JA_Portable_MRI__Redacted.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

I. Contracting Activity.

The Contracting Activity is the Operational Contracting Flight, AFTC/PZIOA, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-6862. The Procuring Contracting Officer is Willis C. Crouch (850) 882-4418 This is a justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition. .

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

This is a brand name justification to rent a portable Phillips Achieva 1.5 T running R5 software to continue patient care during construction/installation of the new MRI system and suite.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The 96th MDG is currently in need of a portable MRI trailer for the Diagnostic Imaging Flight during the construction/installation of the new MRI system. The current MRI unit is being replaced with a new state-of-the-art system on 26 September 2016. Construction is expected to last approximately 6 months. The portable MRI trailer will be utilized to continue providing diagnostic MRI exams for all beneficiaries.

Portable MRI trailer units are only available via 3rd party companies such as the ones listed below. When renting a portable MRI unit, you are leasing the MRI unit and the portable trailer that the machine is housed

in. Unlike buying a new MRI machine that requires extensive installation and construction costs

Portable MRI units provide a short term solution that is cost effective and prevents an institution from having to refer care and pay extra costs.

Without a portable MRI unit, the 96th MDG will have to refer patients to the network

Obtaining a portable MRI unit is advantageous/cost effective for the following reasons:

1) Cost: .

2) Continuity of Care: In-patients will need to be transfered via ambulance to off-base facilities that can provide MRI exams, which will further increase costs.

- Orthopedic providers will not have the same quality of images provided to them for orthopedic procedures

3) Manpower: Currently, staff radiologists are requested by ordering providers to review all studies performed outside of the 96th MDG. Without a portable MRI unit, the radiologists will have to commit more time and resources (than is currently available) into reading outside exams.

IV. Statutory authority permitting Other than Full and Open Competition.

10 USC 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), required by FAR 6.303-2(b)(4).

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

N/A

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

A sources sought was posted on FBO on 20 June 2016 and five small businesses responded interested in bidding on the requirement.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Anticipated costs will be determined fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2). The CO will determine the price fair and reasonable by: competition, market research, comparison with similar items in the related industry and any other reasonable basis.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

The customer called three companies and held a site visit and only one company responded.

Contracting posted a sources sought on FBO and received interest from five small businesses.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

If another vendor is utilized with a different MRI platform (anything other than Phillips Achieva), the Diagnostic Imaging Flight and the MRI Department would face significant challenges to continue to provide the productivity and image quality that is currently provide to all patients. First, all MRI techs would have to be re-trained on the new system, a process that would take 3 weeks. Second, all exam protocols would have to be transferred from the current Phillips system to the new platform. The process of transferring exam protocols (settings for the machine for each body part that is scanned) will require an additional 2 weeks of time, thus further increasing costs because we would need to rent out the unit for more time. Third, if another platform besides the Phillips Achieva is chosen, the Medical Physicist per American College of Radiology (ACR) standards would have to test and evaluate each protocol for compliance, a process that would take 2 more weeks. In essence, we would pay for 2 months of time just to setup and calibrate the different platform. During the ramp-up phase of setting up another platform that is not a Phillips Achieva, the 96 MDG will have to refer ALL patients to the network during that time The patients most affected by this would be all inpatients requiring an MRI exam. The inpatient requiring an MRI exam would have to be transferred to outside facilities, thus the potential for exacerbating their condition is greatly increased. Additionally, the Emergency Room and the Wards would have to commit personnel and resources to transport these patients. As you can see, acquiring any other platform that is not a Phillips Achieva would be disadvantageous to the government Acquiring a Phillips Achieva platform would save the government a tremendous amount of money, wasted manpower, time, decrease the potential for exacerbating an inpatients medical condition, and will allow the MRI department to sustain the same productivity and exam quality that is currently provided.

X. List of sources, if any, that expressed interest in the acquisition.

XI. 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.

In the future, a fair market research will be conducted and any companies providing portable MRI unit rentals will be solicited for turn-key quotes. Since this lease is only for the installation/construction of the new MRI unit and suite, once installed, no other services of this type will be needed.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

The Contracting Officer's signature on the coordination and approval document evidences that he/she has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.