Dynamic Integrated 2024 - JA SDVOSB Sole Source - Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL)

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick (SAC-F) 5202 Presidents Ct, Suite 103

Frederick, MD 21703

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a "Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition."

This Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick (SAC-F), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Palo Alto Healthcare System (VAPAHCS).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This activity proposes to negotiate a non-competitive award (sole-source) with Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), for the procurement of developing and carrying out a dynamic strategic communication plan that involves multi-pronged approach that will require design and content updates for the Million Veteran Program’s (MVP) communication domain.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The services required will be to develop and carry out a dynamic strategic communication plan that involves multi-pronged approach that will require design and content updates for MVP’s website, developing tailored micro-campaigns for underrepresented Veteran demographic groups, creating print, digital, and video collateral, supporting local site teams with outreach and communications, developing outreach tools and trainings, developing community network toolkits and strategies to drive community engagement, and creating clear and well-designed presentations, infographics, talking points, and other tools.

Additionally, focus groups, insight sessions, and/or survey tactics to increase the feedback loop from stakeholders will be a key part of the scope of work.

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick (SAC-F)

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.§ 253(c)(5) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302- 5 entitled, “Authorized or required by statute”. The applicable statute is Public Law 109- 461: “Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006” specifically, the “Veterans First Contracting Program” outlined in 38 USC § 8127(c).

38 U.S.C. 8127(c) permits a contracting officer to award a contract to a verified SDVOSB using procedures other than competition if:

(1) such concern is determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance of such contract opportunity;

(2) the anticipated award price of the contract (including options) will exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (as defined in section 134 of title 41) but will not exceed $5,000,000.00; and

(3) in the estimation of the contracting officer, the task order award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States.

The proposed action meets all three (3) of the requirements of 38 U.S.C. 8127(c).

Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC is a registered and verified SDVOSB in the U.S.

Small Business Administration Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) portal.

Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC has experience supporting VA and is familiar with the existing communication plan in place and providing qualified personnel capable of meeting the deliverables essential to the successful performance of this requirement. As such, Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC is determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance of this requirement.

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The existing communication contract is presently at the end of its last option year and MVP’s need of continuing communication efforts is imperative to continue highlighting the research discoveries as the research program has now recruited past its one million participant mark. Failure to sole source to Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC will prevent the Million Veteran Program from continuing their communication efforts to both

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick (SAC-F)

Veterans and stakeholders. Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC is capable of meeting the deliverables essential to the successful performance of this requirement.

Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC has consistently demonstrated the ability to execute the tasks associated with the communication needs of MVP and has developed the extensive knowledge needed regarding the complexity of genetic research and possess the skills to convey that complexity to a lay person audience. The past performance demonstrated by DIS, such as creation of new Fact Sheets, redesign of Veteran newsletters, translation of scientific findings to lay person language, and website content and layout improvements, highlights their ability to convey complex material in plain language for the Veteran population. The knowledge of VA research and the many oversight bodies for research significantly aids with delivery of an end product as additional approvals and processes are often needed. DIS is connected with the Veteran community and because of these relationships can utilize these resources to facilitate Veteran insight and feedback sessions. These relationships also foster use of Veteran community partners to enhance and increase messaging around MVP. DIS is staffed with various levels and subject matter experts, including writers, graphic designers, copy editors, etc. which supports efficient execution of a finished product that can be incorporated into MVP material.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

IAW VAAR § 819.7008(b), Sole source awards to service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns “The contracting officer’s determination whether to make a sole source award is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer. To ensure that opportunities are available to the broadest number of SDVOSBs, this authority is to be used only when in the best interest of the Government. A determination that only one SDVOSB concern is available to meet the requirement is not required.”

A notice of the proposed action was publicized on 2/21/2024 via the Government Point of Entry (GPE) IAW FAR section 5.201 with responses due 3/08/2024. Three responses were received. Transiris emailed contracting to discuss the purpose of a notice of intent to sole source. Contracting provided the information but did not receive a capability submission from Transiris. Additionally, contracting received a capability submission from Blackberg Group, LLC and Powell Strategies, LLC. Blackberg Group, LLC indicated relevant experience with creating material and relationships with Veteran communities, however there is no evidence of experience working in support of the complex research program or translating complex genomic research findings into plain

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick (SAC-F) language. Powell Strategies, LLC may have relevant experience with creating marketing material, but all links presented to work examples were broken. There is also no evidence of working in support of a complex research program or translating complex genomic research fundings into plain language. The agency will make publicly available the justification required by FAR 6.305(a) within 14 days after task order award.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

No award shall be made until the Contracting Officer determines the cost to the Government to be fair and reasonable. This determination will be based on a comparison of current contract pricing, past proposal submissions (if available), other information made available, and an Independent Government Cost Estimate, etc.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted and Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance. Based on the information obtained from VetCert and GSA eLibrary the following vendors were reviewed and were not capable of providing the needs of this requirement. Aptive Resources LLC, Capital Consulting Corporation and Vox Optima, were all found to lack a labor category geared towards translational services that specifically would translate the English language to a foreign language. As this requirement will be focusing on crafting messages towards the Spanish speaking community, the Government found that these vendors would not be able to deliver that task. The fourth vendor, Riguad Global Company wrote in their capabilities fact sheet that they do not “reuse ideas or content”. This may raise an issue with the established communication content such as factsheets, pamphlets, and presentation slide decks which have already been created, and the Million Veteran Program is not looking to start from scratch. The fifth vendor reviewed, TI Verbatim, offers translational services, but lacked services to support operational efforts to conduct photoshoots as they only focus on brand messaging.

Additional market research was conducted by utilizing GSA eLibrary in order to find a well-suited fit tailored towards the Performance Work Statement (PWS). On February 01, 2024, a search on GSA e-Library revealed 21 SDVSOB’s under NAICS 541820. To consider the “Rule of Two” and determine if any of the SDVOSBs identified in the VetCert database were capable of providing the required services, a VetCert search was conducted using the NAICS code “541820” (335 results appeared see eCMS briefcase for VetCert results tagged as P02.1).

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick (SAC-F)

In addition to reviewing vendors, the current contract, Million Veteran Program Strategic Communication 36C10X22C0018 was reviewed.

The contracted vendor, Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC (DIS), a SDVOSB, has been directly supporting the dynamic strategic communication plan that involves a multi-pronged approach that will require improving the MVP’s website, developing tailored micro-campaigns for various Veteran demographic groups, creating updated print, digital, and video collateral, developing partner toolkits and strategies to drive partnership engagement, and implementing a multi-faceted change management plan to support frontline MVP staff who will leverage new communication materials. DIS has the extensive knowledge needed regarding the complexity of genetic research and possesses the skills to convey that complexity to a lay person audience. The past performance demonstrated by DIS highlights their ability to convey complex material in lay person language for the Veteran population. The knowledge of VA research and the many oversight bodies for research significantly aids with delivery of an end product as additional approvals and processes are often needed. DIS is connected with the Veteran community and because of these relationships can utilize these resources to facilitate Veteran insight and feedback sessions. These relationships also foster use of Veteran community partners to enhance and increase messaging around MVP. DIS is staffed with various levels and subject matter experts, including writers, graphic designers, copy editors, etc., which support efficient execution of a finished product that can be incorporated into MVP material.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

The Procuring Contracting Officer has determined that this proposed action meets all the requirements of 38 U.S.C. 8127(c). This acquisition is below the $5,000,000.00 threshold, Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC is a responsible SDVOSB for performance of the services described herein, and the proposed task order can be awarded at a fair and reasonable price.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Dynamic Integrated Services, LLC 16 W Strong ST Pensacola, FL 32501

Transiris Corporation 530 Sycamore ST San Carlos, CA 94070

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick (SAC-F)

Blackberg Group LLC

762 52ND ST

Norfolk, VA 23508

Powell Strategies, LLC 1800 Milvale Road Annapolis, MD 21409

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

All future requirements will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Toward the expiration of this contract, consideration will be given as to whether the future acquisition should be competitive.