JA - Signed.pdf

Effective Date: 12/30/2025 Page 1 of 6 Revision: 02 Acquisition ID#: 36C255-26-AP-2315

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

BRAND NAME UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL

ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) 12.102(b)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C255-26-AP-2315

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, NCO 15 Contracting Office located at 3450 S. 4th St, Leavenworth, KS in support of VISN 15, Wichita Medical Center 589-26-3-4804-0030

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed:

This procurement is for supplies and installation of Guldmann Patient lift system in a new constructed area in accordance with FAR 12.1 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items and specifically FAR 12.1 Special Documentation Requirements, where acquisitions conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6, but still require a justification using the format of FAR 6.303-2.

This will be a firm-fixed price sole source award to Guldmann Incorporated for Guldmann patient lifts and installation.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs:

The Wichita VA new living center requires patient lift system in parts of the rooms within the living center. The Wichita VA already has 29 Guldmann lifts sitting in the warehouse with all Parts, accessories, hardware, but will need installation, and structural load testing. The living center will need an additional 12 Guldmann GH3+ overhead patient lifts to include motors, continuous charge track systems, hanger bars, slings, and associated project management as part of the addition and renovation of the Community Living Center (CLC). Lifts to equip patient rooms in order to meet safe patient handling requirements for staff to safely lift and transport patients.

The estimated value of the proposed action is $799,950.00

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Restricted Competition:

FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The statutory authority for applying the Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items of FAR 13.5 is 41 U.S.C. § 1901 and is implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) for restricting competition on this procurement. Competition is restricted on this procurement for the reason below:

( X ) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

( ) Unusual and Compelling Urgency ( ) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or

Expert Services ( ) International Agreement ( ) Authorized or Required by Statute ( ) National Security ( ) Public Interest

Effective Date: 12/30/2025 Page 2 of 6

Acquisition ID#: 36C255-26-AP-2315

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the

Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

The lift systems at the Wichita VA currently use are provided by Guldmann. The VA will reuse 29 lift motors and tracks in the new living center space to save on all new equipment purchases. This will ultimately safe the VA money and not having to order all new equipment for something that is already available to the installers once the area is ready for patient lifts.

Therefore Guldmann track systems must be procured to ensure compatibility with the lift motors and tracks.

Installation of Guldmann lifts allows Wichita VA to continue to provide for the best safety of both employees and veterans. Adding any new system requires additional training requiring man hours away from direct care of veterans and could cause confusion on proper use of another system (for example: Control of the lift system vary between vendor systems and if a staff member pressed the wrong button at the wrong time, it could result in harm to staff or veteran). Sling systems can vary by design and use restrictions, again causing the opportunity for confusion and impacting patient safety and staff competency and safety.

Many companies require only the use of their sling system with their equipment, so this would require Wichita VA Logistics to stock all the necessary slings for differing lift systems leading to extra cost and usage of additional space, which is already limited at the facility.

Guldmann is the sole source provider of the Guldmann Patient lift System and provides all accessories and installation for these systems. Purchasing and installing these Guldmann lifts systems provided by any other vendor would render all existing warranties null and void and would be unsupported by Guldmann as they do not authorize or train third party vendors to work on this equipment. Seeking full and open competition will result in a substantial duplication of cost to the government that is not expected to be recovered through competition and would create unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements. Since there is already 29 lift that are still operational, to find a new vendor at this time would ultimately be wasting 29 working lifts, and purchasing new systems is estimated to cost over $1 million with additional cost for all new lift systems (motor, tracks hangers, etc.), installation, and training of personnel on the new systems.

Continuing to use Guldmann’s parts ensures the terms of the existing, equipment's warranty stays intact and receives the necessary support from the manufacturer.

Replacing the entire Guldmann patient ceiling lift system adds extra cost to the VA. Buying the patient lifts allows the VA to save Government money and valuable personnel resources. Also, since there is already lift equipment stored in Wichita there would be a duplication in cost to buy new lifts for the entire renovated space. To not reuse the existing equipment would ultimately be wasting government resources by getting rid of something that can be installed and used.

Accordingly, Guldmann lifts are the only lifts capable of providing the supplies described in Section 3 above without the Veteran’s Health Administration experiencing substantial duplication of cost that could not be expected to be recovered through competition. The procurement is for re-installing lift and purchasing the same lift, which is one part of the whole system. Ceiling lift systems are comprised of permanent ceiling-mounted rails and separate motors that move along the rails. As a single system, motors are designed to mount, charge, and move along the unique rails produced by the motor manufacturer. All ceiling lift systems affected by this procurement are Guldmann and include rails permanently bolted to building structures. Moving to an alternate motor would require new rail

Effective Date: 12/30/2025 Page 3 of 6

Acquisition ID#: 36C255-26-AP-2315 installations which would significantly increase the current procurement cost, limit Wichita VAMC’s ability to move between different rails as needed and increase future ceiling lift procurement costs. Manufacturers do not mix a motor with another manufacturer’s ceiling railing system. Replacement of Guldmann ceiling lifts fit into the existing Guldmann railing system in use at the medical center. Physical characteristics of the Guldmann lifts will be used. This will be purchased as a “brand name” purchase.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable:

Contacted the manufacturer of the lifts, Guldmann, Inc., to verify how many authorized SDVOSB dealers they have, and confirmed they only have one SDVOSB they work with on procurements involving installations, and that SDVOSB is Premier Medical Distributors, LLC.

Due to the manufacturer of the ceiling lift only having one authorized SDVOSB dealer, the VA “Rule of Two” cannot be met. Guldmann, Inc. is incorporated in the United States and is classified as a small business in SAM.gov under NAICS 339113. The NMR is applicable since the procurement value exceeds the SAT and the SBA has not waived the NMR for patient lifts under NAICS 339113. As the required lifts are not manufactured in the United States, the NMR prevents this procurement from being set-aside for small business.

A sources sought was conducted from 5/29/26 – 6/4/2026 which two vendors responded (Guldmann & Premier) stating they can provide this requirement.

Searched the SBA Small Business Search (SBS) tool using NAICS 339113 which resulted in 1,303 potential SDVOSB/VOSB sources. Adding keyword “Guldmann” to the search criteria resulted in one SDVOSB source, Progressive X-Ray, Inc.

VA Supply Chain Master Catalog (SCMC), and existing VA contracts with no sources found for the Guldmann GH3+ lifts.

CO contacted Guldmann, Inc. who confirmed they have one SDVOSB vendor for procurements involving installation, Premier Medical Distributors, LLC. Guldmann, Inc. is incorporated in the United States and is classified as a small business in SAM.gov for NAICS 339113. Premier Medical Distributors, LLC is classified as an SDVOSB in both SAM.gov and SBA SBS.

Since there is only one authorized SDVOSB, the VA “Rule of Two” is not attainable. Since this procurement value exceeds the SAT, the SBA has not issued a class waiver to the nonmanufacturer rule under NAICS 339113 for these types of supplies, and the lifts are not manufactured domestically, the nonmanufacturer rule applies and this procurement cannot be set-aside for small business.

Analysis of Alternative Manufacturers:

Multiple ceiling lift manufacturers exist; however, none are mechanically or operationally compatible with the existing Guldmann system:

• Arjo (Manufactured in Canada) Not compatible with Guldmann motors or tracks. Integrating an Arjo lift requires a separate track system, which would eliminate interoperability. Any malfunction would require a separate vendor, and nursing staff cannot safely manage patients if the lift stops mid-transfer.

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Acquisition ID#: 36C255-26-AP-2315

• Handicare (Manufactured in the United States) Not compatible with Guldmann motors, tracks, or slings. Handicare lifts require completely different patient slings, making mid-transfer sling changes necessary—an unacceptable and hazardous practice for both patient and staff.

• Savaria (Manufactured in Canada) Uses a different motor and track design. The unit cannot travel across Guldmann tracks, and transitions from one room to another would require lifting system changes mid-route.

This presents significant safety concerns and disrupts patient movement.

• EZ Way (Manufactured in the United States) Not compatible with Guldmann track and motor infrastructure. Requires different slings, which would force patient transfers between slings during movement—unsafe and operationally impractical.

• Etac/Molift (Manufactured in Norway) Utilizes a noncompatible motor and track configuration. Room-to-room travel would be interrupted, requiring track changes and unsafe patient repositioning.

• Vancare (Manufactured in the United States) Not compatible with Guldmann systems. Requires a separate sling and track system, which would necessitate sling changes for patient transfers and prevent seamless movement throughout patient rooms.

Operational and Safety Considerations Using two different ceiling lift systems in a single patient room or care area is not feasible.

Doing so would require:

• Two sets of track systems

• Two different motors

• Different slings for each system

• Patient repositioning mid-transfer

• Different maintenance vendors for each lift type

These conditions introduce unacceptable risk. Ceiling lifts are required for all heavy lifting to prevent staff injury. Any scenario requiring manual repositioning or mid-transfer sling changes increases the likelihood of patient harm, staff injury, and operational delays.

Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable:

A fair and reasonable price determination will be made by comparison to the independent Government Cost Estimate that was formulated by using market research of historical pricing from same or similar scope contracts and market price lists in conjunction with the pricing methods

Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

A sources sought was conducted from 5/29/26 – 6/4/2026 which two vendors responded (Guldmann & Premier) stating they can provide this requirement.

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Acquisition ID#: 36C255-26-AP-2315

Searched the SBA Small Business Search (SBS) tool using NAICS 339113 which resulted in 1,303 potential SDVOSB/VOSB sources. Adding keyword “Guldmann” to the search criteria resulted in one SDVOSB source, Progressive X-Ray, Inc.

VA Supply Chain Master Catalog (SCMC), and existing VA contracts with no sources found for the Guldmann GH3+ lifts. CO contacted Guldmann, Inc. who confirmed they have one SDVOSB vendor for procurements involving installation, Premier Medical Distributors, LLC.

Guldmann, Inc. is incorporated in the United States and is classified as a small business in SAM.gov for NAICS 339113.

Premier Medical Distributors, LLC is classified as an SDVOSB in both SAM.gov and SBA SBS. Since there is only one authorized SDVOSB, the VA “Rule of Two” is not attainable.

Since this procurement value exceeds the SAT, the SBA has not issued a class waiver to the nonmanufacturer rule under NAICS 339113 for these types of supplies, and the lifts are not manufactured domestically, the nonmanufacturer rule applies and this procurement cannot be set-aside for small business.

The Guldmann GH3+ patient lifts are manufactured in Denmark. The procurement is for Guldmann lift and installation (replacement lifts utilized on existing Guldmann rails). FAR 25.104(a) lists spare and replacement parts for equipment of foreign manufacture, and for which domestic parts are not available, to be purchased as an exception to the Buy American Act. WTO Trade Agreement is not applicable. IAW FAR 25.401(a)(5), trade agreements do not apply to acquisitions not using full and open competition, if authorized by

6.102 or 6.103, when the limitation of competition would preclude use of the procedures of this subpart; or sole source acquisitions justified in accordance with 12.102.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

There are no other facts supporting use of other than full and open competition.

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition:

Premier Medical Distributors, LLC, 141 Chapel Ridge Circle, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588, expressed interest by providing a market research quote to the Wichita VA.

11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required:

The proposed contract action is for Guldmann GH3+ brand name 29 ceiling lifts to be reinstalled with existing Guldmann lift and purchase 12 additional lift to complete the new living space at the Wichita living Center. The Guldmann system is what the Wichita VA Medical Center is currently standardized to. At such times that entire existing patient lift system is being replaced throughout the living center, market research will be conducted to determine if any barriers to competition may be removed or overcome.

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Acquisition ID#: 36C255-26-AP-2315

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the requirement outlined in this justification is a Bona Fide Need of the Department of Veterans Affairs and that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name: Mykaela Ptacek Title: Biomedical Engineer Facility: Wichita VAMC

13. Approvals in accordance with the VHAPM Part 806.3 OFOC SOP:

a. Contracting Officer or Designee’s Certification (required): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name: Jon Lutmer Title: Contract Specialist Facility: NCO 15

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over $350K but not exceeding $900K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Name: Randall Combs Division Chief

NCO 15

MYKAELA PTACEK Digitally signed by MYKAELA PTACEK Date: 2026.06.17 11:45:09 -05'00'

JONATHAN

LUTMER

Digitally signed by

JONATHAN LUTMER

Date: 2026.06.17 12:21:19 -05'00'

RANDALL COMBS

Digitally signed by RANDALL

COMBS

Date: 2026.06.17 12:42:56 -05'00'