36C77618R0092-098.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval

For Other Than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity:

Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC) Solicitation Number 36C77618R0092

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

This justification is to support the use of brand name items for the new private patient bed ward project at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Providing for other than full and open competition for the procurement of certain items supports the need for safety and standardization throughout the facility.

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

This project is for the design and construction of a new private patient bed ward of approximately 8,000 square feet with an elevated enclosed walkway. The scope of work includes providing all supplies, labor, equipment etc. to construct a functional building that meets the requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs. There are ten (10) brand name items listed for which the VA is not able to accept equal or alternate items. The value of these items is listed below. In accordance with the VAAR, the magnitude of construction for this project is between $5,000,000.00 and $10,000,000.00.

a. Auto Door Operators

i. Stanley ii.

iii. Description: This item includes all auto door operators required in the addition to match the existing door operators throughout the facility. The Minneapolis VAMC currently has over 100 Stanley auto door operators installed in the hospital and out-buildings. The VA maintenance staff stocks parts for the Stanley auto door closers and is trained on their maintenance.

b. Lenel HD card readers

i. Lenel HD ii.

iii. Description: This project includes new card readers with all related components, panic buttons and associated wiring, and new control panels for the area. The facility’s current security system has Lenel HD readers and Lenel control boards. All new readers must be compatible with Lenel and FIPS compliant.

c. Ceiling Mounted Patient Lifts

i. MedCare ii.

iii. Description: The project will include the installation of VA standard MedCare ceiling mounted patient lift systems. The MVAMC currently has over 300 MedCare ceiling mounted patient lift systems installed. The system has unique structural components, specific lift motors, and specific patient support slings that are not interchangeable with other manufacturers systems.

d. Door Closers

i. LCN Brand ii.

iii. Description: This project will be installing new door closers in the facility addition that match the existing closers. The facility currently has several thousand closers installed in the hospital. The medical center maintenance staff is trained to work on and replace door closers. Additionally, spare parts are stocked for LCN door closers.

e. Schlage “L” series Mortised Door Locksets

i. Schlage ii.

iii. Description: This project requires the installation of new locksets on the new doors in the facility addition that are the same brand and quality as the existing mortised locksets in the medical center and at the medical center out-buildings. The medical center has approximately 3,000 Schlage “L” Series mortised locksets installed in doors at the medical center with another 200-300 installed in doors in the out-buildings. The medical center currently stocks parts and extra locksets for only the Schlage “L” series mortised locks. The medical center locksmith is trained to service these locksets and maintain them in working condition.

f. Electrical Distribution Panelboard

i. Cutler-Hammer ii.

iii. Description: This item is to match the existing electrical distribution panels in the medical center and the out-buildings. The medical center currently has approximately 700 electrical distribution panels and another 100 in the out-buildings that are the Cutler-Hammer brand. The medical center electrical staff stocks parts for the Cutler-Hammer brand. The intent is to provide new electrical panels that match our building standard and avoid stocking parts for other brands of electrical distribution panels.

g. Fire Alarms

i. Gamewell/FCI ii.

iii. Description: The project will include the installation of a fire alarm system in the addition to the existing facility. Gamewell/FCI components are required to integrate with the existing fire alarm system. This is a NFPA listed system in which all components must be from the same manufacturer to function and communicate appropriately. This is a fire code issue.

h. Nurse Call Components

i. Rauland ii.

iii. Description: All nurse call components throughout the existing facility are Rauland Responder 4 and/or 5. The addition to the facility to create the private patient bed ward must tie into the existing system. The only compatible components are Rauland.

i. Panduit RJ45 data jacks, face plates, patch cords and patch panels

i. Panduit ii.

iii. Description: Panduit cables and faceplates are required for maintenance purposes and labeling consistency. The Panduit patch cords, faceplates, and outlets are required so IT staff can identify which components are which, and what each is supposed to connect to in the IT closet. This is consistent throughout the hospital, so using other types would cause confusion and potential for misconnections, which would be a major risk on a security system, telephone systems and IT systems.

j. Wayfinding Signage

i. Takeform ii.

iii. Description: The existing facility wayfinding and signage system is Takeform and new signage must be compatible with the existing system to ensure standardization of aesthetics, maintenance, and wayfinding.

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; 41 USC §253(c)(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):

These items have been standardized throughout the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Installing a different manufacturer’s system will create significant duplication in cost for the facility, and in most cases the equipment will not function properly. The specific impacts for not using the brand name items are listed below:

a. Auto Door Operators

i. Stanley

ii. Impact: No other door closer was found that meets the Minneapolis VAMC requirements, including matching the existing auto door operators. Adding a different brand of auto door operators would create the requirement to stock additional repair parts and train maintenance personnel on an additional door operator resulting in increased costs.

b. Lenel HD Card Reader

i. Lenel

ii. Impact: The intent is to install card readers that meet the Veterans Affairs National

Security and Law Enforcement Directives. If the new readers are not compatible with the existing system, they have no way of connecting to the power boards or communicating with the system. A functional, communicating security system is a major safety requirement. Lenel zone control boards are also required to connect back to the Lenel system.

c. Ceiling Mounted Patient Lifts

i. MedCare

ii. Impact: Installing patient lifts from another manufacturer would prohibit the interchangeability of lift motors with the existing infrastructure, thus limiting the ability to immediately change a lift motor in a patient care area that has malfunctioned. If a motor exchange is required, the entire track infrastructure would have to be changed to match another vendor’s lift equipment. The exchange would be an extremely invasive process within a patient care environment and disrupt the continuity of patient care, particularly within an intensive care unit.

Using other Vendors equipment requires additional staff training to maintain, inspect, test, and repair the equipment. Additional parts and spare motors would be required to maintain an additional lift system.

d. Door Closers

i. LCN Brand

ii. Impact: The VA locksmith currently maintains the existing door closers. Adding a new brand of door closer would cause additional training for VA staff, maintenance time, and cost to stock parts.

e. Schlage “L” series Mortised Door Lockset

i. Schlage

ii. Impact: If a different lockset would be introduced into the medical center it would cause confusion for maintenance staff, contractors and would require the medical center to stock parts for different manufacturers at additional cost to the medical center.

f. Electrical Distribution Panelboard

i. Cutler-Hammer

ii. Impact: The addition of another repair part that would need to be stocked would not only result in additional costs associated with the repair parts but also require VA labor to contract, order, stock, and inventory the additional repair parts. The Cutler-Hammer brand of electrical distribution equipment allows the electrical staff to respond to these electrical panels in an emergency without having to decide which brand of panel needs to be repaired. Additionally, it avoids electricians having to locate several brands of parts during emergency repairs. The emergency repair of these panels could result in patient safety during a malfunction if the correct repair parts are not available for installation.

g. Fire Alarms

i. Gamewell/FCI

ii. Impact: The fire alarm system will not operate properly if components that are not Gamewell/FCI are integrated. Functionality of the fire alarm system depends on components of the same brand being used and any deviation creates safety and fire code issues.

h. Nurse Call Components

i. Rauland

ii. Impact: Having multiple nurse call systems within the facility is not cost effective or practical for patient safety. The facility does not have the correct headend or master stations to work with other nurse call brands. In addition, medical center staff is currently trained in the maintenance and operation of the Rauland system, and spare parts for that system are kept on hand. If other systems are brought into the facility, patient safety will be at risk because the staff may not understand how to respond to multiple systems.

i. Panduit RJ45 data jacks, face plates, patch cords and patch panels

i. Panduit

ii. Impact: The Panduit system was selected because the face plate and outlet are of optimal shape and orientation. Other types have been tried, but they have been more susceptible to damage and harder to work with. IT staff must frequently access these when they’re behind desks or above ceiling tiles, so the specified make and model saves a great deal of time and prevent unintentional damage. IT now keeps these components in stock, so bringing in others would cause excess maintenance time and require excessive additional components to be kept in stock.

j. VA Standard Signage

i. Takeform

ii. Impact: Any other system of wayfinding, when used with existing signage in the facility may cause confusion and safety issues. Signage is also updated by in-house staff using specialized equipment and materials. A new signage system would require the MVAHCS to either buy new specialized equipment and materials or require an on-going service contract to update and maintain signage.

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

In accordance with the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), the components listed above are identified as brand name; however, the overall procurement will be competed as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small-Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside. This Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition will be posted to Federal Business Opportunities with the solicitation.

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

The anticipated price to the Government for the items requested to be brand name is approximately

The items for which brand name approval is being requested are incidental to the overall construction project. This procurement will be competed and awarded based on competition; the Contracting Officer will make a determination of fair and reasonable pricing prior to award.

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 for the required items when they were initially installed in the main facility and out-buildings. The items required for the addition are brand name to support current systems, standardization throughout the facility, and the safety of patients and employees.

Approval of the items as brand name is critical for the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the addition and the entire facility.

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

Standardization of most facility systems according to the preponderance of long term industry data results in substantially reduced costs for parts as well as maintenance and repair labor that far outweigh the potential savings to be had by full and open competition.

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

Not applicable. It is the responsibility of the offeror awarded the contract to locate suppliers and obtain pricing for all materials and components, including the items listed in this justification.

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:

There will be competition for the overall procurement. It will be the responsibility of the offerors to obtain pricing from the suppliers for the items and to submit a competitive proposal for the project.

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.

Robert Malecha Date Engineer Minneapolis VAMC

13. Approvals in accordance with FAR 6.304

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

Donald A. Marsh III Date Contracting Officer VHA Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC)

ROBERT C.

MALECHA 1582825

Digitally signed by ROBERT C.

MALECHA 1582825

Date: 2018.10.02 06:05:28 -05'00'

Donald A. Marsh 1489406

Digitally signed by Donald A.

Marsh 1489406 Date: 2018.10.03 07:09:18 -04'00'