JA_- FINAL-Howard Medical Carts 7-15-26_Redacted.pdf

This document is a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (J&A) for a sole-source contract award by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The VA seeks to procure brand-name Howard Medical HI-Pinnacle E 30 medication carts on a firm-fixed-price basis for the Asheville VA Medical Center's Continuing Long-Term Care (CLC) unit. The sole source is Minburn Technology Group, LLC, an authorized reseller of Howard Technology Solutions, Inc. products, located at 9716 Arnon Chapel Road, Great Falls, VA 22066. The carts are required to maintain continuity of operations and compatibility with existing systems, as VA clinical staff are already trained on the Howard platform. The required carts must match the capabilities and performance characteristics of the currently deployed Howard Medical HI-Pinnacle E30 carts, including tiered and interlocking storage compartments, antimicrobial touch surfaces, electronic locking systems, integrated real-time battery management (PowerMax 150 system), adjustable monitor mounts, customizable lighting, and compatibility with VA's current software solutions (Med Manager, Power Manager, and Med Display). The carts must accommodate high-volume medication management demands, support remote permission management and audit tracking, and integrate accessories such as cup dispensers, trash receptacles, barcode scanner mounts, and Personal Identification Verification card readers.

The justification cites 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(5) and 38 U.S.C. 8127(c) under the Veterans First Contracting Program as statutory authority for this sole-source award to Minburn, a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Market research conducted in April 2026 evaluated alternative products such as Medline MedCart and Hillrom MedRover but determined they lack the integrated security, storage capacity, and software compatibility tailored to VA's high-volume long-term care requirements. The acquisition is below the $5,000,000 simplified acquisition threshold. No specific contract award date, response date, or pricing information is disclosed in the document.