.g., target trial emulation and other counterfactual-based approaches) with large relational datasets to compare Veteran and non-Veteran health outcomes using advanced qualitative approaches (e.g., Photovoice, Database of Individual Patient Experiences or DIPEx) to capture Veteran perspectives.

OHSU will work closely with the Principal Investigator to complete these tasks and associated subtasks timely. The work products for this action include completion of research briefs, fact sheets, implementation manuals and other similar materials. The documentation of analyses for Oregon-specific population-level datasets will be conducted through syntax and Microsoft Word tables and analyzed datasets to capture Oregon Veteran perspectives in qualitative software. This procurement is for a five-year requirements contract. Funding will be placed on individual task orders for a research project coordinator and a senior research assistant. The period of performance (POP) will be from 07/01/2026 - 06/30/2031 with a realistic estimated total dollar value of $913,007.17.

PERSONNEL HOURLY

RATE

FRINGE

RATE

# OF

HOURS

ANNUAL AMOUNT

BASE YEAR (7/1/26 – 6/30/27)

Research Project Coordinator $33.56 38.4% 2,080 $96,609.84

Senior Research Assistant $25.16 44% 2,080 $75,359.23

$171,969.07

YEAR 2 (7/1/27 – 6/30/28)

Research Project Coordinator $34.57 38.4% 2,080 $99,508.14

Senior Research Assistant $25.91 44% 2,080 $77,620.01

$177,128.15

YEAR 3 (7/1/28 – 6/30/29)

Research Project Coordinator $35.60 38.4% 2,080 $102,493.38

Senior Research Assistant $26.69 44% 2,080 $79,948.61

$182,441.99

YEAR 4 (7/1/29 – 6/30/30)

Research Project Coordinator $36.67 38.4% 2,080 $105,568.18

Senior Research Assistant $27.49 44% 2,080 $82,347.07

$187,915.25

YEAR 5 (7/1/30 – 6/30/31)

Research Project Coordinator $37.77 38.4% 2,080 $108,735.23

Senior Research Assistant $28.32

44% 2,080 $84,817.48

$193,552.71

TOTAL $913,007.18

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition:

( ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per 41 USC §3304(a)(1) as implemented by RFO 6.103-1;

( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per 41 USC §3304(a)(2) as implemented by RFO 6.103-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per 41 USC §3304(a)(3) as implemented by RFO 6.103-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per 41 USC §3304(a)(4) as implemented by RFO 6.103-4

(X) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute per 41 USC §3304(a)(5) as implemented by RFO

6.103-5;

( ) (6) National Security per 41 USC §3304(a)(6) as implemented by RFO 6.103-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per 41 USC §3304(a)(7) as implemented by RFO 6.103-7;

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has highly specialized expertise related to a public health approach to firearm injury prevention among Oregon Veterans. OHSU has established relationships with firearm-related organizations (e.g., businesses or enthusiast groups), Veteran-serving organizations, and healthcare organizations. They have cultural competency in communicating with firearm owners, Veterans, and others on the sensitive topic of firearm injury prevention, and advanced quantitative and qualitative approaches.

OHSU’s Gun Violence Prevention Research Center (GVPRC) are extremely knowledgeable about the public health content area of firearm injury prevention, have extensive experience conducting culturally competent research with Veterans and other community members who own firearms, are proficient in advanced quantitative and qualitative methodologies not currently possessed by CIVIC researchers, and have established relationships with Oregon-based organizations and healthcare systems. The OHSU GVPRC consists of twenty highly trained faculty and staff researchers. Two faculty members hold PhDs and three have MDs.

Two staff researchers have doctoral degrees, and seven staff researchers have master’s degrees. All researchers have training or extensive experience working in public health.

Many have training specifically in injury prevention and firearm injury prevention, and all are actively publishing manuscripts and presenting at state, regional, and national conferences on topics related to a public health approach to firearm injury prevention.

Accordingly, OHSU is the only organization capable of providing the services described in Section III above without the Veteran’s Health Administration experiencing substantial duplication of cost that could not be expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements.

38 U.S.C. 8153 allows for sole source awards related to research with VA academic affiliates. OHSU is the primary academic affiliate of the Portland VA Healthcare System and has several groups that tie in with CIVIC’s specific areas of expertise. Therefore, it is anticipated that this requirement will be sole sourced to the affiliated practice group OHSU, a non-profit educational facility.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as possible (including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by RFO Part 5 and, if not, which exception under RFO Part 5 applies):

RFO 6.103-5(b)(1) states, full and open competition need not be provided when a statue expressly authorizes or requires that the acquisition be made through another agency or from a specified source. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 8153 (a)(3)(A):

“If the healthcare resource required is a commercial service, the use of medical equipment or space, or research, and is to be acquired from an institution affiliated with the Department in accordance with section 7302 of this title, including medical practice groups and other entities associated with affiliated institutions, blood banks, organ banks, or research centers, the Secretary may make arrangements for acquisition of the resource without regard to any law or regulation (including any Executive order, circular, or other administrative policy that would otherwise require the use of competitive procedure for acquiring the resource."

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

OHSU is a non-profit organization affiliated with the VA Portland Healthcare System. The Contracting Officer has obtained and reviewed OSHU’s 2024 OMB Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 Audit. The Contracting Officer has also obtained and reviewed OSHU’s fiscal years 2025 & 2026 F&A cost rate agreement for federal contracts issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. The Contracting Officer will determine fair and reasonable pricing prior to award, but anticipates the price noted above to be fair and reasonable. The Government anticipates paying OHSUs actual costs (salary plus related fringe benefit costs). These costs have already been evaluated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and are considered reasonable since these services are provided in support of NIH funded research on a regular basis. As part of the Department of Health and Human Services, charges for the support of NIH funded research have been evaluated by the Division of Cost Allocation (DCA) which process proposals from various universities across the country including the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). OSHU is a non-profit organization affiliated with the VA. Previous contracts have demonstrated that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable. The established pricing is published within the University website, and the Contractor salaries will be compared to similar salaries located in the Portland Oregon area on sites to include NIH Grants & Funding, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Indeed.com, and Payscale.com. The VA will pay the same rates as OSHU staff.

The Contracting Officer anticipates the price noted in #3 above to be fair and reasonable;

however, price negotiations may be conducted if the CO determines this is necessary.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

A search was conducted in the SBA Small Business VetCert database using the NAICS code 541720 and terms “Research Gun Violence Prevention”, which yielded no results capable to meet this requirement. There are no small businesses that can meet the tasks required for this procurement. A pre-solicitation notice with intent to sole source was posted on SAM.gov Contract Opportunities under 36C24E26R0016 on 04/21/2026 and closed on 04/28/2026, and no responses were received. No businesses have the required background, knowledge, and expertise required for this research study. Contracting out to a different entity would cause delays in the ongoing studies. 38 U.S.C. 8153 allows for sole source awards related to research with VA academic affiliates. OHSU is an academic affiliate to the VA Portland Healthcare System.

This is a collaborative research study with OHSU, an affiliated practice group with the VA Portland Healthcare System. No other businesses can be considered. This study involves OHSU’s uniquely qualified staff and extensive knowledge in the public health approach to firearm injury prevention among Veterans. Based on the market research conducted, no VetCert certified and capable SDVOSBs or VOSBs were identified or capable of performing the requirement. In addition, no small business in any of the other targeted socio-economic groups appeared to qualify for a set-aside or sole source procurement. Therefore, it is anticipated that this requirement will be sole sourced to the affiliated practice group OHSU.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: Without the highly specialized technical skills provided by OHSU to CIVIC investigators, the funded projects associated with the VA Healthcare Systems Research (HSR) Center of Innovation (COIN) will not be able to fulfill project objectives.

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

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd Portland, OR 97239.

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:

Research will continue to be conducted but given the unique nature of this requirement and the collaborative effort it is unlikely a different vendor will be capable to provide these services in the near future.

12. 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 and belief.

Victoria Elliott Date Health Science Specialist

VA Portland Healthcare System

VICTORIA

ELLIOTT

Digitally signed by

VICTORIA ELLIOTT

Date: 2026.05.13 11:29:22 -07'00' 05/13/2026

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

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

Ann Marie Stewart Date Contracting Officer Regional Procurement Office-East R&D

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over SAT but not exceeding

$900K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Seth Custer Date Division Chief

Regional Procurement Office-East R&D

c. VHA RPO HCA Review and Approval: I have reviewed the foregoing justification and find it to be complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and recommend approval (if over $90 million) or approve ($900K to $90 million) for other than full and open competition.

Gerald F. Jacobs Date Executive Director, Regional Procurement Office East

05/13/2026

ANN MARIE

STEWART

Digitally signed by

ANN MARIE STEWART

Date: 2026.05.13 15:25:09 -04'00'

VHALEBCUSTES

Text Box 5/14/2026