JA FAR Part 6 - ESIP_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL)

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 10300 Spotsylvania Ave, Suite 400

Fredericksburg, VA 22408

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a "Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition."

This Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other than Full and Open Competition is being executed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Procurement, Acquisitions, and Logistics (OALC), Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) in partnership with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Digital Health Office (DHO).

(2) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The activity proposes to negotiate a bridge contract for Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) - https://scaledagileframework.com to execute continuous flows of value through Feature delivery to Clinical Informatics and Data Management Office (CIDMO) and its stakeholders as described in this tasking. The Scaled Agile Framework is a proven, scalable set of integrated principles, practices, and competencies for achieving highest customer satisfaction most efficiently and effectively using Lean, Agile, and DevOps. The Scaled Agile Framework is an evidence-driven and continuously updated body of knowledge that includes tools, resources, and competency-based structured guidance for a collection of teams of teams working together to deliver quality products and services continuously and efficiently from trigger to value.

(3) A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The DHO will partner with IT Concepts to fulfill a requirement for Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) - https://scaledagileframework.com to execute continuous flows of value through Feature delivery to DHO and its stakeholders as described in this tasking.

The Scaled Agile Framework is a proven, scalable set of integrated principles, practices, and competencies for achieving highest customer satisfaction most efficiently and effectively using Lean, Agile, and DevOps.

The period of performance will be for one 5-month base contract, The Government's estimated cost for this requirement is $

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

(4) An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.§ 3304(a)(5) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302- 5 entitled, “Authorized or required by statute”. The applicable statute is Public Law 109- 461: “Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006” specifically, the “Veterans First Contracting Program” outlined in 38 U.S.C.§ 8127(c) and VAAR 819.7008.

(5) A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

IT Concepts, LLC is a SDVOSB fitting the SDVOSB sole source criteria outlined in the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.

Additionally, IT Concepts, LLC has a current contract with the Office of Health Informatics (OHI) providing materially similar support for the Integrated Health Platform (IHP) and skillsets required for this contract.

VAAR 819.7008 states explicitly: “A determination that only on SDVOSB can meet the requirements is not required” and that using this authority, the following must be verified:

1) The anticipated award price of the contract will not exceed $5 million. The estimated value of the proposed action is over the life of the contract.

2) The justification prepared pursuant to FAR 6.302-5(c)(2)(ii) will be posted in accordance with FAR subpart 5.301(d).

3) The SDVOSB concern has been determined to be a responsible source concerning performance and IT Concepts, Inc. is a registered and verified SDVOSB with the SBA through Veterans.Certify.SBA.gov. IT Concepts, Inc. is technically qualified and has successfully performed requirements of similar scope and complexity for the VA.

4) In the estimation of the Contracting Officer, a contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers the best value to the Government. IT Concepts, Inc. proposed pricing will be verified using the Independent

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

Government Cost Estimate (IGCE). A fair and reasonable price determination will be made before the award.

(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.

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.

Additionally, the proposed action will be synopsized in accordance with FAR 5.201. Any proposals that are received shall be evaluated. In accordance with VAAR 819.700(b), the determination to make a sole source award to a SDVOSB is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the Contracting Officer; therefore, the requirement to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable does not apply to this procurement. In addition, VAAR 819.7008(c) further authorizes the Contracting Officer to make the award without first determining that only one SDVOSB source can meet the requirement. A notice of the proposed action will be synopsized via the Government Point of Entry (GPE) in accordance with FAR Section 5.201, and the agency will make publicly available the justification required by 6.305(a) within 14 days after the contract award.

(7) A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

No award shall be made until the Contracting Officer determines the cost to the Government to be fair and reasonable. Since this is a Sole Source, no competition is anticipated. In accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(vi) price reasonableness will be established with a comparison to the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) and will include a statement of price reasonableness in the contract file. Any changes will be required to justify increases over this price to satisfy the Government's determination that the offer price is “fair and reasonable”.

(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.

Market research was conducted in February 2025. IT Concepts has been determined to be a responsible source which meets the eligibility requirements of Public Law 109-461.

GSA was searched by NAICS 541611 and limited results to SDVOSB’s; 597 contractors were listed under that criterion. Additionally, GSA was searched with the “SAFE Agile” key term, resulting in “IT Services”, which is not relevant nor specialized in SAFE Agile for Health Informatics necessary for this contract. Of all these potential contractors, Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) none demonstrate the unique SAFE Agile qualifications, necessary knowledge, and skills to successfully accomplish the tasks and deliverables of this requirement that IT Concepts, Inc. possesses.

IT Concepts, Inc. has a GSA contract #GS-35F-0441Y, Field Informatics Service (FIS) Health Practice (FHP). Contracting verified this information via GSAeLibrary, contract is active and valid until June 3, 2032. However, this contract vehicle will not be utilized as SAFE Agile Services are not listed under this price schedule. Therefore, this action cannot be procured through their GSA contract. VetCert was searched by NAICS 541611 resulting in 8,488 contractors available listed as a SDVOSB. IT Concepts, Inc.

is registered and certified under this NAICS through VetCert.

In addition, on February 19, 2025, a review of IT Concepts, Inc. CPARS assessment reports shows, since 2018, 52 listed evaluations which are all at Satisfactory or above.

Their Representations and Certifications information was reviewed in the System for Award Management (SAM) also on February 19, 2025. IT Concepts, Inc. has represented that they are an SDVOSB and have no active exclusions. (Validated by contracting, via VetCert, and SAM the vendor identified above is not listed as debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for award by any Federal agency).

IT Concepts, Inc. possesses the skills and knowledge to successfully accomplish the tasks and deliverables of this requirement. They are registered and certified in the SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) as a SDVOSB. IT Concepts, Inc. has demonstrated successful past performance, supporting the Integrated Health Practice program with a background in Scaled Agile Framework (SAFE) methodology.

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

The Contracting Officer has determined this proposed action meets all the requirements of 38 U.S.C. 8127(c) and Public Law 109-461, Section 502(c). The acquisition is below the $5,000,000.00 threshold and fulfills the requirements of this statute to be awarded to a SDVOSB. IT Concepts, Inc. is a responsible SDVOSB for the performance of the services described herein; and the proposed contract can be awarded at a fair and reasonable price.

(10) A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

IT Concepts, Inc.

1600 Spring Hill Rd Vienna, Va 22181 Phone: (240) 602-2127

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

(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.

All future requirements will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Toward the expiration of this contract, should this concept solution be proven effective, market research will be conducted to determine if other capable vendors can provide the required services and consideration will be given as to whether the future acquisition should be competitive.

(12) Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (e.g., verifying the Government’s minimum needs or requirements or other rationale for an exception to fair opportunity) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel.

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.

Signature:

(13) Contracting officer certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer ’s knowledge and belief.

Pursuant to FAR 6.303-2(a)(12), I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature: _________________________________ Date: ____________ William Milline Contracting Officer Acquisition Service, 5A Strategic Acquisition Center

WILLIAM MILLINE

Digitally signed by WILLIAM

MILLINE

Date: 2025.03.12 09:56:51 -04'00' 3/12/2025

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

Approval

In my role as Contracting Activity Competition Advocate, based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve this acquisition on an “other than full and open competition” basis pursuant to the statutory authority cited in paragraph four above, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the property and services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition. As this action does not exceed $15M, the certification below required by FAR 6.304 serves as approval.

Signature: