JA for Pharmacy Onesource.pdf

Attachment 1: Request for Sole Source Justification Format >SAT

VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Page 1 of 4 Revision: 04 Effective Date: 12/15/25 Acquisition ID#: 36C250-27-AP-0331

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C250-27-AP-0331

1. Contracting Activity: Network Contracting Office (NCO 10)

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

VISN 10 collaborates with AudioCARE Systems for the utilization of a comprehensive suite of automated resources from scheduling to clinical administrations, and various pharmacy functions. The pharmacy products used are included in the graphic below.

The products, RxReady and PREFILL, build upon the REFILL and RENEWAL products and will not operate without them. AudioCare is the only system that interfaces with the VistA and Oracle Health computer systems and offers the services required.

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

VISN 10 requests continued maintenance and support of the AudioCARE products that have already been purchased, implemented and are being utilized: RxREADY, PREFILL (AudioPREFILL and TM-PREFILL), and/or AudioCOMMUNICATOR (Standard and TM). As these facilities already have the AudioCARE system running, this is a sole-source purchase of additional products to add to their current suite. As identified above, some VISN 10 facilities already have one or both Communicator products. The products will continue to be used to improve patient satisfaction, improve pharmacy workflow efficiencies, reduce wait times at the pharmacy, and decrease the number of patients that run out of their medication.

• RxReady: Notification to patients via text when one or multiple prescriptions are ready for pick up at the pharmacy.

• PREFILL (Audio and Text Message – TM): Notification to patients that their prescription is about to run out via automated call or text message. It then gives the patient the option to request a refill/renewal of the RX in the case of telephone reminders.

• COMMUNICATOR (Audio and TM): Custom notification to patients. This product can be used by services outside of pharmacy. Examples of notifications include announcements, reminders, alerts, and surveys.

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

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

6.103-5;

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Acquisition ID#: 36C250-27-AP-0331

() (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):

Only one source can provide the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. AudioCARE Systems an Artera Company is the sole manufacturer and distributor of its products and services. All AudioCare’ s Systems and applications are proprietary, and no other company can sell or resell these products, renew software licenses or provide support for audio Care’s products.

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):

A Sources Sought Notice (36C25027Q0020) was publicized on SAM.gov Contract Opportunities from 10/6/2026 through 10/9/2026 to solicit interest from potential sources, including small businesses and SDVOSB/VOSB concerns. The notice generated responses from two interested parties, neither of which provided a capabilities statement or responses to the posted questions, despite being given the opportunity to do so. Neither respondent demonstrated the capability to perform the required services. Based on this notice and the broader market research conducted (see Market Research Report), no additional capable sources were identified. The Contracting Officer will reassess the market prior to exercising any option period or award of a follow-on contract to determine whether additional capable sources have entered the marketplace.

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

Reasonable:

This acquisition will be issued as a task order against GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract 47QTCA22D00CM, held by SB Payton Merger Sub II LLC, dba AudioCare, An Artera Company. GSA Schedule pricing is subject to a pre-negotiated ceiling established and determined fair and reasonable by GSA at the time of contract award, in accordance with FAR 8.404(d). Additionally, the Contracting Officer notes that the vendor previously offered an administrative discount of 25% off the Base Year and 10% off each option year when VISN 10 consolidated requirements into a single Task Order (Contract 47QTCA22D00CM / 36C25024F0750), rather than issuing separate task orders at each station, as had been done previously under GSA Contract No. GS-35F-0821M. Based on the GSA Schedule's pre-negotiated, fair-and-reasonable ceiling pricing, combined with the vendor's demonstrated willingness to offer additional discounts for consolidated ordering, the Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government under this acquisition will be fair and reasonable.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the

Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

• An SBA SBS search using keyword “AudioCare” returned no results for SDVOSB or

VOSB concerns https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/far-part-deviation-guide/far-overhaul-part-5 https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/far-part-deviation-guide/far-overhaul-part-5

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Acquisition ID#: 36C250-27-AP-0331

• GSA eLibrary: Searched NAICS 513210 then searched “AudioCare” with 1 result:

47QTCA22D00CM GSA contract indicates that AudioCare is a SB however when validating this against SAM.gov Reps and Certs AudioCARE is an OTSB for all NAICS codes listed.

• SBA Small Business Search: Keyword AudioCare returned no results. Searched Mumps AudioFax returned (1) vendor, Mumps Audio fax (SB), SAM UEI CHRNPLHCSL95.

• SAM.gov (Contract Opportunities): A Keyword search “AudioCare” in contract opportunities returned 4 active results

• 36C25927Q0005 (VISN 19) Pre-solicitation Notice – Non-Competitive award (One Source IAW FAR 6.301)

• (2 Postings) 36C26326F0114 (VISN 23) Award Notice with LSJ citing items peculiar to one manufacturer IAW FAR 8.405-6(b).

• Sources Sought Notice 36C25027Q0020

• VA ADDSUP: Search for AudioCARE returned 91 contracts or task orders when “AudioCare” was searched along with the category filter “IT” all awards were to either Mumps AudioFax Inc. or Payton Merger SUB II LLC

• Sources Sought: A Sources Sought Notice (36C25027Q0020) was publicized to contract opportunities on 10/6/2026 with a close date of 10/9/2026. Vendors were instructed to respond to (4) questions and provide a capabilities statement so that the Government could determine capability. At the time of closing the Government received (1) response and (1) question as per below.

• Vendor 1: (SDVOSB) – Provided no capabilities statement or answers to questions. CO could not determine capability.

• Vendor 2: (SDVOSB) asked about the document not being present in the SAM.gov posting which was caused by an error between eCMS and SAM.gov.

The CO uploaded the document to SAM.gov and emailed the vendor. The vendor did not provide any documentation, capabilities statement or answers to questions. CO cannot determine capability.

• Proprietary Letter: During the previous contract Market Research phase Payton Merger provided a letter which stated that the services were proprietary and there were no other third-party suppliers that could facilitate these services.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

N/A

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

Payton Merger Sub II LLC (dba AudioCare, An Artera Company) 1025 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3245

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:

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Acquisition ID#: 36C250-27-AP-0331

The primary barrier to competition for this requirement is that the AudioCARE software suite (RxReady, PREFILL, and COMMUNICATOR) is proprietary to Payton Merger Sub II LLC, dba AudioCare, An Artera Company, and is not compatible with or interchangeable with competing third-party systems. VISN 10 facilities have already been purchased, implemented, and are actively utilizing the AudioCare platform; migrating to a different vendor's system would require VISN 10 to abandon existing infrastructure, licenses, and integration work, and would constitute a separate and distinct acquisition rather than continued maintenance and support of the current system.

To overcome this barrier for future acquisitions, the Contracting Officer will take the following actions:

Prior to exercising any option period or initiating any follow-on acquisition, the Contracting Officer will conduct updated market research, to determine whether additional vendors have entered the marketplace with compatible or competing capability.

The Contracting Officer will continue to monitor VA ADDSUP, SAM.gov Contract Opportunities, and the SBA Small Business Search/VetCert databases for any new SDVOSB, VOSB, or other small business concerns offering automated pharmacy notification/communication systems.

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.

Angela Seng Date Program Specialist VISN 10 Pharmacy

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.

Name Date Contracting Officer Network Contracting Office (NCO-10) https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/vhapromanual/SitePages/VHAPM-Part-806.3.aspx