JA HINGE_Redacted.pdf

Health Information and Gateway Exchange (HINGE) Control Number VA-22-00082137 order to implement RESTful Application Programming Interfaces and Treatment Planning System to HINGE-Broker connection using Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) network protocol.

Hunter Strategy, LLC has provided consultative services, software and systems engineering support for the HINGE Program since 2019. Hunter Strategy, LLC has worked closely with technical and functional sources within VA providing expert knowledge of the requisite software specifications, open-source interfaces, security improvements and source codes for integrating HINGE with GovCloud environment.

In addition, Hunter Strategy, LLC has provided coaching support and development assistance to several teams on past efforts. If another vendor is selected, additional risk would be incurred as the new Contractor’s staff may not fully understand the intent and context of the complex requirements included in this requirement.

Furthermore, another source would require a steep learning curve while gaining familiarity with the HINGE platform and the integrations with radiation oncology treatment, planning and treatment management systems and the GovCloud environment during this transition. The Veterans Affairs Central Office National Radiation Oncology Program operates software engineering efforts on an as needed basis and relies on industry firms with experience with VA Datasets, Open Source Interfaces, VA Interfaces such as CPRS, VistA and HINGE to lead development efforts where VCU VA medical staff is incapable.

No other vendor other than Hunter Strategy, LLC can meet the existing requirements to develop, build, and test HINGE integration with Cerner Millennium. Though HINGE is a GOTS in-house custom development, the program has been supplemented by Hunter Strategy, LLC, and specifically designed for Radiation Oncology.

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 FAR 5.301 and 8.405-6(a)(2) the award notice for this action will be synopsized on the Contracting 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. Specifically, the Government will continue to monitor the marketplace to determine whether other manufacturers are authorized to make the changes to allow the existing system to function with Cerner’s EHR.

8. Market Research: A Request for Information (RFI) was issued on SAM.gov/Contracting Opportunities to ascertain if there was competition available for these requirements. The RFI was released on August 4, 2022 and closed on August 11, 2022. One response was received from Hunter Strategy, LLC, further demonstrating that Hunter Strategy, LLC is the only vendor capable of successfully performing the

Health Information and Gateway Exchange (HINGE) Control Number VA-22-00082137 technical requirements outlined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) which was included with the RFI. No other responses were received. Therefore, based on the rationale provided in Section 5 of this document and the results of the Government’s RFI, it has been determined that there are no other sources capable of meeting the Government’s requirements other than Hunter Strategy, LLC.

9. Other Facts: .