JA RALS Sole Source_Redacted.pdf

Sole Source Justification Checklist FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)_(18-JAN-2024)

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way Eatontown, NJ 07724

2. This requirement will be accomplished via:

[X] New Purchase Order

Purchase Order will be:

[X] Firm Fixed Price [ ] Cost Type Contract:

[ ] Time and Materials [ ] Other (Specify):

Type of Funds (e.g., Supply Fund, Franchise Fund, IT, etc.):

[X] Medical Services

3. Description of Supplies or Services.

[X] Supplies: VA, Office of Information and Technology, West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS) has a requirement for Brand Name Remote Automated Laboratory Systems (RALS) software licenses, including all corresponding components. The Contractor shall provide RALS software licensing and interface for Point of Care testing connectivity software used to post patient test results to the electronic patient record. The software is used to connect the Clinitek and Accucheck modules and devices to one data manager. RALS software allows the end user to monitor tests done at the point of care and to meet numerous accreditation requirements for laboratory tests performed at WTVAHCS, located at 300 Veterans Blvd, Big Spring, Texas, 79720. The RALS software licensing includes service, support, updates and hardware maintenance. The period of performance shall include a 12-month base period with four 12-month option periods. The total estimated total value of the proposed action is inclusive of all options.

4. Authority Cited.

[X] FAR 13.106-1(B)(1)

for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.

5. Reason for Authority Cited.

The proposed source for this action is Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Informatics, Inc.

(Abbott), 915 East High Street, Suite 500, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902. Abbott is the original equipment manufacturer and sole supplier of RALS. WTVAHCS

Remote Automated Laboratory Systems Software License

Sole Source Justification Checklist FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)_(18-JAN-2024) currently owns the Clinitek and Accucheck modules and the RALS software allows the ability to manage, update, review and troubleshoot quality control results, operator and device issues remotely. WTVAHCS must renew the licenses annually for these modules to operate. RAL software is proprietary and only Abbott or its authorized resellers are the only sources capable of providing the software subscription, service, support, updates and hardware maintenance. Changing to a new source will result in a duplication of cost to include the purchase of new modules, annual licenses and training, exceeding the current estimated cost renewal cost of $24,083 annually. No other source is capable of providing the required RALS software and hardware maintenance

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

There is only one responsible source for this item. Efforts made to locate additional sources are described under the “Market Research” paragraph of this document.

There is no competition anticipated for this acquisition.

7. Actions to Increase Competition:

In order to remove or overcome barriers to competition in future acquisitions for this requirement, the agency will work with the program office to perform additional market research so that other solutions can be considered for future requirements.

8. Market Research:

Market research was conducted by the Government Technical in January 2025 to identify suppliers of remote automated software compatible with existing instruments, Clinitex and Accucheck II, currently owned and operated at WTVAHCS Labs. Fischer Scientific offers downloadable remote automated software options.

However, available software did not list compatibility to interface with WTVAHCS existing instruments, Clinitex and Accucheck II. Additional market research conducted in January 2025, identified Abbott as the sole source, exclusively selling and providing RALS System, software compatible to interface with existing instruments, Clinitex and Accucheck II. Based on the market research technical expert determined Abbott is the only source available to provide proprietary RALS software. As the original equipment manufacturer, Abbott is the sole proprietor for the current and future use of RALS products. The Contract Specialist conducted additional research by utilizing the Provider Lookup tool for RALS on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement V Governmentwide Acquisition Contract website, and a search on the General Service Administration Advantage website, which yielded no results. On April 21, 2025, the Contract Specialist received confirmation from Abbott that it is the sole provider RALS. Abbot also confirmed it does not hold a current NASA SEWP or GSA contract.

9. Interested Sources: No other source has expressed written interest in suppling this item.