J_A_Air Handler 589-701B_Hill_9-2-25_DoCHCA.pdf

Attachment 1: Request for SDVOSB/VOSB Sole Source Justification Format IAW VAAR 819.7008/9

Acquisition Plan #: 36C255-25-AP-2785 Page 1 of 4 Revision: 04 Effective Date: 11/15/2024

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C255-25-AP-2785

1. Contracting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 15, Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center (589A7 Wichita, KS) with contracting actions through Network Contracting Office - 15 (NCO-15).

Procurement Request #- 589-25-4-993-0040.

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

This will be a new sole source construction award to a certified service‐disabled veteran owned small business for a firm fixed price contract using FAR 15 and FAR 36.

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

Contractor shall replace the existing Air Handling Unit (AHU) and return fan serving the renovated areas on the third floor of Building 1 of the Bob Dole VAMC, Wichita, KS. These updates are required to bring the AHU up to current VA Construction, Facilities and Maintenance (CFM) HVAC Design Manual Standards dated March 1, 2024.

The total construction contract is of an estimated value of $3,429,457.20. This contract includes associated installation contractors, equipment, and supplies. Additionally, it includes temporary equipment to provide building conditioning services while under construction which allows hospital operations to continue. This is a one-time purchase and the period of performance is 209 calendar days from Notice to Proceed.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: 41 USC

§3304(a)(5), 38 U.S. Code § 8127(c), as implemented by FAR 6.302-5 (Authorized or Required by Statute). COs may use the non-competitive (sole source) procedures authorized in VAAR 819.7008 (DEVIATION) or VAAR 819.7009 (DEVIATION)- up to $5,000,000. Check the specific VAAR clause used below:

(X) 819.7008 Sole source awards to a certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business ; or ( ) 819.7009 Sole source awards to a certified veteran-owned small business

Acquisition Plan #: 36C255-25-AP-2785 Page 2 of 4

Effective Date: 11/15/2024

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications and/or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

819.7008 Sole source awards to a certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business allows sole source awards to SDVOSB based on 38 U.S.C. 8127(c) and the SDVOSB has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance.

The three criteria below of 819.7008 have been met:

a. The anticipated award price of the contract (to include options) will not exceed the $5 million dollar threshold.

b. That the contractor has the capability to provide the project in its entirety and has the relevant experience in providing the project.

c. The contracting officer has determined the price fair and reasonable.

The contractor is uniquely qualified because they completed the contract to add and renovate the space. This makes them uniquely familiar with the existing conditions of the construction site and unique problems that necessitated this work.

Guarantee Interiors originally completed the construction in the area is the only logical contractor to have complete the installation the updated air handling unit to make the area a usable space. This will avoid a conflict of interest and potential issues with responsibility when it comes to warranty issues. Through awarding to the same contractor there is only one contractor that will be able to handle all warrant issues as they arise with no deflection of responsibility.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies:

A Special Notice was publicized on SAM.GOV on August 5, 2025. This notification stated that NCO 15 intends to award a sole source, firm-fixed price contract to GI Construction for the replacement of the existing Air Handling Unit (AHU) and return fan serving the renovated areas on the third floor at the Bob Dole Veterans Medical Center (VAMC) located at 5500 E Kellogg Dr, Wichita, KS 67218. Justification for this sole source procurement is in accordance with VAAR 819.7008 soliciting from an SDVOSB single source. No contractors notified the Contracting Officer of any questions or issues with this notification.

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

The design developed by an architectural engineering (AE) firm (SDVOSB third party), provided a cost estimate of the expected cost, period of performance, and a basis of design.

This provides the government with the ability to grade the reasonableness of the contractor’s proposal. Additionally, the government has the ability to review the proposal

Acquisition Plan #: 36C255-25-AP-2785 Page 3 of 4

Effective Date: 11/15/2024 using estimating services, like RS Means. The technical evaluation of the proposal will include the station subject matter experts and will also be supported by the third-party AE Firm.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the

Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

A search of the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Search tool was completed on August 5, 2025 using the UEI of ZHRKJX5UGJY7. The contractor is a certified SDVOSB.

Additional market research was not performed based on the unique efficiencies gained from the current contractor.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

N/A

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: None

11. 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:

Following the completion of this contract under the preexisting project number, the space will become complete usable space. Any future contract actions in the area will be competed through other solicitation sources and contract vehicles. The CO will continue to survey the marketplace to overcome the barriers to competition.

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the requirement outlined in this justification is a Bona Fide Need of the Department of Veterans Affairs and that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Jennifer Hill Date Contracting Officer Network Contracting Office (NCO 15)

JENNIFER HILL Digitally signed by JENNIFER HILL Date: 2025.09.02 10:06:46 -05'00'