SAM JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL NOTICE - 36C26225P1246.pdf

Justification and Approval Notice

*= Required Field Justification and Approval Notice

SUBJECT* WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORT SVC - Bridge San Diego VA Healthcare System

(SDVAHCS)

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACTING OFFICE’S ZIP CODE* 85723

SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C26225P1246

DELIVERY/TASK ORDER NUMBER 36C26225P1246

BASE NOTICE TYPE

ARCHIVE 60 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* V212

NAICS CODE* 485991

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS

Department of Veterans Affairs NCO 22 - Network Contracting 3601 S. 6th Avenue Tucson AZ 85723

POINT OF CONTACT* Contract Specialist Katharine Robert katharine.robert@va.gov

AWARD INFORMATION

STATUTORY AUTHORITY*

AWARD NUMBER*

MODIFICATION NUMBER

AWARD AMOUNT*

LINE-ITEM NUMBER

AWARD DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)*

AWARDEE NAME*

CONTRACTOR’S UEI

AWARDEE ADDRESS LINE 1*

AWARDEE ADDRESS LINE 2*

AWARDEE ADDRESS LINE 3*

AWARDEE ADDRESS LINE 4*

AWARDEE CITY

AWARDEE STATE

AWARDEE ZIP CODE

FAR 6.302-5 - Authorized or required by statute 36C26225P1246

$703,964.00

05-28-2025

ONE LIFE TRANSPORTATION LLC

N1YLYEWECHA5

2525 RAMONA DR

VISTA

CA

92084

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VO Page 1 of 5 Revision: 04 Effective Date: 11/15/24 Acquisition ID#: 36C262-25-AP-5323

Request for SDVOSB/VOSB Sole Source Justification Format IAW VAAR 819.7008/9

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 22 (NCO 22); in support of Veterans Integrated Services Network 22’s (VISN 22) San Diego VA Health Care System (SDVAHCS), located 3350 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92161

Funding Document (2237) No.: 664-25-3-186-0050

Total Estimated Contract Value: $703,964.00

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: The action being reviewed and approved is for a replacement, short-term sole-source bridge contract for the provision of non-emergency wheelchair and hired car services with ad hoc medical companion services to Veteran patients living in San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Orange and Los Angeles counties on an as needed basis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to include holidays. The contractor will transport veterans between their homes and the SDVAHCS facilities for their medical appointments. Additionally, the contractor will provide pre- and post-ambulatory procedures supervision to and from SDVAHCS for veterans who have no social support available. These services are in direct support of veteran patient health and safety.

VA is taking corrective action in response to a bid protest filed with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. That corrective action includes the termination of the current sole-source bridge contract, and the immediate award of a replacement, short-term sole-source bridge contract that follows all requirements of the FAR. This corrective action ensures that there will be no interruption in the provision of these critical services to Veteran patients. The long-term requirement for these services is currently in VA’s procurement review and concurrence process. It is expected that that process will be completed, and the long-term requirement will be competitively awarded by the end of this short-term sole-source bridge contract.

The Agency intends to terminate the current sole-source short-term bridge contract on May 29, 2025, and will then immediately thereafter award the replacement short-term sole-source bridge contract on May 29, 2025 to ensure there is no interruption in the provision of services. The replacement, short-term sole-source bridge contract will be awarded to the incumbent, One Life Transportation, LLC (One Life). One Life is an SBA VetCert verified service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) and is capable of fulfilling the Agency’s requirement immediately on May 29, 2025 upon the termination of the current short-term bridge contract.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: This requirement is for the provision of non-emergency wheelchair and hired car services with ad hoc medical

Request for SDVOSB/VOSB Sole Source Justification Format IAW VAAR 819.7008/9

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VO Page 2 of 5 Revision: 04 Effective Date: 11/15/24 Acquisition ID#: 36C262-25-AP-5323 companion services to the Veteran patients served by SDVAHCS. These services are mission critical and directly impact patient care (life and safety) and operational continuity. Without this short-term bridge contract, the transportation services for veterans living in San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Orange and Los Angeles counties between their homes and the SDVAHCS facilities for their medical appointments will be disrupted. Disruption could result in a veteran not receiving necessary and required health care services. Additionally, the contract provides medical companion escort services for veterans to and from their home and SDVAHC before and after ambulatory procedures for veterans who have no social support available. Without these critical services, many veterans served by SDVAHCS will not have access to essential healthcare services provided for them by SDVAHCS. The disruption in the provision of services will negatively impact the health and well-being of veterans served by SDVAHCS and may result in more serious health care issues or even loss of life.

The estimated period of performance for the short-term bridge contract is May 29, 2025 – September 30, 2025 (4 months), with a total estimated contract value of $703,964.00.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: 41 USC §3304(a)(5), 38 USC § 8127(c), as implemented by FAR 6.302-5 (Authorized or Required by Statute).

(X) 819.7008 Sole source awards to a certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business

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

One Life is the current contractor and has demonstrated that it has the capability and capacity to provide the required transportation services. Because One Life is the incumbent, it can mobilize immediately, without delay or onboarding concerns eliminating the potential for the interruption in service. One Life can begin on May 29, 2025, the date the transportation services are needed.

Leading up to the need for this replacement, short-term sole-source bridge contract, the following events occurred:

On December 20, 2024, contract 36C26225D0025 was competitively awarded to One Life for the long-term requirement. Performance began on January 1, 2025.

On January 04, 2025, an agency-level protest was filed challenging the award of contract 36C26225D0025. A stop work order was issued suspending performance under contract 36C26225D0025.

On January 9, 2025, short-term bridge contract 36C26225P0530 was awarded to One Life on a sole-source basis pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The short-term bridge contract was in the amount of $662,008.20 and included a 90-day period of performance with an option to extend.

On February 18, 2025, a GAO protest was filed again challenging the award of contract 36C26225D0025. On March 19, 2025, GAO dismissed the protest based on VA’s representation that it would take corrective action which would include the termination of contract 36C26225D0025 and the re-evaluation of quotations. On April 7, 2025, VA terminated contract 36C26225D0025.

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VO Page 3 of 5 Revision: 04 Effective Date: 11/15/24 Acquisition ID#: 36C262-25-AP-5323

On April 7, 2025, VA issued Modification 0001 extending short-term bridge contract 36C26225P0530 through June 30, 2025 under FAR 52.217-8.

On April 30, 2025, a protest was filed at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC) challenging VA’s award of short-term bridge contract 36C26225P0530.

VA is taking corrective action in response to the protest filed at the COFC. That corrective action will include: (1) the termination of the current short-term bridge contract, and (2) the immediate award of the instant replacement short-term sole-source bridge contract that follows all requirements of the FAR. The replacement short-term bridge contract will have a 4-month period of performance. The replacement short-term bridge contract will ensure that there is no break in the provision of these critical services. This replacement short-term bridge contract is required to avoid a gap in service while the Agency takes the corrective action promised in response to the COFC protest and the GAO protest.

The decision to award a sole-source contract to One Life meets the conditions imposed by VA’s sole source authority in 38 USC 8127(c).

One Life is capable of fulfilling the Agency’s requirement immediately on May 29, 2025 upon the termination of the current short-term bridge contract.

One Life is an SBA VetCert verified SDVOSB and is listed as a verified SDVOSB on https://dsbs.sba.gov/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm.

One Life is a small business concern under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to the acquisition.

One Life has been determined to be a responsible contractor with respect to performance of the instant requirement.

The anticipated award price for this short-term bridge contract is $703,964.00. The estimated total value of the contract exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold but will not exceed $5,000,000. The contract award will be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies:

The underlying requirement was previously synopsized and competed under RFQ 36C26224Q1523, resulting in a competitive award to One Life. Due to protests, the contract awarded under RFQ 36C26224Q1523 was terminated. Given the urgency for and criticality of the services, One Life and Integrated Trans Joint Ventures LLC (ITJV) were contacted to assess the current market pricing and to verify service start dates to avoid a lapse in the provision of these critical services. The market research survey resulted in One Life’s quote being the most favorable for this short-term bridge contract in terms of price and the ability to start performance on May 29, 2025.

7. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: Pricing has been determined to be fair and reasonable based on responses received under RFQ 36C26224Q1523 and informal pricing received on May 19, 2025. The short duration and continuity with current pricing support the reasonableness of the quoted price for the (4 months) period of performance that is requirement. The short-term bridge contract is strictly temporary and non-renewable. A full and open competition leading to

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VO Page 4 of 5 Revision: 04 Effective Date: 11/15/24 Acquisition ID#: 36C262-25-AP-5323 award of a long-term will take place under RFQ 36C26224Q1523 after the re-evaluation of quotes. A notice of this contract award will be publicized as required under FAR Subpart 5.2.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Market research was conducted within the allotted 18 months under RFQ 36C26224Q1523 and resulted in a 100% SDVOSB set-aside based on six SDVOSB vendors responding to direct outreach. On May 14, 2025, market research was conducted by contacting two SDVOSB vendors, One Life and ITJV, to request an informal quote for market research purposes. On May 19, 2025, both vendors responded to the agencies inquiry by providing pricing data for the 4-month period of performance. The need for this replacement, short-term bridge contract does not represent a new requirement, but a temporary continuation of an already-validated need.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: Failure to award a short-term bridge contract to One Life on a sole-source basis will result in a lapse in the provision of essential services that could negatively impact patient safety, transportation and continuity of critical care to veterans. The requested special mode transportation services are required by statute under 38 § U.S.C. 111. The protests were not anticipated and outside of the agency’s control. It has been determined that there is no reasonable expectation that a competitive solicitation and award can be executed to activate services by May 29, 2025.

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

One Life Transportation, LLC (SAM UEI: N1YLYEWECHA5) Integrated Trans Joint Ventures LLC (SAM UEI: JN66L35JQ264)

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: The agency intends to resume full and open competition by reevaluating quotes to establish a long-term contract. This justification and approval is not intended to establish a recurring sole source arrangement.

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.

Mo Sall Program Analyst VA San Diego Healthcare System

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

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VO Page 5 of 5 Revision: 04 Effective Date: 11/15/24 Acquisition ID#: 36C262-25-AP-5323

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

Helena A. Roba Contracting Officer

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.

David Chakka NCO22 Division 1 Chief