J_A signed.pdf

JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

6.302-1 ONLY ONE RESPONSIBLE SOURCE

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Office of Procurement and Acquisition Logistics (OPAL) Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

10300 Spotsylvania Avenue, Suite 400 Fredericksburg, VA 22408

2. Description of Action Being Approved: The proposed action is for a sole source firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract with Ipsos Public Affairs, a Large Business, for the procurement of a Veterans Health Administration (VHA), National Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) follow on survey using the original 1,353 U.S. military Veterans who participated in the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS). The Contract Number is 36C10G18D0091 and the Order Number is 36C10G21F0020. The period of performance is 12 months. The estimated award amount for this acquisition is $248,806.90 and the estimated period of performance for the awarded contract is as follows:

Base Period: March 2, 2021 – March 1, 2022

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs:

VA has a requirement to conduct PTSD Survey Analysis Follow-On to the 1,353 U.S.

military Veterans who participated in the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), probability-based nationally representative panel of Veterans in order to validate the Moral Injury and Distress Scale (MIDS). Baseline data for the NHRVS, which are de-identified, are proprietary and were ascertained by researchers in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Ensure that sample is comprised of the original baseline NHRVS cohort of 1,353 U.S.

military veterans, who completed a comprehensive survey in Fall 2019 – Winter 2020.

This project will systematically evaluate the psychometric properties of the MIDS in three samples at high risk for moral injury by determining: 1) the factor structure and distributional properties of MIDS scores; 2) internal consistency, 3) test-retest reliability;

and 4) convergent and discriminant validity. The three samples include individuals who are combat veterans (previously surveyed in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS)), frontline healthcare workers, and first responders.

Contractor shall conduct a pilot and full survey each approximately 45-minutes in length.

The questionnaire battery consists of a number of well-validated, self-report measures to evaluate the convergent and divergent validity of the MIDS. The ideal sample should be configured such that at least 30% of each group of participants screen positive for moral injury exposure, and) in the sample should endorse at “moderately” or above on at least one exposure question on the MIDS (either 1 and 1a (acted); or 2 and 2a (failed to do); or 3 and 3a (saw). The pilot will include 300 participants (100 each of three samples): a) individuals who are combat veterans (previously surveyed in NHRVS), b) frontline healthcare workers, and c) first responders). Surveys are to be administered consecutively (pilot is three groups at same time, full survey is three groups at the same time). The first within 60 days of contract award. There may be changes to the MIDS and survey instrument based on findings following the pilot. The second, administered 30 days after evaluation of pilot results, is the full survey will include 1200 participants (400 in each of three samples, non-overlapping with the pilot sample): a) individuals who are combat veterans (previously surveyed in National Health and Resilience in Veterans NHRVS ), b) frontline healthcare workers, and c) first responders).

4. Statutory Authority: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41.U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 - Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Ipsos Public Affairs has the original names and addresses of the originally surveyed personnel. No other company has this information. This ensures the sample is comprised of the original baseline NHRVS cohort of 1,353 U.S. military veterans, who completed a comprehensive survey in Fall 2019 – Winter 2020. This attains the required linear analysis of the same veterans.

Ipsos Public Affairs offers the following unique services:

a) National experience in the survey of the 1,353 U.S. military veterans originally surveyed.

b) The sole knowledge of the names, addresses, phone numbers, and or emails to provide the original baseline of veterans.

c) The sole knowledge of the base weights including probability of selection and post-stratification weights generated by statisticians to permit generalizability of survey results to the broader population in U.S. Veterans.

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: A notice was issued to all holders of the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) on January 8, 2021, which resulted in one vendor responding, ThreeWire Systems, LLC. The submission was a capability statement of being able to create, distribute, and consolidate information for surveys. ThreeWire Systems, LLC did not specify any information about access to the target requested pools of candidates.

7. Contracting Officer Determination: The cost to the Government was evaluated to determine if it was fair and reasonable. An Independent Government Cost Estimate was used to assist in the determination of a fair and reasonable quote.

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: A notice was issued on January 8, 2021 to all holders of the IDIQ which resulted in one vendor responding.

After careful review, the results showed the vendor did not indicate the capability to obtain and survey the original baseline and the required linear analysis. All vendors were provided the opportunity to provide their capabilities.

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

None

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

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. This will end of this particular survey and there are no further anticipated acquisitions planned for in the future for this particular survey or those surveyed.

12. Certifications:

Technical Representative Certification:

Technical and Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Veronica Thurston Date Veterans Health Administration National Center Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Contracting Officer Certification:

Pursuant to (FAR 6.303-2(b)(12)), For the contract exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold but not exceeding $700,000.00, the contracting officer’s certification required by FAR 6.303-2(b)(12) will serve as approval. I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. As this contract action does not exceed $700,000.00, the certification below required by FAR 6.303-2(b)(12) serves as approval.

Mauricio Vazquez Date Chief, Acquisition Services Division 4A Contracting Officer