JA PowerScribe 360_Redacted.pdf

This is a Justification and Approval (J&A) for an Exception to Fair Opportunity document for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Technology Acquisition Center to award a firm-fixed-price delivery order under NASA SEWP V GWAC for PowerScribe 360 dictation software license maintenance and support services. The contract will be awarded to Carahsoft Technology Corporation as the sole authorized reseller of Nuance PowerScribe 360 for the period November 28, 2024 through November 27, 2025.

The requirement is for maintenance and support of existing PowerScribe 360 Radiology dictation system licenses used across VISN 6's seven medical centers and associated Health Care Centers. The J&A justifies the sole source award based on PowerScribe being the only system currently implemented and Carahsoft being the exclusive authorized distributor. Market research identified 65 NASA SEWP V contract holders offering PowerScribe software, with 18 being Approved Resellers, but confirmed Carahsoft as the sole authorized maintenance provider. The document notes that switching to a different system would require significant costs for new servers, interfaces, and implementation, estimated at 4+ months of work, which would not meet VISN 6's October 2024 maintenance renewal needs. The VA is planning a future Picture Archiving Communication System replacement in 2025 that may provide alternative dictation solutions, but cannot wait for that implementation.