ATT 1 - JA Sole Source - Minneapolis CPS_redacted.pdf

VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Page 1 of 4 Revision: 04 Effective Date: 12/15/25 Acquisition ID#: 36C776-26-AP-0387

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C263-26-AP-1979

1. Contracting Activity:

The contracting activity for this requirement is the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC).

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

This justification is in support of a new, single award, Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract for an Architectural-Engineering (AE) firm to provide Construction Period Services (CPS) for project 618-26-701 EHRM Infrastructure Tier 2 Upgrade MCR Modernization VISN 23, Minneapolis VA Medical Center.

Throughout the solicitation period, the A-E shall provide solicitation support services (SSS) to include, but not limited to, attending the pre-bid site-visit meeting and project walk, answering any technical questions/requests for information (RFIs) received from contractors within five calendar days of the date the questions, and providing addenda as necessary if required to revise specs and drawings.

The A-E shall provide CPS throughout the construction period to include, but not limited to, providing responses to any requests for information, reviewing submittals, creating a complete set of air emissions permit and land disturbance permit application forms, completing site visit reports, reviewing modification requests, completing a punch list, and delivering record drawings.

The duration of the project is estimated at a total period of performance of 575 calendar days, 120 calendar days for Construction Procurement and 485 calendar days for CPS.

3. :

PCAC awarded contract # 36C77621C0062 for the EHRM Infrastructure Upgrades design to Triple C the A-E Group, LLC on June 8, 2021, in the amount of $2,570,988.00 (inclusive of SSS and CPS). However, the current design contract with Triple C the A-E Group, LLC. no longer has construction period services as part of the scope.

The anticipated award date for this requirement is May 2026. The estimated cost of the SSS and CPS is

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

( ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per 41 USC

§3304(a)(1) as implemented by RFO 6.103-1;

( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per 41 USC §3304(a)(2) as implemented by RFO 6.103-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per 41

USC §3304(a)(3) as implemented by RFO 6.103-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per 41 USC §3304(a)(4) as implemented by RFO 6.103-4

(X) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute per 41 USC §3304(a)(5) as implemented by RFO 6.103-5;

For this action, 38 U.S.C. 8127(c), known as the Veterans First Contracting Program, provides the authority to directly contract with an SDVOSB or a VOSB. Check the specific VAAR clause used

VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Page 2 of 4

Acquisition ID#: 36C776-26-AP-0387 below:

(X) 819.7008 Sole source awards to a verified service-disabled veteran-owned small business; or ( ) 819.7009 Sole source awards to a verified veteran-owned small business

( ) (6) National Security per 41 USC §3304(a)(6) as implemented by RFO 6.103-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per 41 USC §3304(a)(7) as implemented by RFO 6.103-7;

5. and/or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

This requirement is for Architect-Engineering services associated with the design, construction, and alteration of real property. The proposed source for this acquisition is Triple C the A-E Group, LLC., a registered and verified small business, located at 410 E Grand Ave STE 201c, Laramie, Wyoming 82070.

Triple C is the most qualified to perform the required services as they possess all institutional knowledge regarding this project.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed possible (including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by RFO Part 5 and, if not, which exception under RFO Rul 5 applies):

A SBA Small Business Search query indicated there are 28 verified SDVOSBs under NAICS 541330 within the state of Minnesota that could potentially submit on this project. On February 17, 2026, a Notice of Intent to Sole Source to an SDVOSB was posted to SAM.gov.

The VA received zero (0) responses to the notice of intent to sole source.

There are proven performance benefits of having the same A-E firm engage in the CPS as well as the original design, no other options were explored. It was determined by the site, and concurred by the CO, that the high value of the site-specific design experience makes other options far less beneficial to the efficient administration of CPS.

This Justification and Approval (J&A) document will be posted within 14 days after award in accordance with FAR Subpart 6.301. The award synopsis will be posted to GPE in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.301.

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

SSS and CPS will be compared with their rates from the original design portion of this project, from the IGCE, and from rates that have been used in previous design projects at Minneapolis VA Medical Center site. The contracting officer will make fair and reasonable determination prior to award.

PCAC has experience with sole sourcing SSS and CPS in support of construction projects. Below is an overview of a similar requirement to this location:

Project # 596-22-700 EHRM Infrastructure Upgrades, Lexington VA Health Care System Sousley: The original design contract for this project was awarded by Program Contracting Activity Contract number 36C77622C0061 was awarded to Spur Design, LLC. (Spur), on May 31, 2022, by Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC) in the amount of $1,355,191.80. The design was completed in June of 2023. The construction procurement package was submitted to PCAC in March of 2025, with the final construction documents from Spur Design, LLC. (Spur). SSS and CPS was originally accounted for in the award to Spur; however, the Government did not exercise the options for SSS and CPS due to funding issues related to the construction project. The design contract was subsequently closed out. Since Spur Design was a verified SDVOSB and the original design firm, it was determined to sole source this project to them in accordance with VAAR

VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Page 3 of 4

Acquisition ID#: 36C776-26-AP-0387

819.7007. The estimate provided was in the amount of , for a total performance period of 820 calendar days, to include attendance at the pre-construction meeting, monthly site visits, responses to Requests for Information (RFIs) and submittals, review of change orders, inspections and testing, work acceptance and providing As-Built drawings. This sole source contract was awarded to the original design firm. The award amount of $347,408.60 was less than the IGCE.

Historically, when pricing is received from the original AE of record, it has been below the IGCE. This is largely due to Furthermore, given the past pricing the AE submitted as part of the original design proposal is available for comparison, the CO expects the COR's estimate to be fair and reasonable.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

Market research techniques used to identify potential sources for this requirement include an SBA Small Business Search query, review and comparison of historical data, and posting a Notice of Intent to Sole Source. It is recommended that a sole source award be made to Triple C the A-E Group, LLC, which is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business concern that has completed the design portion of this requirement. A sole source award to Triple C the A-E Group, LLC as they possess all institutional knowledge regarding this project.

No other vendor, either SDVOSB or small business concern, is willing to take over the liabilities from the original AE of record. The CO has determined that Triple C the A-E Group, LLC, which completed the original design package, is the most experienced firm and most likely to successfully perform the CPS without added costs or unacceptable delays.

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

It is recommended that a sole source award be made to Triple C the A-E Group, LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) concern that has completed the design portion of this requirement. A sole source award to Triple C the A-E Group, LLC requirement as they possess all institutional knowledge regarding this project.

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

At this time there are no firms that have expressed interest in this project.

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 VISN 23, Minneapolis VA Medical Center and VHA PCAC will compete future projects on the open market using the procedures established in FAR Subpart 36.102 for A-E procurements.