JA-24-0309_APPROVED_Redacted.pdf

• Proprietary Technology: Mediquant provides a data quality review using its own proprietary tools and scripts; maps data to the DataArk standard data model created and maintained internally by Mediquant; and provides exemption reporting, issue tracking and resolution, training, and go-live support of the DataArk solution to both commercial customers and the Government. In order to avoid delays and service disruption to DHA customers, the use of Mediquant personnel to perform the technology transfer is necessary to map and load the legacy data into the DataArk solution. There are no direct substitutions of the technology tools without changing the HIA technology solution. Mediquant provides details about becoming a value-added reseller for their software solutions, but they do not currently provide service training to external vendors to provide those services.

• Specialized Expertise: Mediquant has unique knowledge of the DataArk system's architecture and infrastructure, having designed and built it. Transitioning to another vendor would result in significant delays, increased costs, and the potential for system downtime, which would negatively affect access to critical health records. Mediquant personnel bring unique skills that are currently not duplicated by other vendors on the DataArk solution. The current contract uses Mediquant personnel to perform mapping and loading activities and they are the only ones authorized to develop and maintain their technology. Moving to an alternate solution or trying to hire alternate contractors to perform the work would drive an increase of cost and a potential service disruption to DHA customers accessing their health records. Mediquant sells their software though authorized partners, but the services necessary are limited to the Mediquant personnel.

• Avoidance of Delays, Service Disruption, and Duplication of Costs: The consolidation of legacy data has been 60% completed into the DataArk solution. The need to remain with this solution reduces time for decommissioning the legacy systems to save the Government money in turning off the sustainment of these systems. Starting a new HIA solution would increase the overall cost of performing the consolidation and increase the amount of time that duplicative systems are operational and requiring funding to operate and maintain. Switching to a different vendor would require significant system reconfiguration, user retraining, and potential data migration, all of which would cause unacceptable delays and risks. The EIDS PMO has spent approximately in the development of the HIA prototype and the promotion of the prototype to the production environment beginning in 2021. The mapping and loading of legacy data to the HIA solution is currently scheduled to complete in August 2026 with software maintenance required to December 2029. Re-engineering the HIA solution would require an additional 18-24 months to design and transition the capability which would delay the decommissioning of the legacy solutions. Another design would require an alternative proprietary solution to meet the current requirements. This change midstream would likely dramatically increase the current investment cost because it would necessitate a redesign of a prototype and promotion to production. A midstream change would require additional resources, including engineering and development resources, data migration resources, and several years of additional time for decommissioning the legacy systems: Composite Health Care System (CHCS), Clinical Information System - Essentris, Anesthesia Reporting Monitoring Devices (ARMD), and Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA).

While product design is occurring, the license and software support for the existing solution would also need to be maintained. These DHA legacy storage systems (CHCS, Essentris, ARMD, AHLTA) scheduled for decommission are owned by DHA, and for EIDS PMO to redesign the HIA solution would create an overall increase in cost of the product system and additional unplanned sustainment - approximately annually to sustain the legacy systems.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

Market research was conducted to determine if any other providers could offer the necessary support for the HIA system. The research revealed that no other contractors have access to the proprietary software. Furthermore, no other contractors possess the necessary expertise to provide the required services without significant delays and risks. Given the critical nature of this system, it is determined that competition is not feasible for this procurement.

A Request for Information (RFI) was released to industry to solicit feedback on the needed capability, see Section 8 for results. A pre-solicitation notice was released to update the requirement, see Section 8 for results.

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

The Contracting Officer has reviewed the anticipated costs of services to be provided by Mediquant in the Independent Government Cost Estimate and has determined that the costs are fair and reasonable based on historical data from previous contracts and the level of specialized expertise required. A detailed cost analysis was performed and the pricing structure aligns with the complexity and proprietary nature of the work. The Contracting Officer will use the proposal analysis techniques in FAR 15.404-1 to determin e the proposed cost to be fair and reasonable prior to award.

8. Market Research:

Market Research Conducted? Yes When was it conducted? 6/3/2024 to 9/18/2024 Description:

Market research was conducted to determine if any other providers could offer the necessary support for the HIA system. Several techniques were used including contacting knowledgeable individuals in the Government and industry marketplace to discuss market capabilities and meeting requirements. Meetings with these individuals were held June-July 2024 and resulted in the DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS) being released as part of a RFI.

The RFI was released on 22 July 2024 and requested industry to provide details on how they would perform the work proposed in the DRAFT PWS with responses due on 05 August 2024.

Twenty-three responses were received. After initial analysis of the RFI responses it was determined that three of the 23 respondents were thought to be able to meet the desired need as outlined in the PWS. However, after completion of the RFI analysis, the Government met with the HIA solution provider and identified capabilities that are necessary for Mediquant to retain: data quality review using proprietary tools and scripts, mapping the reviewed data into the DataArk standard data model, and FHIR services specifically configured to DataArk.

The research revealed that no other contractors have access to the proprietary software or possess the necessary expertise for these identified capabilities to provide the required services without significant delays and risks. Given the critical nature of this system, it is determined that competition is not feasible for this procurement.

A Pre-solicitation Notice was synopsized on SAM.gov on 25 September 2024 and closed on 10 October 2024. Three responses were received from Tribility, LLC, Clear Creek Group Companies and ECS, the incumbent.

Tribility requested feedback on their white paper from the RFI that was posted in August 2024. The Contracting Officer provided this information via email on 1 October 2024.

Clear Creek Group Companies requested information on the sole source justification. The Contracting Officer stated the sole source J&A will be posted after contract award via email dated 25 September 2024.

ECS requested the Government to reconsider the sole source to Mediquant as ECS has transitioned some legacy systems and has experience as the Lead System Integrator (LSI). Additionally, ECS cited potential delays due to the transition from the OTP to a new contract. ECS provided additional information supporting this request. The EIDS PMO reviewed the capability statement and determined ECS does have the capability to continue to perform the work. However, the EIDS PMO also found current requirements for LDCS tasks are significantly reduced, legacy requirements do not align with budgetary constraints, and the risk of transition delays from an OTP to a new contract is low. Additionally, the current strategy does not provide for enough flexibility when directing changes in schedule and performance, creates duplication of costs for performing LDCS work, and the cost to maintain ECS performance as the LSI is higher than what EIDS can support. The transition of legacy data has lagged and delayed the decommissioning of legacy systems, which add to sustainment costs to DHA in addition to the cost of the HIA solution and loading efforts.

Finally, Mediquant has access to proprietary tools and scripts, which do not belong to ECS and are necessary for this continued effort. This information was provided to ECS via email dated 8 October 2024.

9. Other Facts:

None

10. Interested Sources:

The following companies responded to the RFI:

# Name of Potential Sources Business Size and Status

1 Accenture Federal Services Other than Small (Large)

2 AFTS 8(a)

3 BEAT 8(a)

4 BHPE 8(a)