JA Computrition Final_Redacted.pdf

VISN 23 NFS Computrition Software Subscription Control Number: VA-27-00003731

LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

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

Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way Eatontown, NJ 07724

2. Description of Action: The proposed action is for a sole source, firm-fixed-price task order to be conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program and awarded under General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contract Number 47QTCA21D005U to Computrition, Inc. (Computrition), for the renewal of brand name Computrition food services management software module licenses, and associated technical support services for all licenses.

3. Description of the Supplies or Services: VA, Veterans Health Association (VHA), Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN) 23 Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) has a requirement for the renewal of brand name Computrition food services management software module licenses and associated technical support services.

Specifically, VISN 23 NFS is looking to renew Computrition licenses and associated services. VA requires a solution for Nutrition Care Management, Food Service Operations Pro, Room Service Connect Plus, Multi-Site Health Level Seven (HL7) interface, Hospitality Suite Single Sign-On, Tray in Motion, and EMR Conversion. VA requires a software solution that uses and HL7 interface to connect to the Veterans Integrated System (VistA) to link to the patient database.

Specifically, VA is renewing 10 software module licenses for the continuation of its automated nutrition care management and food operation management system. The services and licenses to be provided include project management, training, food data files, server hardware, and hardware and software support. In addition, technical support services are required for the purpose of maintaining and accessing existing software resulting in fully functional, operationally capable software as required in support of VISN 23 requirements.

The base period of performance shall be 12-months from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, with two 12-month options for continued support.

4. Statutory Authority: This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple- Award Schedule Program. The specific authority providing for a limited source award is Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) VA Deviation 8.401(b) and General Services Administration Manual/Regulation (GSAM/R 538.7104-3(b)(1)(ii)), “Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialize.”

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: The proposed source for this action is Computrition, 8521 Fallbrook Avenue, Suite 100, West Hills, California 91304.

This requirement can only be provided by the Original Software Developer, Computrition, under its GSA FSS contract number 47QTCA21D005U.

In Fiscal Year 2011, VISN 23 commenced utilization of the Computrition software and developed the necessary environment and customization to allow for the integration of the HL7 interface with VistA developed by Computrition, which includes all active inventory, recipes, menus, diets, daily production data, patient preferences and meal selections for food menu management. As such, VISN 23 requires renewal of these modules and the necessary associated technical support services to ensure uninterrupted service for Veterans in VA medical facilities including nutrition care management for inpatient meal delivery systems consisting of allergy screening, nutrient analysis, tube feeding; food service management containing ingredients, recipes, menus, food items, meals, inventory, and forecasting; web-based room service that develops cycle menus to recognize therapeutic diets, allergies, like/dislikes, additional diet orders and on-demand timing. As Computrition’s software is proprietary in nature, and due to the customization of the VA infrastructure, no other solution would be able to be fully compatible and interoperable with the existing environment.

Computrition does not authorize any other entity to sell, support, maintain, or train others in the use of their software. The software modules associated with this software package cannot be licensed by any other company given its proprietary nature.

Computrition’s software is the only currently available software package that is fully compatible with the existing VISN 23 architecture and VA’s VistA. No other brand name software can function within VA's existing database architecture.

To replace this software with that of another vendor would require a complete rewrite of the existing VA VistA system and would require a new interface to be developed, tested, and deployed by another vendor. Specifically, currently fielded databases are only able to function and communicate with Computrition software. This is due to the proprietary code upon which the current databases was built. Any other brand name software will not be able to function and communicate with the existing databases without an extensive redesign and redevelopment effort. This would include building new databases (ingredient lists, storage areas, room lists, diet lists, recipes, menus), interfacing with the databases, testing tray tickets, and training personnel at all sites, to function on VISN 23’s architecture to provide the required functionality.

Redeveloping, redesigning, and implementing these databases will result in estimated delivery delays of more than 2 years for all of VISN 23, to allow for reprogramming and developing software systems and retraining NFS staff. In addition, redeveloping, redesigning, and implementing these databases will result in duplicated costs estimated to be a minimum of $500,000. These estimates of duplicative time and costs are based on previous design and development efforts of similar size and scope. The estimated duplicative costs would not be recovered through competition.

Transition to any alternative software system would require significant data migration, retraining of clinical and food service staff, re-integration with VA clinical systems, and would cause disruption to patient nutrition and food services – all of which pose unacceptable risk to patient care and safety

Therefore, only Computrition, Inc. is capable of providing the required software licenses, maintenance, and support required. Without these required services, VA increases the risk that the software would cease to function properly and endanger Veterans patient safety. Failure to procure the required Computrition software and technical support would result in unnecessary delays for Veterans to receive proper nutritional care and healthcare.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in the market research section of this document. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government’s requirements. There is no competition anticipated for this acquisition. In accordance with RFO 5.301 and GSAM/R 538.7104- 3(b)(3)(i) the award notice for this action will be synopsized on the Contract Opportunities website and this justification will be made publicly available within 14 days of award.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.

8. Market Research: Market Research efforts were conducted by a VA Technical Expert via an Internet search in June 2026, to determine whether any nutrition software companies meet the needs of VISN 23. Based upon the research, two companies, CBORD and Vision Software, had the general capabilities to perform the proposed effort; however, CBORD and Vision Software do not possess the HL7 integration abilities within existing VISTA software to ensure uninterrupted services for the Veterans. Based upon this research, it was determined that there are no other similar food services management products that meet all the VA requirements.

Additionally in August 2026, the Contract Specialist contacted Computrition to determine if there were additional Government distribution channels for the required software licenses, technical support and implementation services. Computrition confirmed that there are no resellers that can provide the required brand name Computrition software licenses, technical support and implementation services.

Therefore, this action cannot be set-aside for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, or any other socio-economic group and will be acquired on a sole source basis from Computrition under its General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedule contract 47QTCA21D005U.

9. Other Facts: None.

10. Technical and Requirements Certification:

11. Best Value Determination:

12. Contracting Officer Certification:

Advocate for Competition Approval