ATTACHMENT 5 JA BRAND NAME ITEMS - Redacted.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)

Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 23, VAMC Minneapolis, Project # 618-16-101 2237# 618-20-4-6394-0011

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

This justification is to support the Construct Evidence Based Inpatient Wards at the Minneapolis VAMC that will be awarded as a firm-fixed price contract. This justification is for other than full and open competition for the procurement of certain construction materials. The use of a particular brand name for the items listed below accommodates standardization of these items throughout the facility.

a. Card Readers

i. Lenel HC Model RPK40 Card Readers

ii. Lenel Model 1300-u control board

b. Ceiling mounted patient Lift systems

i. HandiCare (formerly MedCARE) Ceiling Lifts

c. Door closures

i. LCN Brand

d. Schlage “L” series Mortised Door Locksets

i. Schlage

e. Electrical Distribution Panelboard

i. Cutler-Hammer Electrical Distribution Panels

f. Fire Alarm System

i. Gamewell/FCI components

g. Nurse call Code Blue System

i. Rauland Responder 4 and/or 5

h. Panduit RJ45 data jacks, face plates, patch cords and patch panels (Security System Programing & Telecommunications cabling and infrastructure)

i. Panduit

i. Wayfinding and Signage System

i. Takeform

j. Auto Door Operators

i. Stanley Auto Door

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

This procurement is to construct the Evidence Based Inpatient Ward – 2K at the Minneapolis VAMC.

The scope includes everything necessary 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 and the VAAR Construction magnitude for the entire project is between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000.

a. Card Readers

i. Lenel Corporation

ii. Value:

iii. Unique Qualifications: Facility security system is currently Lenel with HD readers and Lenel control boards. Readers must be compatible with Lenel and FIPS compliant. Other card readers are not compatible with these requirements. They have no way of connecting to the power boards or communicating with the system currently in place. A functional, communicating security system is a major safety requirement. Lenel zone control boards are also required to connect back to the Lenel system.

b. Ceiling mounted patient Lift systems

i. HandiCare

ii. Value:

iii. Unique Qualifications: The patient lifts are mounted on rails at the ceiling of patient care areas including ICUs, CTs, patient beds and exam rooms. The lifts are used to transfer patients onto surgical beds, exam tables, toilets and patient beds. The lifts are rated to 1000 pounds. There are currently over 300 MedCare Ceiling Mounted Patient Lift Systems installed at the MVAMC. In addition to the unique Structural components, there are over 300 manufacturer specific lift motors. As well as over 800 manufacture specific patient support slings. These items are not interchangeable with other manufactures systems.

c. Door Closers

ii. Value:

iii. Unique Qualifications: This project will be installing new door closers in the procedure rooms that match our existing closers. The facility currently has several thousand closers installed in the hospital. The VA carpenter shop keeps parts and extra closers in stock for repair and/or replacement of our existing door closers.

d. Schlage “L” series Mortised Door Locksets

ii. Value:

iii. Unique Qualifications: This project will be installing new locksets on the new doors in the ward 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.

e. Electrical Distribution Panelboard and Circuit Breakers

i. Cutler-Hammer

ii. Value:

iii. Unique Qualifications: This item is to match the existing electrical distribution panels and circuit breaker in substations 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.

i. Gamewell/FCI componants

ii. Value:

iii. Unique Qualifications: Gamewell/FCI components are required to integrate with 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 related matter.

g. Rauland Responder Nurse Call Code Blue Stations

i. Rauland

ii. Value:

iii. Unique Qualifications: The project renovating an entire patient 2K ward at the Minneapolis VAMC where new nurse call code blue stations will be required. System will include the connection to new main master nurse call controller station. All nurse calls throughout the facility is Rauland Responder 4 and/or 5. New nurse call components must tie into the existing system, and only Rauland components are compatible.

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

ii. Value:

iii. Unique Qualifications: 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.

ii. Value:

iii. Unique Qualifications: New signage must be compatible with the existing system to ensure standardization of aesthetics, maintenance, and wayfinding. There are no other vendors that offer this type of signage. Takeform signage meets all Americans with Disabilities Act and International Building Code requirements.

i. Stanley Auto Door

ii. Value:

iii. Unique Qualifications: Intent to install a new Auto Door Operator in the Evidence Based Inpatient Ward – 2K that are of the same brand and quality as the existing

Auto Door Operators in the medical center and at the medical center out-buildings.

The medical center has approximately 102 Stanley Auto Door Operators installed in doors at the medical center. The medical center currently stocks parts for only the Stanley Auto Door Operators. The medical center maintenance staff is trained to service these Auto Door Operators and maintain them in working condition.

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 §3304 (a) (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 VAMC. Installing a different manufacturers’ system will create significant duplication in cost for the facility, and in most cases the equipment will not function properly. The specific impact for not using the brand name items is listed below:

a. Card Readers

i. Lenel Corporation

ii. Impact: Facility security system is currently Lenel with HD readers and Lenel control boards. Readers must be compatible with Lenel and FIPS compliant. Other card readers are not compatible with these requirements. They have no way of connecting to the power boards or communicating with the system currently in place. A functional, communicating security system is a major safety requirement.

Lenel zone control boards are also required to connect back to the Lenel system.

b. Ceiling mounted patient Lift systems and Hanger System

i. HandiCare

ii. Impact: There are currently over 300 MedCare (currently known as HandiCare) Ceiling Mounted Patient Lift Systems installed at the MVAMC. In addition to the unique Structural components, there are over 300 manufacturer specific lift motors.

As well as over 800 manufacture specific patient support slings. These items are not interchangeable with other manufactures systems. To change Vendors at this time will cause compatibility issues for VA Staff that are maintaining the existing lift equipment. Any other Vendors that would continue future project installations cannot provide a 100% interchangeable lift motor with the existing installed infrastructure at the MVAHCS, thus limiting our ability to immediately change a lift motor in a patient care area that has malfunctioned. If motor exchange is required, the entire track infrastructure must be changed to match another vendor’s lift equipment. This 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. Additional parts inventory and spare motors will be required beyond what is currently stocked at the Medical Center. Currently annual lift testing is contracted with the Vendor. Adding a different Vendor would require a testing contract with another Vendor, which adds another level of complexity for the Safe Patient Handling Coordinator to manage. Lastly several other Vendors require the use of their specific Vendor supplied patient slings and will not accept responsibility for VA use of another manufacturer’s products. This alone would create unnecessary hardship for the VA Laundry Service to launder and SPS Service to stock over 800 additional slings for an additional manufacturer.

Additionally, the possibility of the VA nursing staff using a different manufacturers’ sling on another manufactures’ lift motor would create unnecessary risks to patient safety.

c. Door Closers

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. The VA carpenter shop keeps parts and extra closers in stock for repair and/or replacement of our existing door closers.

d. Schlage “L” series Mortised Door Lockset

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.

e. Electrical Distribution Panelboard and Circuit Breakers

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 and avoid the electricians from 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.

i. Gamewell/FCI componants

ii. Impact: Accordingly, Gamewell Corporation is the only firm capable of providing the supplies and services described in Section 3 above without the Veteran’s Health Administration experiencing substantial duplication of cost that could not be expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements.

g. Rauland Responder Nurse Call Code Blue Stations

i. Rauland

ii. Impact: All nurse call throughout the facility is Rauland Responder 4 and/or 5. New nurse call components must tie into the existing system, and only Rauland components are compatible. 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. Repairs will also take longer.

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

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.

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.

i. Stanley

ii. Impact: The medical center maintenance staff is trained to service these Auto Door

Operators and maintain them in working condition. If a different Auto Door Operator 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.

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 design was completed by Short Elliot Hendrickson (SEH). SEH provided a complete government estimate. 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 subsequent components to the overall construction project. This procurement will be competed and 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:

The market research for the design and equipment was conducted by SEH to secure prices for the government estimate, and was shared with the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for further review. The Contracting Officer and COR were in concurrence with information provided in the estimate that supported the brand name items. These sources have