36C25920C0036-001.pdf

VHAPM Part 806.3 Other Than Full and Open Competition (OFOC) SOP Attachment 2: Request for Sole Source Justification Format >SAT

2019-12-05T13:03:21

OFOC SOP Revision 08 Page 1 of 4 Original Date: 03/22/11 Revision 08 Date: 04/18/2018

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C295-19-AP-4461

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 19, 6162

South Willow Drive Suite 300 Greenwood Village, CO, 80111.

Program Office: VA Medical Center Grand Junction 2121 North Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501.

Purchase Request: 575-20-1-146-0001.

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

The request is for other than full and open competition procuring a subscription to access Quality Health Network (QHN). This is essential to accessing Veterans Health Information and an effective way to communicate and collaborate with community partners in supporting Veteran care.

Electronic Health Information Exchanges (eHIE) have been developed regionally throughout the nation and often require a subscription to access necessary health information. Providing subscription based access to a secure eHIE includes veteran health information from community partners. It is required to ensure efficient business operations and quality care. This requiremet will be awarded as firm fixed price contract for subscription services.

FAR13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items: This procurement is for subscription services in accordance with FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items and specifically FAR 13.501 Special Documentation Requirements, where acquisitions conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6, but still require a justification using the format of FAR 6.303-2.

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

This network provides Patient medical information accessible to subscribing providers in Western Colorado through a health information exchange (HIE). A secure exchange of electronic health information between authorized medical providers as an HIE, allowing medical providers access to and retrieval of patient information to improve safe, more timely, efficient and effective patient care. The QHN clinical data base maintains clinical data and health information of Veterans during care in the community. This service will include access for 150 VA providers and their associated care team members to QHN services. This is a follow-on contract to existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) VA259-15-A-0083 which is expiring on January 7, 2020. The new request is for base and plus four (4) option years period with period of performance from January 8, 2020 thru January 7, 2025. The base year’s total amount is $61,800.00 and with 4 option period, the total amount is $334,200.00.

http://www.qualityhealthnetwork.org/content.cfm?ID=3&page=Patients

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

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( 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):

QHN is the sole provider of a comprehensive regional electronic health information network in Western Colorado. Although medical providers use variety of electronic medical record vendors, QHN is the only region-wide electronic health information network providing a system that can be used in viewing and accessing information records from otherwise disparate health care providers to support patient care. In addition QHN provides the following:

QHN Direct Access for Non-VA care teams to direct link messages to community providers.

QHN maintains health information receipt for all major local community hospitals and majority of the WCHCS’ community partners providing Veteran Care. This organization maintains a unique data base and accessible electronic health record including Veteran information.

MD/ DO/NP/PA Provider Access for 365 days.

Care Team Member Access related to said providers is included in the subscription.

QHN to promote bi-directional information exchange by optimizing and maintaining VA/VHIE required e-health exchange by conclusion of subscription period.

QHN imaging e-health technology receipt of information is included in the subscription.

ADT alerts for a patient list of veterans registered with the VA as receiving primary care through the WCVAHCS throughout the life of the contract.

Quarterly education/training class to be provided at the WCVAHCS for providers using QHN on updates and use of HIE software.

Imaging viewing through QHN Image link in base QHN HIE software.

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

Market research was conducted by posting 36C25920Q0010, Request for Information (RFI) from October 10, 2019 through October 24, 2019 through Government Point of Entry (GPE) https://beta.sam.gov . No response was received when the RFI closed.

QHN Representative was contacted by phone and email on November 18, 2019 and found that QHN does not have a partnering agreement and/ or has SDVOSB or VOSB distributor. It was indicated that QHN is the sole provider of a comprehensive regional electronic health information network in Western Colorado.

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

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Price reasonableness was be conducted in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(iv). QHN’s first quote was dated March 7, 2017 to Hospital A (redacted) for the amount of $4,500.00 per month with the maximum user of 18 providers, when compared with the follow-on award base year’s amount of $5,150.00 with the maximum user of 150 providers, Hospital A’s quote is higher than the VA’s quote by $214.67 per provider. QHN’s second quote was dated March 30, 2016 to Hospital B (redacted) for the amount of $23,750.00 per month with the maximum user of 130 providers, when compared with the base year’s follow-on award, Hospital B’s quote is higher than the VA’s quote by $147.98 per provider. In addition, QHN’s quote to VA is estimated 3.9% per year. Therefore, the award to QHN is fair and reasonable.

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

The Government conducted a thorough market research. Reviewed the Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database in accordance with VAAR Class Deviation 810.001-70 to determine if two or more service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOSBs) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) with the NAICS code 519190 and search engine “Subscription Electronic Health Information Exchanges”. Contacted several SDVOSBs and VOSBs, but received no response. Additionally, as described in Section 6 above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, was conducted by posting RFI. No response was received when the RFI closed.

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

Changing vendor can result substantial duplication of costs for training over 150 employees and ability to support the same viewing and accessing of health records from disparate health care providers supporting patient care. The cost is estimated $61,800.00 per year.

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

None.

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:

To overcome any barriers to competition, the Government will continue to conduct market research to determine any changes in the market place. For the follow-on requirement, the Government had conducted intent to sole source which was posted through Government Point of Entry (GPE) https://beta.sam.gov.

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.

Name: Elizabeth Roten Date Title: Chief of Education Facility: WCHCS

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

Elizabeth H.

Roten 259092

Digitally signed by Elizabeth H. Roten 259092 Date: 2019.12.16 16:58:05 -07'00'

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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.

Timothy J. Myers Date Contracting Officer

NCO 19

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over SAT but not exceeding $700K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Gary Arwood Date Division Chief Contracting

NCO 19

TIMOTHY J.

MYERS 173315

Digitally signed by

TIMOTHY J. MYERS 173315

Date: 2019.12.16 18:12:26 -07'00'

Gary J. Arwood 147825

Digitally signed by Gary J.

Arwood 147825 Date: 2020.01.07 10:38:32 -07'00'