JA PLO Training Support Services JRB COMPL-SRB 8-17-21redacted.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) in Frederick Maryland, on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Procurement & Logistics Office (P&LO)

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

This activity proposes to negotiate a non-competitive award (sole-source) with Supply Chain Vistas, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Certified Veterans Enterprise (CVE), for the procurement of training development support services and deliverables required to support VHA P&LO

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

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is in the midst of a major Supply Chain Transformation (SCT) which supports the VA Secretary’s Strategic Plan (Goal 4: VA will transform Business Operations by modernizing Systems & focusing resources more efficiently to be competitive and to provide world-class Customer Service to Veterans & Employees). This requirement is to acquire professional training development support for VHA Supply Chain Education. VHA requires expert support to baseline its Supply Chain staff’s knowledge and skill gaps, assessing all current educational and training resources available to them, then supporting course design to a tailored, skills-based development solution that can meet the transformative requirements and pace of VHA’s Supply Chain. VHA requires supply chain consulting and educational development support services to ensure the Supply Chain workforce is prepared to meet the needs of tomorrow’s VHA supply chain. The current education and training available to the Supply Chain workforce is inadequate and is unable to keep up with the continuing change and improvement of our operations. This need is valued and budgeted for $4,116,662.07 over its life-cycle (well under the $5M ceiling for Sole Source required by

VAAR 819.7007).

The Contractor shall assist P&LO with professional training development and communications expertise for Supply Chain Education. The contractor shall assist with the development of an effective communications and engagement strategy to inform and interact with stakeholders throughout the journey of this training initiative. The contractor shall provide strategic communication products that create a continuous communications stream with internal and external stakeholders. The contractor shall develop Desktop Training and Supply Chain Fundamental Training (SCFT) courses that meet 508 Compliance requirements.

The estimated value for this acquisition is for the of Base Year - 9/30/2021 – 9/29/2022 - $998,800 Option Year 1 – 09/30/2022 – 09/29/2023 – 1,018,776.00 Option Year 2 – 09/30/2023 – 09/29/2024 - $1,039,151.52 Option Year 3 – 09/30/2024 – 09/29/2025 - $1,059,934.55

Total contract amount - $4,116,662.07

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 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 USC § 8127(c).

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

Supply Chain Vistas is a registered and verified SDVOSB that can immediately support the VA’s need as they are subject matter experts in VHA Supply Chain systems, and understands the unique nomenclature associated with many VHA programs. P&LO performed a market assessment of all current education and training vendors within the VHA’s supply chain. It has identified only one with the in-depth knowledge of VHA operations, current contracts within the Medical Surgical Program Office providing insights into the current and anticipated challenges to VHA Supply Chain Workforce, and with Supply Chain expert instructors certified in PROSCI change management, the preferred Change Management model for VHA efforts. All other current training firms (Techwerks, Technical Assent, RBCI, Rios Partners, Blue Water Thinking, etc.) provide either IT training delivery or general educational development capabilities. They would require partners, time to integrate, and Program Management time to educate them on the history of Supply Chain Education across VHA. Supply Chain Vistas has worked with the VHA CO Procurement & Logistics Office (10NA2) since 2013, through their contract with the Veterans Affairs Acquisition Academy (VAAA). Their experts have worked with VHA Subject Matter Experts to design and recommend innovative skills development materials and approaches for the past eight years. Their experts currently support MSPO, performing data analytics on supply chain operations, supply chain systems integration, Strategic Sourcing/Prime Vendor contracts, and VHA policies and procedures at large. This experience and insight combined with the teams’ external supply chain innovation education support of the US Postal Service, Central Intelligence

Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Acquisition University, Tufts University, and the University of Tennessee. Their certified PROSCI Change Management professionals help us ensure the designed curriculum is integrated with the strategic Change Management efforts VHA is investing in currently.

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

IAW VAAR § 819.7007, source awards to a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns (b), “The contracting officer’s determination whether to make a sole source award is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer. A determination that only one SDVOSB concern is available to meet the requirement is not required.”

A notice will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2.

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

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 current contract pricing, past proposal submissions (if available), other information made available, and an Independent Government Cost Estimate.

Additionally, contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government. The rates will be verified using the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), current market conditions, historical pricing, and technical expertise. A fair and reasonable price determination will be made prior to award.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted, and Supply Chain Vistas has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance. They are registered and certified in VetBiz.gov as a SDVOSB with the NAICS code 611710 Education Support Services code for this requirement which in accordance with Public Law 109-461 Section 502(c) meets the requirements of this statute to sole source to a SDVOSB. In addition, a review of their Representations and Certifications was conducted in the System for Award Management (SAM) and Supply Chain Vistas represented that they are an

SDVOSB.

In addition, the Federal Awardee Performance, and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) was reviewed and FAPIIS shows no reports for Supply Chain Vistas 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.

In accordance with Public Law 109-461, codified at 38 USC § 8127, in order to increase contracting opportunities for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans with service-connected disabilities, contracting officers of the VA are given specific statutory authority to award a contract to a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans using procedures other than competitive procedures (i.e. a “sole source” contract). The contracting officer may do so in accordance with VAAR 819.7007. The contracting officer may do so if:

(1) such concern is determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance of such contract opportunity;

(2) the anticipated award price of the contract (including options) will exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (as defined in section 134 of title 41) but will not exceed $5,000,000; and

(3) in the estimation of the contracting officer, the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Supply Chain Vistas 1331 S. Eads St. Ste 1408 Arlington, VA 22202

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.

12. Certifications / Signatures.

Technical Representative Certification:

I certify that the foregoing justification is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

-05'00'

Timothy J. Digitally signed by Timothy J.

Burkhead 655323

Burkhead 655323 Date: 2021.08.18 12:41:33

Timothy Burkhead Date Project Manager Operations, Plans & Readiness

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 David S. Rupert 112363 Date: 2021.08.18 16:00:48 -04'00'

David Rupert Date Contracting Officer Strategic Acquisition Center- Frederick (SAC-F)

Approval

Upon the basis of the above justification, I hereby approve, as advocate for competition for the procuring activity, the solicitation of the proposed procurement described herein using other than full and open competition, pursuant to the authority of FAR 6.302-5 entitled, “Authorized or required by statue: 38 U.S. Code 8127(c).

Digitally signed by Efrain J Fernandez 103610 Date: 2021.08.19 06:36:22 -04'00'

Efrain Fernandez Date Competition Advocate Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

David S. Rupert 112363

Efrain J Fernandez 103610