Attachment 1-Brand Name Determination.pdf

CUI

Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4

OCT 2024

written for a “nursing environment credential” would either describe the ANCC’s proprietary program or fail to provide the nationally recognized credential required by the Navy Medical Service Corps to benchmark against top-tier civilian hospitals.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

A Sources Sought Notice (SSN) was published on SAM.gov under Solicitation Number HT940626SSN3826 from 18 June 2026 to 23 June 2026. The purpose was to identify any potential small or large business sources that could offer an equivalent clinical workplace credential.

a. Results of Inquiry: Only one response was received, and two companies were found on the Interested Vendors List at SAM.gov. One vendor confirmed, “American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), is the only one capable of providing this service,” The results of reaching out to the two vendors listed on the SAM.gov Interested Vendors List, resulted in one company providing no response after reaching out via phone and email, and one company providing a capability statement yet stating “…While our company is not a healthcare accrediting organization and does not issue nursing credentials or designation decisions, our services directly support many of the workforce development and organizational excellence objectives associated with workplace excellence initiatives…” It was concluded that none of the responses received offer a type of designation equally recognized as that provided through the Pathway to Excellence Program.

7. Actions to Increase Competition/Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition:

A review of SAM.gov for similar purchases made by the Government indicated most government purchases for designation of the Pathway to Excellence Program have been made on a sole source basis in accordance with FAR 6.301-1. However, the Pathway to Excellence framework consulting services were awarded to a third party (

). While no point of contact was found that could discuss performance on the award, this did indicate that competition may exist for a third party. In effort to increase competition amongst vendors, a brand-name only determination in lieu of a sole-source effort was determined to be the best approach to promote competition.

Other than posting this requirement as brand-name only, there are no legal or practical actions NMCP can take to remove barriers to competition for this specific designation, as the ANCC maintains exclusive proprietary rights to the Pathway to Excellence framework.

For subsequent cycles, the clinical leadership of NMCP and the contracting office will monitor the nursing credentialing market via market research in accordance with FAR Part 10. If another independent national credentialing body (such as

) develops an equivalent organizational-level positive clinical

Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4 environment credential that is formally recognized by the Department of Defense, alternative strategies may be used to increase competition.

8. Other Facts:

a. Additional Information: Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is actively seeking to improve nurse recruitment, retention, and clinical outcomes. Aligning with the Pathway to Excellence® standards is a recognized method within the military health system to achieve “High Reliability Organization” (HRO) status, making this proprietary certification highly critical to the Command’s strategic goals.

9. Contracting Officer Determination of Fair and Reasonable Pricing and Certification of Accuracy and Completion.

Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I hereby determine the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract will be fair and reasonable.

Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4

10. Contracting Officer Certification:

I certify this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

MATTEHW TEEL

Contracting Officer Defense Health Agency (DHA) / Healthcare Contract Division (HCD) / Southeast