Justification and Approval - 36C261-24-AP-0483 REVISED 52124 SIGNED-BC.pdf

VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Page 1 of 4

Revision: 02 Effective Date: 11/15/23

Acquisition ID#: 36C261-24-AP-0483

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A)

For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

AMENDED

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C261-24-AP-0483

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

21, VISN 21, in support of VA Southern Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS) (593) located at 6900 North Pecos Road, North Las Vegas, NV 89086. The purchase request number is 593-24-1-220-0001.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: The VASNHCS contracted for

Air Ambulance services for the past 5 years on contract 36C6118D0072 36C26123F0319. A new procurement package has been submitted, to procure a firm fixed price 6 month contract for these same services to allow enough time for completion of the changes to the VA

Veteran Transportation Program and for a National contract to be put into place. It is anticipated that a procurement package for a long term contract will be submitted at that time.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: The Contractor will provide Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Critical Care transportation (CCT), critical care transport pre-arranged air ambulance services are required twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, including all holidays for beneficiaries of the VA. For the purpose of this Contract, patients shall be transported by Air Transport only if the patient requires continuous electrocardiogram, ECG monitoring and/or the physician designates a patient as a critical care transport. It is further understood that only a physician or registered nurse with critical care training and current advanced cardiac life support

(ACLS) certification may be designated as the medical flight attendant, in accordance with the standards of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport System (CAMTS), Medical Transport and Medical Escort Accreditation (NAAMTA Global), or European Aero

Medical Institute (EURAMI) for any critical care transport. This procurement will cover a 6 -month period with an option to extend for an additional six (6) months with a period of performance of May 29, 2024 – November 28, 2024.

IGCE

Total Estimated Six Month Cost: $396,510.21

Total Estimated Six Month Cost: $508,343.88

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

(X) (1) Pursuant to 41 USC §3304(b)(B), and as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only One

Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. There will be an unacceptable delay in air ambulance services unless a 6-month bridge contract is put into place. These services are needed on a continuous basis for patient care.

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Acquisition ID#: 36C261-24-AP-0483

( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per 41 USC §3304(a)(2) as implemented by FAR 6.302-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per 41 USC §3304(a)(3) as implemented by FAR 6.302-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per 41 USC §3304(a)(4) as implemented by FAR 6.302-4

( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute per 41 USC §3304(a)(5) as implemented by FAR 6.302-5;

( ) (6) National Security per 41 USC §3304(a)(6) as implemented by FAR 6.302-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per 41 USC §3304(a)(7) as implemented by FAR 6.302-7;

Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition

Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

VASNHCS serves more than 81, 000 veterans, which are primarily from the Nye, Lincoln, and Clark County area. The VA Medical Center (VAMC) has 110 inpatient beds and approximately 22,370 inpatient admissions and 952,318 outpatient visits per year.

The purpose of the contemplated contract is to provide air and ground transportation as deemed medically necessary for patients who are beneficiaries of (VASNHCS) to outpatient medical appointments or for inpatient admissions. These appointments and admissions are within the state of Nevada, as well as other VA Facilities located in:

• San Francisco, California

• Palo Alto, California

• Reno, Nevada

• Phoenix, Arizona

• Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Tucson, Arizona

• Los Angeles, California

• Loma Linda, California

• Long Beach, California

• San Diego, California

Transportation for care from VASNHCS may be to other VA facilities and/OR community care facilities in the continental United States; dependent upon the type and level of care the Veteran requires. This includes but is not limited to VA Transplant Facilities in Utah, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Iowa, or Wisconsin. Ground transportation is needed to transport Veterans from

VASNHCS to airfields for transport to other locations via Air Ambulance. Air Ambulances amust be -appropriately equipped to provide medical transportation services.

Ambulance services for VASNHCS’s patients are required on a continuous basis. It would put the U.S. Government at grave risk if these services were not available for the VA’s patients due to the harm and unnecessary suffering that could be incurred by patients if there is an inability to transport them to other facilities to receive the care they need. This short 6-month bridge contract would allow for patients’ transportation to continue while a National contract is put into place.

5. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: Market research was conducted, and it was found that the

VA was planning to put a Nationwide contract in place in 2024. Network Contracting Office

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Acquisition ID#: 36C261-24-AP-0483

(NCO) 21 requested an acquisition package for a short-term contract as a bridge to last until the Nationwide contract was put into place.

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

Reasonable: The anticipated cost will be considered fair and reasonable. However, pricing will vary based on the market and whether or not the contract is sub-contracted. Current market pricing is based on either a flat rate or by multiplying the average cost per nautical mile $29.83.

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

Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

As described in Section 6 above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, was conducted by synopsis of the proposed acquisition, advising industry of the pending acquisition and soliciting inquiries from interested parties. Vetbiz and SAM.gov were used to determine if there were any SDVOSB's or VOSB's were capable of taking on this requirement. Based on the market research, there are multiple sources that can provide Air

Ambulance Services across the country. However, as stated earlier dealing with companies outside of Texas would have to sub-contract to the local companies to provide this service which may increase the cost of this service. Furthermore, with the guildance from our contracting official leadership, they are recommending that we do a bridge contract with a 1 year base and two 6 month option periods. Lastly, it was determined that this service is available locally, but it limited to only one vendor that can support the service area's.

8. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: None

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

AC Global Air Ambulance, Joan Floribus, 806-331-7426, acglobalmedicaltransports@gmail.com

8775 Aero Drive. San Diego, CA 92123

(858) 437-5131

10. 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: The barrier exists solely because because we have a short time frame in which to get this requirement in place. The bridge contract is only a vehicle we are using to move to the a National contract once it is awarded and available for use. However, any future requirements will be competed openly and fairly in accordance with FAR 10.

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.

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Acquisition ID#: 36C261-24-AP-0483

Chervil Tatum

Supervisory Mobility Transportation Specialist

VA Southern Nevad Health Care System

12. 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.

Maricela Berrones-Gauger

Contracting Officer

Network Contracting Office (NCO) 21

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.

Joleo Dianala

Branch Chief

Network Contracting Office (NCO) 21 https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/VHAProcurement/VHAPM/VHAPM_Part_806.3.aspx