JA - Interim Ambulance Services - PHILA fully executed.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C244-21-AP-3375

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 04, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz

Veterans Affairs Medical Center (CMCVAMC) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 2237 number is 642-21-3-829-0041.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: The proposed creation of a Fixed Price

Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) Contract for two months (June 22, 2021 through August 21, 2021) for the Contractor to provide all required labor, material, equipment and supervision of contractor personnel for both emergent and non-emergent ACLS/ALS/SCTU, and BLS ambulance services, 24-hours per day, 7 days per week (to include all federal holidays) to be awarded to Lifeline Medical Services, Inc. as a sole source procurement. These services are needed throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Although the CO is not expecting to exercise FAR 52.217-8 (Option to Extend Services), it will be added in the event there are unforeseen events that prevent the new contract from being awarded on schedule. The utilization of FAR 52.217-8 will allow maximum flexibility to align the start of the new contract up with the expiration of this contemplated award. There is currently a contract in place (VA244-17-D-0365) with this vendor for the procurement of these services which expires June 21, 2021. CO is preparing documents to create and solicit a new long term solicitation valued at $26 Million requiring various levels of review to include OSDBU. Until a new contract is solicited and awarded, it is imperative these services do not switch vendors before a final award is made this year.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: Contractor to provide all required labor, material, equipment and supervision of contractor personnel for both emergent and non-emergent ACLS/ALS/SCTU, and BLS ambulance services, 24-hours per day, 7 days per week (to include all federal holidays) for the CMCVAMC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The anticipated award date for the new long term contract is August 16, 2021, with a period of performance start date of August 22, 2021. The total estimated value of this request for eight months is approximately $2,365,711.68. This price estimate is based on 2020-2021 expenses. All services are outlined in the Performance Work Statement which will be part of the contract.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition:

( X ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per 41 USC §3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1;

( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per 41 USC §3304(a)(2) as implemented by FAR 6.302-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per 41 USC §3304(a)(3) as implemented by FAR 6.302-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per 41 USC §3304(a)(4) as implemented by FAR 6.302-4 ( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute per 41 USC §3304(a)(5) as implemented by FAR 6.302-5;

( ) (6) National Security per 41 USC §3304(a)(6) as implemented by FAR 6.302-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per 41 USC §3304(a)(7) as implemented by FAR 6.302-7;

Acquisition Plan/Description: 36C244-21-AP-3375/Emergent/Non-Emergent ACLS/ALS/SCTU and BLS ambulance services for the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): The CMCVAMC is currently procuring emergent and non-emergent ACLS/ALS/SCTU, and BLS ambulance services, 24-hours per day, 7 days per week (to include all federal holidays) through an existing IDIQ. It would not be conducive to interrupt services and switch to another vendor prior to a new long term contract being awarded. An ambulance service is critical to the health of the patients at the CMCVAMC and they rely on this service on a daily basis. Disrupting this service would be devastating for veterans.

The new long term contract is anticipated for award on August 16, with services to start August 22, 2021. Lifeline Medical Services maintains the current licenses (ACLS/ALS/SCTU, and BLS) to perform this service for the beneficiaries of the CMCVAMC for the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. In addition, the CMCVAMC is connected to an online portal through Lifeline that was created for scheduling patient pick ups, etc. and monitoring trips conducted. Using a new vendor would disrupt and delay picking up new patients since a new system to record this information would need to be implemented prior to patient pick ups. CMCVAMC COR and others scheduling patients would also need to be trained on a new system before scheduling patients. In addition, Lifeline Medical Services has a proven track record of successfully performing these services for the CMCVAMC. The contractor has satisfactorily been providing these services since September 2017.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: In accordance with FAR 5.301, a solicitation allowing competition for this service will be posted on beta.SAM and will be publicly available. Creating a Fixed Priced Indefinitie Quantity, Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) for 2 months will allow the CO to complete the competitive process for a new long term contract for the CMCVAMC.

7. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and

Reasonable: The rates in Paragraph 3 are an estimate based on the current contract rates for services. CO does not anticipate rates will increase. CO contacted Lifeline Medical and spoke with the COO who mentioned she will have a better idea of the rates for this bridge contract later. CO will work with the vendor to ensure costs are fair and reasonable and review them against the new

IGCE.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons

Market Research Was Not Conducted: A market survey was not conducted for this sole source. The basis for a sole source contract to the existing contractor in this situation is to continue for a two month contract until the new long term contract can be solicited and awarded in August. To switch to another vendor now is not realistic because of the certifications, licenses, etc. needed to provide ambulance services for states of PA, NJ and DE. CO reviewed the Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database and there are no Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses or Veteran-Owned Small Businesses in the Philadelphia area capable of performing these services.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

None

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition:

None

11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to

Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required:

A long term solicitation will be posted on beta.SAM in June with an anticipated award date of August 16, 2021.

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the requirement outlined in this justification is a Bona Fide Need of the Department of Veterans Affairs and that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Shirin Mathai Date Chief, Health Administration Service (HAS) Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center

13. Approvals in accordance with the VHAPM Part 806.3 OFOC SOP:

a. Contracting Officer or Designee’s Certification (required): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Maureen Jordan Date Contracting Officer, NCO 04

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer: I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Nancy L. Porter Date Branch Chief, NCO 04 https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/VHAProcurement/VHAPM/VHAPM_Part_806.3.aspx

c. Division Chief Concurrence: I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Seth J. Custer Date Division Chief, NCO 04

d. Director of Contracting Concurrence: I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Benjamin P. Iachini Director of Contracting, NCO 04

e. VHA RPO HCA Review and Approval: I have reviewed the foregoing justification and find it to be complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and recommend approval for other than full and open competition.

Joseph Maletta Date Executive Director, RPO East VHA Head of Contracting Activity (HCA)

Date