JA SDVOSB Sole Source Platinum Business Services LLC SIGNED Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL) Strategic Acquisition Center- Frederick

5202 Presidents Court, 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- Frederick (SAC-F), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU).

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

This activity proposes to negotiate a non-competitive, open market, FAR Part 13, Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) award (sole-source) with Platinum Business Services, LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), for the procurement of the delivery of program management support services for OSDBU’s Direct Access Program (DAP), which connects various SDVOSBs and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) with procurement decision makers from the government and private sector.

The estimated value for this acquisition is $4,500,000 and the period of performance is a base period of five (5) months with four (4) option year periods.

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

This effort is for project management, consultation, operational event logistics for Business Engagement Center (BEC) events, administrative, and customer relationship management support for the DAP. This contract action will enable OSDBU to have continuous support for their mission of connecting Procurement Decision Makers with various SDVOSBs/VOSBs.

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(a)(2)(i) 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).

Strategic Acquisition Center- Frederick

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

VAAR 819.7007 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 BPA (including options) will not exceed $5 million;

The estimated not to exceed value is $4,500,000 and does not exceed $5M.

(2) The justification prepared pursuant to FAR 6.302-5(c)(2)(ii) is posted in accordance with FAR subpart 5.301(d);

This J&A will be posted on the Governmentwide Point of Entry, Contract Opportunities, after award.

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

Platinum Business Services, LLC is a registered and verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Platinum Business Services performed the requirements for the previous requirements and is familiar with the tasks for this effort. VA requires Platinum Business Services’ program management support to ensure SDVOSBs and VOSBs are in connection, both in-person and virtually, with procurement decision makers across government and industry. The COVID-19 national situation canceled all in-person events that are crucial for “matchmaking” between industry and government. With COVID-19 subsiding, these events are starting again, with much anticipation by both industry and government. The continuity that Platinum Business Services provides ensures the DAP, as well as DAP’s other contractors, such as their conference planning contractor, runs effectively and efficiently, with maximum impact to the OSDBU’s mission of furthering SDVOSB/VOSB success while meeting VA’s needs of serving the Veteran.

The Contracting Officer, with information available, can best estimate that contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government.

Strategic Acquisition Center- Frederick

The previous award was made as an order under a competitively awarded Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) order. The proposed rates will be verified using the IGCE, the rates from the previous contract action, and technical expertise. A fair and reasonable price determination will be made prior to award.

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 Sole source awards to SDVOSBs (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 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 6.305(a) within 14 days after BPA award.

7. A description of the market research conducted (see Part 9) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted, and Platinum Business Services has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance. They are registered and certified in VetBiz.gov as an SDVOSB with the NAICS 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 Platinum Business Services 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 Platinum Business Services 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.

Strategic Acquisition Center- Frederick

8. 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.

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

Platinum Business Services, LLC 5523 Research Park Boulevard, Suite 120 Catonsville, MD 21227

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

Strategic Acquisition Center- Frederick

11. Certifications / Signatures.

Technical Representative Certification:

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

Date

VA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

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.

y Date Contracting Officer Strategic Acquisition Center

Competition Advocate 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 38 U.S. Code 8127(c).

Date

Competition Advocate Director, Strategic Acquisition Center -Frederick (SAC-F)