JA Other Than Full and Open - Starkey_Redacted.pdf

This is a Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition document from the VA National Acquisition Center for a sole-source contract with Starkey Laboratories to provide customized prescription hearing aids, repairs, and accessories. The contract will be a single-award firm-fixed price IDIQ with a five-year ordering period.

The J&A outlines that Starkey will provide multiple product lines including Picasso, Signature Series, Genesis, Evolv, Surflink, and Starlink wireless systems. The contract is being awarded on a sole-source basis due to the proprietary nature of hearing aid devices and repairs, which can only be performed by the original manufacturer. The VA's requirements have evolved from analog to digital devices, with current needs focusing on connected devices requiring manufacturer-specific software and support. The document notes that five major hearing aid manufacturers control approximately 100% of the U.S. market share for FDA-compliant prescription devices, and the VA has maintained contracts with these manufacturers for about 30 years. Market research confirmed that supplies are not available through existing vehicles like GWAC or GSA FSS, and that only the original manufacturer can perform repairs due to proprietary technical data and specifications. The other four manufacturers that expressed interest were GNResound, Oticon Inc., WS Audiology USA Inc., and Sonova USA Inc.