JA Sole Source doc-06-22-2021_rw cmnts.NCsigned7.7.2021 (ejf).pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Acquisition Operations

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 in Frederick, Maryland on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Surgery Office (NSO).

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

This activity proposes to negotiate a non-competitive award (sole-source) with Citadel Federal Solutions (a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)), for the procurement of administrative support.

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

The purpose of this contract is to enter into a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract for administrative support for 2 separate NSO offices located in Washington, DC and Denver, CO. All services shall be provided in accordance with the terms, conditions and provisions of this contract. The contractor shall furnish all personnel, management, supervision, and transportation to provide administrative support services to the VA as described in this PWS. The contractor personnel shall be fully trained in their area of expertise and shall have the level of experience to accomplish the requirements under the PWS without supervision, oversight, or other means of intervention by the Government. This PWS establishes the requirements for

Contractor-provided solutions in support of Administrative Support Services. The Government will be providing all equipment to perform these services at both locations. The estimated value for this acquisition is $1,231,242.39 and the period of performance is a 12-month base plus 4, 12-month option periods

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).

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103

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

Citadel Federal Solutions is a registered and verified SDVOSB that can immediately support this need for administrative support. The contractor shall provide administrative support services consisting of administrative functions involving working closely with the project teams of the office as a key component in interactions with clinical, administrative, and analytical staff. The contractor will also provide supportive customer service for the clinical field personnel in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and will assist with general responsibilities necessary to achieve departmental goals. Communicates in verbal and written communication with key VA clinical personnel and their staff who contribute to national VA surgical initiatives.

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 IGCE, current market conditions, historical pricing 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 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.

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.

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103

Market research was conducted, and Citadel Federal Solutions 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 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

Professional Consulting Technologies, LLC 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 Professional Consulting Technologies, LLC 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. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

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 $5,000,000.00; 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.

Citadel Federal Solutions LLC Raventek Federal Systems

24169 Statesboro Pl Ashburn, VA 20148

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103

Frederick, MD 21703

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 any 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.

Nakia Chisholm Date Health System Specialist National Surgery Office (NSO).

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.

Melissa Maloy Date Contracting Officer

Strategic Acquisition Center- Frederick (SAC-F)

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103

Competition Advocate Approval:

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).

Efrain J. Fernandez Date Competition Advocate

Strategic Acquisition Center-Frederick (SAC-F)

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103

Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103