36C77620C0028-001.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C776-20-AP-2138

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), , Procurement Contracting Activity Central (PCAC), 4401-D Meramec Bottom Rd., St. Louis, MO 63129.

PR-IFCAP 2237 # 777-20-2-6722-0040

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: In support of the Global Pandemic for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), this procurement is for Emergency Electronic Resuscitation Courseware for resuscitation training to support COVID-19 direct care surge for the Employee Education System (EES), Resuscitation Education Initiative (REdI) program within the VHA SimLEARN National Center. As part of the VA’s Fourth Mission during a declared National Emergency, there is a requirement to expand care to a larger patient population. With the mobilization of clinical staff to acute patient care areas and the expedited hiring of additional clinical staff the consumption rate of the available stockpiled electronic resuscitation courseware licenses for Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) has and will continue to dramatically increase. In addition, an increased utilization and need for layperson (Responder) and pediatric advanced life support (PALS) training necessitates additional courseware to meet VA’s Fourth Mission.

This procurement 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.

This will be awarded as a new firm-fixed-price contract. Optional CLINs will provide an additional 20% per line item, in the event additional staff are hired or reassigned to combat the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet Agency’s Needs: The Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) training program is an American Heart Association (AHA) subscription based solution that provides high frequency, low dose training to enhance retention and increase competence and confidence which results in improved CPR response during a cardiac arrest. This program specifically addresses the problem of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills degradation after training. AHA shall deliver licenses, training, eCards or eCertification cards, and program implementation as listed in the table.

Item Number

Discription of Supplies/Services Quantity Unit Option

CLIN

Increase

Unit

0001 Responder (Subscription) 500 Each 100 Each

0002 Pediatric Advanced Life Support (Subscription)

400 Each 80 Each

0003 Basic Healthcare Provider (Subscription) 18,000 Each 3,600 Each

0004 Advanced Life Support (Subscription) 4,800 Each 960 Each

0005 Basic Life Support License 21,600 Each 4320 Each

0006 Advanced Cardiac Life Support License 3,900 Each 780 Each

3. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: Unusual and Compelling Urgency.

FAR13.5 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).

4. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): Due to the COVID- 19 Global Pandemic, the nature of this acquisition requires unusual and compelling urgency to procure Electronic Resuscitation Courseware to support patient care areas and the expedited hiring of additional clinical staff in all VHA Facilities across the U.S. and U.S. Territories.

In response to COVID-19, the VHA has activated its emergency operation plan for Pandemic Crisis and in order to mitigate a surge of critically ill patients with limited hospital resources, there has been a push to expedite up to 5,000 newly appointed direct care staff within a 3-day hiring process. As a result of the expedited hiring process, direct care staff who do not have current certification in BLS or ACLS will be assigned upon appointment to the VHA as part of their orientation and as a condition of continued employment.

In addition to the temporary surge of new direct care employees, every VHA facility and Community Based Outpatient Clinic has been charged with reallocating their clinical staff from administrative and lower acuity patient care roles to begin training to support augmentation to direct patient care areas.

This balancing of staff across the organization and at times across regions and the enterprise will require an above average consumption rate for resuscitation training. Administrative clinical staff will now require BLS and clinical staff assigned to low acuity patient care areas that are moving through a training pipeline for acute clinical spaces will require ACLS.

To support the VHA’s Fourth Mission during a National Emergency, patients from the community are being treated within VHA medical facilities to include existing hospital systems and field-based hospital tents. There are designated facilities who currently treat pediatric patients and require access to Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) training. At this time, training is only conducted through a blended learning modality which requires face to face training.

In FY19, PCAC awarded VA Contract # 36C77619P0103 to AHA on September 27, 2019 for electronic courseware and the contracting officer’s representative (COR) gave AHA an overall contract performance rating of exceptional upon completion of the contract.

AHA is the original equipment manufacturer for these six items and there are no other manufacturers for this AHA training and certification. These products will enable the additional clinical staff to obtain the critical skills in basic and advanced lifesaving procedures. Additionally, RQI is the only product available in the marketplace with the unique capability that meets AHA standards to retain and improve survival rates while progressing the certification of the healthcare provider. Without this training and subsequent certification, the additional clinical staff will not obtain the CPR skills needed during this National Emergency.

5. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: N/A - This award is being made under FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) and will not be synopsized in accordance with FAR 5.202(a)(2).

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

Reasonable: Price fair and reasonableness will be determined by comparision of quoted prices found reasonable on previous purchases of Electronic Resuscitation Courseware from American Heart Association on VA Contract # 36C77619P0103 that was awarded on September 27, 2019 and the

IGCE.

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

Market Research Was Not Conducted: N/A - Due to the urgency, market research was not conducted.

8. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: A National

Emergency was declared by President Donald J. Trump on March 13, 2020 concerning the COVID- 19 outbreak. In response to this National Emergency, VA Memo on Emergency Acquisition Flexibilities was invoked on March 15, 2020 by VA Senior Procurement Executive, Dr. Angela Billups. This memo supports the declared National Emergency and provides flexibilities to the Contracting Workforce for COVID-19 related acquisitions, such as this unusual and compelling urgency Electronic Resuscitation Courseware acquisition.

9. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: N/A - Due to the urgency, market research was not conducted.

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:

This requirement, for additional Electronic Resuscitation Courseware in support of increased patient care areas and the expedited hiring of additional clinical staff, is in response to the National Emergency and meets the immiediate needs of the VA due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.

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.

Signature/Date:___________________________________________________

Lisa M baker 748357

Digitally signed by Lisa M baker

Date: 2020.04.14 12:55:29 -04'00'

Lisa Baker, Resuscitation Education Initiative Program Director SimLEARN Center

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.

Signature/Date:___________________________________________________ Terry Hester, Supervisory Contracting Officer PCAC St. Louis

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.

Signature/Date:___________________________________________________ Richard Dahmen, Director of Contracting

PCAC

c. VHA HCA Review and Approval: I have reviewed the foregoing justification and find it to be complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and approve ($700K to $68 million) for other than full and open competition.

Signature/Date:___________________________________________________ Terry Spitzmiller Executive Director Regional Procurement Office Central

Terry W. Hester 3332116

Digitally signed by Terry W.

Hester 3332116 Date: 2020.04.14 12:02:33 -05'00'

Jane A. Oney 338045 Digitally signed by Jane A. Oney 338045 Date: 2020.04.14 20:10:19 -04'00'

TERRY L.

SPITZMILLER

394683

Digitally signed by TERRY

L. SPITZMILLER 394683

Date: 2020.04.15 16:28:03 -05'00'

36C776-20-AP-2138 TITLE: EMERGENCY ELECTRONIC RESUSCITATION COURSEWARE

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In support of the Global Pandemic for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), this procurement is for Emergency Electronic Resuscitation Courseware for resuscitation training to support COVID-19 direct care surge for the Employee Education System (EES), Resuscitation Education Initiative (REdI) program within the VHA SimLEARN National Center. As part of the VA’s Fourth Mission during a declared National Emergency, there is a requirement to expand care to a larger patient population. With the mobilization of clinical staff to acute patient care areas and the expedited hiring of additional staff, the consumption rate of available stockpiled electronic resuscitation courseware licenses for Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advances Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) has and will dramatically increase. Fulfilling the fourth part of VA’s Mission will require Layperson (Responder) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) training.

1. DATE PREPARED: 4/13/20 2. PREPARED BY: William J. Singleton

3. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT: Base Plus to increase quantity by 20%

Responder (Subscription) Qty Base 500 Option 100 Pediatric Advanced Life Support (Subscription) Qty Base 400 Option 80 Basic Healthcare Provider (Subscription) Qty Base 18,000 Option 3,600 Advanced Life Support (Subscription) Qty Base 4,800 Option 960 Basic Life Support License (Subscription) Qty Base 21,600 Option 4,320 Advanced Cardiac Life Support License (Subscription) Qty Base 3,900 Option 780

4. PRODUCT OR SERVICE? Product 5.NAICS/FSC/PSC: 611699/7030

6. REQUESTOR: Lisa Baker 7. PHONE NO: (407) 531-6125

8. PLANNED/ACTUAL DATE SUBMITTED:

4/10/2020

9. PLANNED AWARD DATE: 4/15/2020

10. ESTIMATED TOTAL COST: $2,244,000.00 11. ESTIMATED BASE PERIOD COST: $2,244,000.00

12. RISKS: This is a commercial off-the-shelf product that is available in both the commercial and Government sectors with no modifications, so risk is minimal.

13. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: There are no other considerations.

14. COMPETITIVE?

YES NO

15. REASON FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION: Urgent and Compelling

16. POTENTIAL SOURCES: American Heart Association

17. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH EFFORTS CONDUCTED OR TO BE CONDUCTED (USE

RESULTS FROM Atch 2 Simplified Market Research Template-over SAT-SAP.

18. *SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

*VA must be cognizant of socioeconomic set-aside considerations, including the Veterans First Contracting Program/ 38 U.S.C. 8127’s “Rule of Two.”

*See “Procurement Request and Bundling Requirements” if applicable

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Set-aside

Veteran-Owned Business Set-aside

8(a) Set-Aside

HUBZone Set-Aside Small Business Set-Aside

Women- Owned Small Business Set Aside

19. PLANNED CONTRACT TYPE: It has been determined that a firm fixed price task order is appropriate. In accordance with FAR 16.202-2, fixed price contracts are suitable for commercial items or services based on reasonably definite functional specifications.

20a. COMMERCIAL ITEM OR SERVICE?

YES NO

20b. If NO, could the requirement be changed to provide for commercial item or service?

YES NO

21. IF SERVICES, ARE INHERENTLY GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS INVOLVED?

YES NO N/A

22a. SUITABLE FOR PERFORMANCE-

BASED?

YES NO N/A

22b. If performance-based unacceptable, provide explanation:

23a. OPTIONS:

YES NO

23b. If YES, number and type:

24a. GOVERNMENT PROPERTY TO BE

FURNISHED?

YES NO

24b. If YES, describe (attach additional sheets, if necessary):

25a. GOVERNMENT INFORMATION TO

BE PROVIDED?

YES NO

25b. If YES, describe:

26. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES: N/A

27. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS: N/A

28. EVALUATION FACTORS: Price Only

29. MILESTONES: PLANNED DATE

a. Completion of acquisition package:

- Purchase Request (VA Form 2237)

- Statement of Need/ Statement of Work/Statement of Objectives

- Specifications

- Data requirements

- Evaluation factors

- Quality Assurance Plan

b. Acquisition plan approvals

c. Solicitation reviews completed

d. Issuance of combined synopsis/solicitation

e. Quotes Due

f. Evaluation of Quotes

g. Contract preparation, reviews, and clearances obtained:

h. Contract Award

i. Acquisition plan approvals

SIGNATURES OF APPROVAL IAW - VHAPM Part 807.1 Acquisition Planning SOP

Program Manager Name: Lisa M. Baker, VHA National Program Director, REdI

Signature:

Date: 4-15-2020

Contracting Officer Name:

Signature:

Date:

Reviewer Name (Division Chief or Designee):

Title:

Signature:

Date:

Lisa M baker

Digitally signed by Lisa M baker 748357 Date: 2020.04.15 07:54:11 -04'00'

Terry W. Hester 3332116 Digitally signed by Terry W. Hester 3332116 Date: 2020.04.15 07:29:13 -05'00'

Richard C. Dahmen 199197 Digitally signed by Richard C. Dahmen 199197 Date: 2020.04.15 09:19:19 -04'00'