36C26022P0217_1.docx

VHAPM Part 813.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures for Certain Commercial Items Attachment 1: Request for Sole Source Justification Template >SAT-$7.5M under FAR13.5

GENERAL INFORMATION

BASE NOTICE TYPE

Network Contracting Office 20

1495 Wilmington Drive, Suite 360 DuPont WA 98327

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Jennifer Robles jennifer.robles1@va.gov

AWARD INFORMATION

MODIFICATION NUMBER

LINE ITEM NUMBER

AWARDEE ADDRESS LINE 1*

AWARDEE ADDRESS LINE 2*

AWARDEE ADDRESS LINE 4*

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

Justification and Approval Notice Justification and Approval Notice

DESCRIPTION

Justification and Approval Notice

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.5

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C260-22-AP-0819

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Healthcare Administration, Regional Procurement Office West, Network Contracting Office 20, 1495 Wilmington Drive, Suite 360, Dupont, WA 9327 on behalf of Veterans Integrated Service Network 20, VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS), Research Service (P3R&D), 2237: 648-22-2-1546-0022.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: The VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS), Research Service (P3R&D), has a requirement for a base plus one year, firm fixed price contract for research services with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), an affiliate of VA Portland Health Care System. The study, Development of a DIPEx Module on Veteran Firearm Injuries, will provide needed data to construct a culturally competent firearm safety educational program targeting rural Veterans and their care providers.

Total Estimated Cost of the contract is as follows:

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

The VHA Office of Rural Health (ORH), through the Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Portland (VRHRC-P), has awarded funds under the direction of Principal Investigator, Dr. Kathleen Carlson, to continue work on the Prevention of Firearm Injuries among Rural Veterans in the US study. ORH’s mission is to conduct, coordinate, promote and disseminate research on issues that affect the nearly five million Veterans who reside in rural communities. The mandate also requires ORH to develop, refine and promulgate policies, best practices, lessons learned, and innovative and successful programs. ORH fulfills its mission by supporting targeted research, developing innovative programs and identifying new care models. Working through its five Veterans Rural Health Resource Centers as well as partners from academia, state and local governments, private industry and non-profit organizations, ORH strives to break down the barriers separating rural Veterans from quality care.

This study will provide important information on the patterns of injury events (fatal and nonfatal) experienced by rural Veterans. To achieve this end, Dr. Carlson is contracting services to conduct the necessary qualitive research to better understand patients’ and caregivers’ experiences in these contexts, and to specifically create a full DIPEx module ready for dissemination. This work will help Dr. Carlson’s VHA ORH funded study to bridge her quantitative data into effective healthcare-based interventions to reduce the risk of firearm-related injuries and death among rural Veterans.

4. Authority Permitting Restricted Competition:

FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The statutory authority for applying the Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items of FAR 13.5 is 41 U.S.C. § 1901 and is implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) for restricting competition on this procurement. Competition is restricted on this procurement for the reason below:

( ) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements ( ) Unusual and Compelling Urgency ( ) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services ( ) International Agreement

(X) Authorized or Required by Statute ( ) National Security ( ) Public Interest

FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items: The authority for applying the Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items of FAR 13.5 is 41 U.S.C. 1901 and is implemented by for restricting competition on this procurement via FAR 13.106-1(b)(2).

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): Dr. Erika Cottrell at the Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute (OCTRI) at OHSU is uniquely qualified to lead this scope of work. She is a founding member of HERN (the US DIPEx network) and Vice Chair of the network. She collaborated with the Portland VA to complete a DIPEx module on Veteran experiences with traumatic brain injury (one of the first two US modules). In her position at OCTRI, OHSU’s clinical and translational research award (CTSA), she is the director of the Health Experiences Research core, which is charged with amplifying the patient’s voice throughout the spectrum of clinical and translational research and developing infrastructure for the continued growth of HERN throughout the US. A key focus of this work is establishing collaborations with new CTSA nodes (both University of New Mexico and University of Utah have recently joined HERN) and enhancing collaborations between CTSAs and the VA. OCTRI at OHSU is a coordinating center for other DIPEx nodes nationally because of their demonstrated experience in this methodology. OCTRI also has greater staffing capacity and recruitment and outreach capabilities than the other nodes. Due to these factors, Dr. Cottrell and her team at OHSU are uniquely equipped to carry out the steps needed to complete this module, from recruitment, to interviewing, to analysis, to module production. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Portland VA Healthcare System and OHSU have an academic affiliate agreement in place therefore this sole source action is authorized by 38 U.S.C. 8153 and VA Directive 1663.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: Since there is an academic affiliate agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs, Portland VA Healthcare System and Oregon Health Sciences University no other sources were sought out. 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: The anticipated cost is considered fair and reasonable in comparison to the proposed price for research study involving a principal investigator from Oregon Health and Science University, 36C26021P0634 (awarded for 133,520.00 on 05-24-2021) and 36C26020P1010 (awarded for $185,000.00 on 09/14/2020). IAW FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(ii), price is further considered reasonable in comparison to proposed price/labor cost for research study utilizing a principle investigator from the University of Florida on 36C24820C0054 - Awarded: 06/01/2020 for $118,031.69. Individual Scientific Researcher hourly rate ($145) is the similar rate outlined in this contract ($95-185). A similar research study was performed by the National Academy of Sciences on 36C24E20C0006 - Awarded: 12/19/2019 for $749,489.00. Section 8 - Individual labor rates were slightly higher than identified in this requirement and further strengthens the price reasonableness of this action.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: There is a Medical Affiliation Agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs, Portland VA Healthcare System and Oregon Health Sciences University. As per OSDBU Small Business Policy memo, dated 22 June 2016, and VA Directive 1663, dated 10 May 2018. OSDBU authorizes an exception to the small business requirement when research is in conjunction with an authorized affiliate. Because of the waiver, no other market research was performed.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: The mission of the VA is to discover knowledge and create innovations that advance health care for our Veterans and the nation. VHA is the country’s largest integrated health care system and as such, it embraces close ties with academic affiliates by partnering on common research interests to leverage resources and expand the impact of federal research investments to assist our nations Veterans. The Portland VA Medical Center and OHSU are one of the many example of this strategic academic affiliate relationship recognized by the Secretary of the VA.

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: Only Oregon Health Sciences University has been considered for this requirement.

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 maintain study and research continuity and minimize quality control issues, the rural Veterans access to care in VA and non-VA settings research must continue with Oregon Health Sciences University. There are currently no other options for this service.

11. 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.

Operations Director Veterans Rural Health Resource Center VA Portland Health Care System

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

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.

Contracting Officer, Business Services - Logistics Network Contracting Office 20 (NCO 20)

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over SAT but not exceeding $750K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Branch Chief, Medical Equipment Network Contracting Office 20 (NCO 20)

JOFOC Tracking Number: 2021-12-20T09:44:18 PM Part 813.5 SAP for Certain Commercial Items Page 6 of 6 Original Date: 08/30/17 Revision 03 Date: 02/11/2021