-16876.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification for Single Source Awards IAW FAR 13.106-1 For Over Micro-Purchase Threshold but Not Exceeding the SAT ($250K)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C252-19-AP-1413

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 12, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC), 537-19-1-969-0025.

2. Brief description of supplies/services required and the intended use/estimated amount: This requirement is for Optical Comprehensive Tomography (OCT) and Forum Software for the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center located in Chicago, IL. The OCT and Forum Software is manufactured by Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. (“Zeiss”).

The Zeiss Cirrus OCT is a low-powered laser which allows the practitioner to non-invasively scan the inside of a patient's eye. The scan evaluates the health of the retina or optic nerve head and can either confirm, deny, or discover disease which cannot be seen with the naked eye. The scans allow the facility to diagnose diseases at a much earlier time during the disease – or as changes develop – and allows more treatment options to the patients. The associated software will allow the viewing of the captured images, as well as performance analysis on the data remotely; i.e., the exam rooms and offices. Currently, the captured images can only be evaluated at the instrument. This produces a logjam between those needing the capture the images and those that need to review them. The software also allows the remote reviewing of three additional instruments all on the same patient which will allow the practitioner to have a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's disease and lead to a more a tailored treatment.

The procurement will help with decreasing the wait times in the eye clinic as well as the length of a patient's exam. Currently, a similar unit is being used but it cannot handle the volume of patients that need scanning. Often, there is at least one or two patients in line in the hallway outside the room housing the instrument awaiting their turn to have the scan performed, and this is also the case when the practitioners need to review the results which can only be performed on the instrument. With the software, all captured images from multiple instruments will be reviewed remotely which will improve patient flow and streamline the delivery of care.

Estimated amount: $166,819.19.

3. Unique characteristics that limit availability to only one source, with the reason no other supplies or services can be used: The facility’s current instrument is from Zeiss, as was its two predecessors;

thus, a decade’s-worth of data exists, which is invaluable in the monitoring and treatment of the patients. Changing manufacturers would require a “start from scratch” with the collection of data and images, losing the all-important historical data. Raw data and images cannot be integrated into competing instruments.

The Forum software (image management software) is specifically designed to work with Zeiss products and will allow the facility to integrate our multiple Zeiss instruments (posterior segment https://www.acquisition.gov/?q=/browse/far/13 camera, fluorescein angiograms, Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer, Corneal topographer and IOLMaster). Instead of reviewing the data on the instruments themselves, all the above images and data from the instruments can be viewed at once on a computer screen remotely in the exam lanes or offices. None of the competing image management software allow us to pick and choose the data that we want to analyze for determining progression of a disease, as this can only be done with the raw data, which the competing platforms cannot do as they only save the images.

4. Description of market research conducted and results or statement why it was not conducted: A search for keyword “optical coherence” was conducted in VIP VetBiz to determine if any Veteran- Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) can fulfill the requirement. Zero responses were returned. Another search was conducted for the term, “OCT” and NAICS code 339112 (Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing). Three results were returned, but none seemed to meet the requirement, as keywords from these Vendors were, “Doctor,” “Proctology,” and “Proctoscope.”

The equipment is known to be available only from one manufacturer, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.

(“Zeiss”). Zeiss is known to work with only one VIP-verified SDVOSB, Corps Biologics, LLC. IAW VAAR 819.7007, a determination that only one SDVOSB can meet the requirement is not required.

This procurement will be fulfilled via open market sole source utilizing the Veterans First Contracting Program IAW Public Law (PL) 109-461 which requires the Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase contracting and subcontracting opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. Purchase is approved pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8127(b) and in accordance with VAAR 813.106-70(b).

5. Contracting Officer's Certification: Purchase is approved in accordance with FAR13.106-1(b). I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer https://acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%2013_1.html#wp1125466