36C25919C0290-001.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval for

Other Than Full and Open Competition

Acquisition Plan Action ID:

36C259-19-AP-3959

554-19-3-2063-0109 RPOW Tracker No. 2019-09-18T11:39:07

1. Contracting Activity:

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 19 Rocky Mountain Acquisition Center (RMAC), on behalf of the requesting Denver Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), 1700 N. Wheeling Drive, Aurora, CO 80045.

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

NCO 19 proposes to enter into a Sole Source, Firm-Fixed price (FFP) contract for non-personal services with the Visible Network Labs, 8045 Flower Ct, Arvada, CO 80005 for Research, Community Engagement and Program Development support. The estimated period of performance for these services is 20 September 2019 through 19 September 2020, with two one-year option periods. The total cost for these services for the base year is $171,014.00, for all three years (base and two option years) it is firm $447,063.00.

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

Visible Network labs will provide utilization of PARTNER tool, which is a technical assistance package and generated analysis Report and sub-reports using Network Analysis. All these services were developed as part of grant-based agreement. Visible Network labs created/implemented these tools as a part of the grant.

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 FAR 6.302-1;

( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per FAR 6.302-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per FAR 6.302-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per FAR 6.302-4 ( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute FAR 6.302-5;

( ) (6) National Security per FAR 6.302-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per FAR 6.302-7;

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

The MIRECC has been working with Visible Network Labs as Visible Network Labs created/implemented the analysis package as part of a grant-based agreement. Visible Network Labs include The PARTNER Team which is actively involved in local, regional, and national level research and evaluation projects. Their team is made up of experts in the area of Organizational Network Evaluation, Placed-Based Evaluation, GIS Analysis, Stakeholder Involvement, and Network Analysis, providing a specific range of expertise not typically found in one organization. The evaluation approach is based on a Community Based Participatory Model, with a focus on reflective learning and evidence-based practice. Collectively, they have a strong set of experience in evaluations and research related to organizational networks analysis and place-based evaluation not found elsewhere. They have also been the contractor for this analysis in the research aspects of this project up until this point and changing the contract at this time would affect the consistency of the research data.

Suggested Source:

Visible Network Labs 8045 Flower Ct Arvada, CO 80005 Danielle Varda O: 303-601-8874

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable:

Upon an internet search for a similar tool, team, and expertise, no available organizations were found within the United States. Other Network analysis organizations were found in the United Kingdom and Australia but their focus was on internal Organizational Network Evaluation and the need is for this Network Analysis to be used in rural communities not internal organizations. They also had little to no expertise on Community Based Participatory methods and the tools were less adaptable to the projects need. Furthermore, based on the previous work done by Visible Network Labs under the grant-based agreement, as well as the strict parameters the required analysis packages must adhere to, it is in the best interest of the Government to continue work with Visible Network Labs. A new vendor would not have access to the tools/processes put into place and proprietary to Visible Network Labs nor would they have access to the previously collected date in the grant-based study.

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

The anticipated cost is in line with what has been charged to other National Agencies and consistent with published prices. Similar contract, 36C25918C0201, was awarded for one year which contains roughly a one-third of the portion of this proposed requirement. The total cost of that requirement was $48,000.00 and determined fair and reasonable.

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

Market Research Was Not Conducted:

Market research included a search on Vendor Information Pages (VIP) and a search on Small Business Administration (SBA). Vendors were searched for in each of these systems using North American Industry Classification Code System (NAICS) code 541690 and key word “Organizational Network Analysis”. The results were zero Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSBs/VOSBs) in VIP and one small business (Visible Network Labs) in the SBA database. Visible Network Labs does not have a federal supply schedule and the services cannot be performed using a schedule contract.

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

This analysis team has previously conducted this work for the Department of Health and Human Services in cooperation with RAND as well as The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). This contractor has been an integral part of the research component of the Together With Veterans Program. Changing vendors at this point would negatively impact the research accompanying this project.

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

Visible Network Labs, 8045 Flower Ct, Arvada, CO 80005, POC: Danielle Varda, daniellevarda@gmail.com, 303-601-8874, Website: www.visiblenetworklabs.com

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:

All future requirements of a similar nature will be competed to the greatest extent practicable if there are areas where continuity with this contractor is not in the best interest of the Government.

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.

9/19/2019

X Leah Wendleton Leah Wendleton

Signed by: Leah R Wendleton 737780

Leah Wendleton Date

ECHCS - MIRECC

13. Approvals in accordance with FAR 6.304

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

Mary Good Date Contracting Officer

NCO 19

b. Director of Contracting /Designee (Required over$150K but not exceeding $700K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Date

Albert Williams Division Chief – Division 1

NCO 19

Mary E. Good 1641264

Digitally signed by Mary E. Good 1641264 Date: 2019.09.19 13:22:29 -06'00'

September 19, 2019