JA Computrition VISN4 Redacted.pdf

VISN 4 Computrition Food Services Software Control Number:

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, new licenses and associated technical support services for all licenses.

3. Description of the Supplies or Services: VA Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN) 4, Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) has a requirement for the renewal of 52 brand name Computrition food services management software module licenses and associated technical support services.

Specifically, VISN 4 NFS require renewal of Computrition licenses and associated services to provide excellent patient care while maintaining sound business practices.

VA requires a software package which includes functions for Food Service Operations, Management, Nutrition Care Management Select, Room Service, Health Level Seven (HL7) Compliant Interface with the facility’s electronic health record system, and Bedside Connect, which integrates the use of computer tablets with the proposed software system. The proposed software package shall have the ability to interface with the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA), as well as the Cerner and Getwell networks. A Single Sign-On function will allow user authentication to access multiple applications, and Room Service Connect will enhance communication. Tray InMotion is a tracking tool for meal counts and production flow. Nutrition Food Labeling is a module that provides a labeling system for food items. TouchPoint Dining allows for an intuitive interface for menu selections, and Inventory Connect provides a mobile-based inventory management system.

Specifically, VA is renewing 52 software modules licenses in the base period, with optional tasks to procure up to an additional 56 software module licenses as needed during any of the periods of performance. In addition, technical support services are required for all licenses to ensure they remain operational. VISN 4 consists of nine VA Medical Centers. Computrition software has been in use throughout VA since 2013. The software allows VISN 4 NFS to easily manage multiple food service functions within current resources and customize programs for specific patient populations. The technical support services shall provide software support and maintenance for the existing and any additional Computrition software. The Contractor shall ensure each Computrition software component is the latest version released by their manufacturer and shall include all field engineering/security changes and/or software updates.

The base period of performance shall be 12-months from September 22, 2025 through September 21, 2026, with two (2) 12-month options for continued support, plus optional tasks for additional licenses and support, if exercised.

The estimated value of the proposed action is inclusive of all option periods and optional tasks.

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 Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6(b), “Items peculiar to one manufacturer.

An item peculiar to one manufacturer can be a particular brand name, product, or a feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer. A brand name item, whether available on one or more schedule contracts, is an item peculiar to one manufacturer.”

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 2013, VA commenced utilization of the Computrition software and developed the necessary environment and customization to allow for the integration of the HL7 interface with CPRS and 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, VA procured multiple Computrition modules, and 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, Inc.’s software is proprietary in nature, and due to the customization of the VA environment, 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 4 architecture and VA’s VistA. No other brand name software can function within VA's existing database architecture.

Furthermore, Computrition software is the only viable option for purchasing software that is currently capable of satisfying the Governments need for a HL7 interface with CPRS and VistA. CPRS and VistA systems are standard in all VA facilities and Computrition software is currently being used in VA Medical Centers across the country.

The HL7 interface with CPRS and VistA allows for information from the Computrition modules to be connected to patient records in CPRS and VistA for shared services within VA. The HL7 interface refers to a set of international standards for transfer of clinical and administrative data between software applications used by various healthcare providers. HL7 provides the Computrition foodservice nutrition software with the pertinent Veterans’ data from VistA. The interface provides a uni-directional download of admission, discharges, and transfers of all patients 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. These software downloads update the patient's record in the menu management program and provide date of birth, social security number, and diet order.

If this information is not constantly downloaded, patient safety would be violated.

To replace this software with that of another vendor would require a complete rewrite of the existing VistA Menu Management Program and would require a new HL7 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, in order to function on VISN 4’s architecture to provide the functionality currently provided by Computrition’s software. Redeveloping, redesigning, and implementing these databases will result in delivery delays of approximately 18 months or more per site, in order to allow for communications between the existing CPRS Electronic Health Records using an existing HL7 interface. Computrition’s software package is the only software currently available that meets these VISN 4 interface requirements. In addition, redeveloping, redesigning, and implementing these databases will result in duplicated costs estimated to be a minimum of $2M. 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.

In addition, the existing Computrition software stores Veterans health and diet data through the existing databases. Switching to another brand name software and redesigning and redeveloping this existing architecture will also increase risk of data corruption. There is no automated export/import possible between Computrition Software and another competitor’s database for all the data that the teams built, have stored, and currently maintain in the Computrition software. Therefore, the redevelopment of the thousands of line of code would not only be a significant effort, it would also increase risks to data integrity.

Additionally, in order for any source to be able to provide the required associated technical support services, direct access to the Computrition proprietary source code would be required to generate fixes, patches, and updates. 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. Market research indicates Computrition is the only company permitted to service and maintain current in-use system. In accordance with FAR 5.301 and 8.405-6(a)(2) the award notice for this action will be synopsized on the System for Award Management Contracting Opportunities website and this justification will be made publicly available within 14 days of award. Furthermore, in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(3) this justification will be posted with the Request for Quotation on GSA’s eBuy site.

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 the VA Program Manager via an Internet search in June 2025 to determine whether any nutrition software companies meet the needs of VISN 4. Based upon the research, two (2) companies, CBORD and ENTRUST, had the general capabilities to perform the proposed effort. However CBORD and ENTRUST do not possessthe integration abilities with CPRS and VistA, Cerner, and Getwell Network 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 provide all the required functionality. Therefore, no competition is anticipated for this effort.

On May 12, 2025, the Contract Specialist contacted Computrition, Inc. to determine if there were additional Government distribution channels for the required software licenses, technical support and implementation services. Computrition, Inc. responded on May 30, 2025, with a sole source notice that was signed on January 6th, 2025, confirming 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:

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.

11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I hereby determine that the proposed contract action will represent the best value to the Government consistent with FAR 8.404(d). GSA has already determined that the prices on the FSS contract are fair and reasonable. Additionally, further discounts from the stated FSS prices will be sought.

12. Contracting Officer Certification:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

VISN 4 Computrition Food Services Software Control Number: VA-25-00073490

Approval

In my role as procuring activity Advocate for Competition, based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the renewal of 56 brand name Computrition food services management software module licenses, and associated technical support services, on an other than fair opportunity basis pursuant to the authority cited in Section 4 above, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the property and services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.