Effective Date: 12/30/2025 Revision: 02 Acquisition ID#: 36C255-26-AP-1487

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR

CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR Overhaul (RFO)

12.102(b)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C255-26-AP-1487

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 15, Veterans

Integrated Service Network (VISN) 15, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 15, in support of all VISN 15 Facilities

VAMC Marion IL: 2401 W Main St. Marion IL 62959

VAMC Kansas City: 4801 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City MO 64128

VAMC St. Louis- JC Division: 915 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis MO 63106

VAMC St. Louis- JB Division: 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive, St. Louis MO 63125

VAMC Columbia: 800 Hospital Drive, Columbia MO 65201

VAMC Poplar Bluff: 1500 N. Westwood, Poplar Bluff MO 63901

VAMC Wichita: Dole VAMC 5500 E Kellogg, Wichita KS 67218

VAMC Topeka: 2200 Gage Blvd, Topeka KS 66622

VAMC Leavenworth: 4101 S. 4th. St. Trafficway, Leavenworth KS 66048

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

This procurement is for a sole source, Firm-Fixed Price, award to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Hill-Rom, doing business as Baxter (herein referred to as Hill-Rom), to rent specialized bed & mattress for spinal cord injured veteran’s and facilities accommodating veterans with spinal cord injuries. These specialized bed and mattresses require rental based on space limitations within the facilities.

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

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 15 VA Hospital Medical Centers (VAMCs), has a requirement for the rental of inpatient bed frames and mattresses.

The requirement will include all inpatient requirements of the facility along with;

Spinal Cord Injury Units, and Community Living Centers located at the facilities only. Under the contract the contractor shall provide delivery, set-up, maintenance/service/repair, and pick-up of all items. Key Operator Training will also be needed for all rental items.

This is for specialized bed frames and mattresses specifically for the Spinal Cord Injury department at the St Louis VA Medical Center. Hill-Rom is the only manufacturer that has the Bariatric Foam Type Pressure Redistributing Surface/Mattress Rental and Fluid Immersion Simulation Therapy Bed Rental.

No other manufacturer has this proprietary technology.

See below specific specialized bed rental items included in this requirement

Standard Bed/Unit Rental

Bariatric Size Bed/Unit Rental

Bariatric Size Bed/Unit for Intensive Care Unit Rental

Critical Care Bed for Intensive Care Unit Rental

Air Fluidized Therapy Bed Rental

Fluid Immersion Simulation Therapy Bed Rental

Low Air Loss Therapy Surface Rental

Foam Type Pressure Redistributing Surface/Mattress Rental

Bariatric Foam Type Pressure Redistributing Surface/Mattress Rental

Low Bed Rentals

Estimated Value Base Year: $704,127.00 Option Year I: $704,127.00 Option Year II: $704,127.00 Option Year III: $704,127.00 Option Year IV: $704,127.00 Total: $3,520,635.00

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Restricted Competition:

RFO 12.102(b) Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The statutory authority for applying the Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items of RFO 12.102(b) is 41 U.S.C. § 1901 and is implemented by RFO 12.102(b) 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

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

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

Hill-Rom is the only manufacturer of air fluidizing therapy as Hill-Rom retains a patent on air fluidizing therapy technology. This equipment is required for post-operative care of flap surgical closure for pressure injuries in the (Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder) SCI/D population completed by Plastic Surgery. St Louis VA SCI/D Service is classified as a Hub Center and therefore responsible for 8 Spoke Sites across the Midwest Region. In accordance with SPINAL CORD INJURIES AND DISORDERS SYSTEM OF CARE VHA Directive 1176 all SCI/D Hub Centers are to be staffed with experts in SCI/D care and specialized equipment, specifically the air fluidizing therapy mattress technology, to care for the needs of the SCI/D population.

Eight Midwest Regional Spoke Sites refer SCI/D veterans to the STL VA SCI/D Service for flap surgical closure of pressure injuries in compliance with VHA Directive 1176 and must have fluidizing therapy technology for spinal cord injury veterans. There is no other manufacturer that can provide the most current air fluidizing therapy technology applicable to providing spinal medical care.

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

A sources sought was conducted 3/13/2026 – 3/24/2026 which several vendors responded that they could provide all mattresses and bed except the air fluidizing therapy mattress that only Hill-Rom can provide. Hill-Rom has no authorized dealers or partnerships that can provide these rentals. This requirement for specialized mattresses is found to have only one large business vendor (Hill-Rom) who is the manufacturer and distributor of the proprietary air fluidizing therapy technology for spinal cord injury patients. Hill-Rom is the only vendor with this technology in the entire world.

7. 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 available historical pricing. Certified cost and pricing data is not required under this requirement because it will be a Firm-Fixed-Price contract.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a

Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

Market Research was conducted with a sources sought conducted (3/13/26 – 3/24/26) also searches on GSA, Supply Chain Master Catalog, Small Business Dynamic Search, and Sam.Gov for past awards. There is no SDVOSB vendor that can fulfill this requirement. Hill-Rom doesn’t have any certification to other businesses that can fulfill this requirement. Ultimately this rental requirement is a sole source based on technology of air fluidizing therapy that Hill-Rom is the sole vendor who can supply these rental bed and mattress. No other mattress will satisfy the need other than air fluidizing therapy that Hill-Rom can provide. Market research was conducted using the broadest terms possible to ensure maximum competition; specifically the keywords “air fluidizing therapy technology”. Only one result (Hill-Rom) was identified appearing capable of fulfilling this requirement. The St Louis VA Medical Center must have air fluidizing therapy technology for their SCI/D veteran population and no other mattress surface will satisfy this need. Using another brand mattress could cause more injury/pressure injury decompensation/pressure injury development/post flap closure surgical incision dehiscence to the veteran if this mattress isn’t used. Hill-Rom is the sole manufacturer and distributor of this proprietary mattress and no other company has this technology in a modernized bed frame applicable to providing inpatient spinal medical care.

If another brand is considered, patient care would be affected as it would not be able to provide care to the standards and requirements of VHA 1176. Additionally, if another brand is considered in addition to the Hill-Rom Mattresses, a duplication of costs could be incurred as two separate service and maintenance contracts would need to be established to care for the various mattresses. It is in the Government’s best interest to award to one vendor as they would be able to provide all mattresses to the VISN 15 footprint. Having two separate contracts 1) for air fluidizing therapy technology and 2) •Standard Hospital Bed/Unit • Bariatric Bed/Unit Bariatric ICU Bed/Unit • Critical Care ICU Bed • Low Air Loss Therapy Surface (Overlay) • Foam- Type Pressure Redistribution Surface • Low Bed, would not be in the Government best interest since the VISN can consolidate all needs under one contract, reflecting the current FSS Contract 36F79721D0160) standards.

Sources sought – 3/13/2026 – 3/24/2026 Hill-Rom was the only vendor to respond that they could meet the entire Statement of Work. No other vendor responded with fulfilling the entire requirement.

GSA Global Supply – No results found

National Acquisition Center (NAC) via Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) – Some Items were contained on contract; however, the contract is set to expire in one (1) and not all items and services were available via an existing contract vehicle. Therefore, the existing contract did not provide for a viable option for these five (5) Year VISN 15 requirements.

Supply Chain Master Catalog – SCMC shows other VA medical centers with Hill- Rom that are Spinal Cord hubs and VISN contracts. These contracts are open market since all line items aren’t on FSS. These mattresses are expected to be on an FSS schedule in the near future according to Hill-Rom.

SBA Small Business Search: A total of seven (7) small businesses resulted from this search, but of those 7 small businesses zero (0) were capable of providing this requirement.

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

VHA Directive 1176 and must have fluidizing therapy technology for spinal cord injury veterans and Baxter is the only vendor with this Technology.

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

Only Hill-Rom can provided these rental mattresses/Bed Frames

Hill-Rom

1069 STATE RTE 46 E

BATESVILLE, IN 47006

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 Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.

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: Ricky Roseberry Title: VISN AUS Facility: VISN 15

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: Contracting Officer 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: Andrew J Raiber Director Of Contracting Network Contracting Office (NCO) 15

c. VHA Advocate for Competition and RPO HCA Review and Approval: I have reviewed the foregoing justification and find it to be complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and approve $900K to $90 million for other than full and open competition.

Daryl A. Berg Executive Director, RPO Central Head of Contracting Activity

JONATHAN

LUTMER

Digitally signed by

JONATHAN LUTMER

Date: 2026.05.26 09:50:01 -05'00'

ANDREW

RAIBER

Digitally signed by ANDREW

RAIBER

Date: 2026.05.28 15:57:48 -05'00'

DARYL BERG

Digitally signed by DARYL

BERG

Date: 2026.06.01 14:04:37 -05'00'