JA OAL signed 36C10X23C0006.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL)

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 5202 Presidents Ct, Suite 103

Frederick, MD 21703

Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition

6.302-5- Authorized or Required by Statute

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

This Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OAL).

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

This activity proposes to negotiate a non-competitive award (sole-source) with Echo Five Group, LLC System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity ID (UEID) ENHCU8RFJ1S3, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) for the procurement of in support of providing management and consulting services to aid in the Organizational Improvement of the OAL and its corresponding programs.

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

OAL requires industry subject matter expertise to build on prior efforts in support of the Services Acquisition Reform Act (SARA) 2003 to further implement and sustain the Acquisition Management Program (AMP). The four pillars of SARA—Acquisition Workforce Development, Policy Development, Acquisition Business Strategies, and Acquisition Systems and Capabilities—are essential to VA’s ability to effectively manage its acquisition workforce. The AMP framework defines and sets the goals and objectives of OAL by leveraging the SARA pillars and creates a roadmap for achieving the performance management of workforce initiatives. The goal is to improve acquisition management oversight, accountability, and governance to external and internal stakeholders to lead to the effective management of people, processes, and tools. OAL external stakeholders include VA Business Lines, including Chief Government Executives (CXO), VA Administration/Staff Offices, Contractors/Services Providers, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), General Accountability Office (GAO), Office of Inspector General (IG), and Congress. Internal stakeholders include VA acquisition workforce members and communities.

The Contractor shall provide a full range of management consulting services to modernize, integrate, and transform OAL in the areas of data and performance management, communications and culture change management, enterprise/business architecture, and workforce modernization by developing an integrated automation solution, processes, and procedures to enhance the Acquisition Management Program across OAL Associate Executive Director (AED) component offices to include the Acquisition Program Support (APS), Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LSCM), VA Acquisition Academy (VAAA), Procurement Policy and Systems Oversight (PPSO), and the Strategic Acquisition Management Initiatives (SAMI). The Contractor shall perform organizational improvement

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

and transformation efforts that lead to organization-wide adoption and implementation of the solution. The Contractor shall enhance and enable VA OAL’s success, ultimately giving VA the tools, support, and culture to achieve its vision.

The estimated total contract value for this acquisition is $4.9M and the period of performance is a 12-month period.

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 United States Code (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).

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

VAAR 819.7008(c) states explicitly, “A determination that only one SDVOSB can meet the requirement is not required,” and that using this authority, the following must be verified:

(1) The anticipated award price of the contract (including options) will not exceed $5 million; The estimated value, including options, is $4,999,999.54 and does not exceed $5M.

(2) The requirement is synopsized and the required justification pursuant to FAR 6.302-5(c)(2)(ii) is posted in accordance with FAR part 5;

The J&A will be posted to SAM.gov.

(3) The SDVOSB has been determined to be a responsible contractor with respect to performance; and

(4) In the estimation of the contracting officer contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government.

The SDVOSB concern has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance; and Echo Five Group, Inc. is a registered and verified Service-Disabled Veteran- Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) with recent proven capabilities to perform the required services.

The estimation of the contracting officer, contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government. Historical prices along with https://www.acquisition.gov/far/6.302-5 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/6.302-5 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-5 market research for similar will assist with making a fair and reasonable price determination prior to award.

The Contracting Officer has determined that the use of this authority is in the best interest of the Government based upon the fact that Echo Five Group, LLC is an SDVOSB team that has experience providing management and consulting services for healthcare and technology to include campaign data and performance management, communication and culture change management, enterprise/business architecture, workforce modernization.

This contractor has in-depth expertise in providing support involving organizational improvement and transformation.

Furthermore, the proposed source for this acquisition is Echo Five Group, LLC a certified SDVOSB that is technically qualified to create organizational improvement and transformation support services and has unique capabilities not prevalent in the commercial marketplace.

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 FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

In accordance with VAAR 819.7008(b), the determination to make a sole source award to an 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 is not applicable to this procurement. In addition, VAAR 819.7007(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 FAR 6.305(a) within 14 days after contract award.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

IAW with FAR 6.303-2(b)(7) no award shall be made until the Contracting Officer determines the cost to the Government to be fair and reasonable. This determination will be based on a comparison of historical pricing, commercially available price lists, and an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Pursuant to FAR Part 10, market research was conducted and Echo Five Group, LLC has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance. They are registered and certified in VetBiz.gov (VIP) as a SDVOSB under NAICS code 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management for this requirement which in accordance with (IAW) Public Law 109-461 Section 502 (c), meets the requirements of this statute to sole source to a SDVOSB.

In addition, the Contracting Officer review their VIP certification verifying they are an SDVOSB as well as their Representations and Certifications under this NAICS code in the System for Award Management (SAM).

In addition, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) was reviewed and FAPIIS shows no reports for Echo Five Group, LLC that would indicate defective pricing, instances of contractor fault or recipient not-qualified, terminations for cause, default or material failure to comply, or non-responsibility of the contractor.

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

The Procuring Contracting Officer has determined that this proposed action meets all the requirements of 38 U.S.C. 8127(c). This acquisition is below the $5,000,000.00 threshold, Echo Five Group, LLC is a responsible SDVOSB for 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.

Echo Five Group LLC 4717 Old Dominion Dr Arlington, VA 22207, United States

UEID: ENHCU8RFJ1S3

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, consideration will be given as to whether the future acquisition should be competitive.

Gerard L Boller 928264 928264 Digitally signed by Gerard L Boller

Date: 2022.12.21 14:41:50 -05'00'

12. 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.

Gerald Boller Date Director, Acquisition Systems Integration Office of Acquisition and Logistics

Contracting Officer Certification:

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.

Digitally signed by JAIME

BELLETTO

Date: 2022.12.21 15:13:59 -05'00'

Jaime Belletto Date Contracting Officer Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

Competition Advocate 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.

JAIME BELLETTO