JA VISN TeleRad HCA.pdf

36C256-26-AP-2720| VISN 16 TELERADIOLOGY SERVICES

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

RESTRICTING COMPETITION USING SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES

FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 12.102

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C256-26-AP-2720

Contracting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Integrated Service Network 16 (VISN 16), Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. Network Contracting Office 16 (NCO16), PR# 598-26-2-132-0035

Nature and Description of the Action Being Processed:

This sole source justification supports an interim contract to maintain continuity of Teleradiology healthcare services for all VISN 16 facilities, pending procurement of a five-year contract for these services. This action is conducted in accordance with FAR 12.102(a). The government anticipates award of a firm fixed price contract with a -month performance period of 07-01-202 – 06/30/202 . The total estimated contract value is $3,876,615.00.

Description of Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs:

The incumbent contractor, VetMed Group LLC, a service-disabled veteran owned small business, currently provides teleradiology services to VISN 16 under authority of 38 U.S.C. 8153. The current contract provides off campus film interpretation via a network connection to the VA informatics system. Interpretation includes all stat and critical emergent test results. NCO16 is in the pre-solicitation phase of procurement of a long-term five-year contract for these services. Because the credentialing, privileging, and onboarding of new contract physicians typically takes one to two months, approximately six months to navigate the complexities of VA information technology and security protocols, award to a new contractor to meet the 07/01/202 need date is not feasible, and the agency consequently requires a 12 month interim contract with the incumbent contractor to provide continuity of healthcare services pending solicitation and competitive award of the long-term requirement.

Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition:

FAR 12.102 Restricting Competition. The statutory authority for restricting competition on this procurement is 41 U.S.C. § 1901 and is implemented by FAR 12.102(a) for restricting competition using Simplified Acquisition Procedures for commercial items. Competition is restricted on this procurement for the reason below:

(X ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements ( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency ( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services ( ) (4) International Agreement ( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute ( ) (6) National Security ( ) (7) Public Interest

Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

The incumbent contractor, VetMed Group LLC, is the only firm with the current capability to maintain continuity of healthcare services without unacceptable delays in patient care within the required performance period. The incumbent contractor has performed successfully and is the only source with the necessary contract physicians in place, onboarded, and has a networking system that is already in place, approved and compliant with all network security protocols. The Contracting Officer intends to award a 12-month interim contract to the incumbent to ensure continuity of services pending solicitation and award of the long-term requirement. VISN 16’s existing contract for these services expires on 06/30/2026.

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

Because the agency requires continuity of healthcare services for each of the VISN 16 VA Medical Centers, only the incumbent contractor will be solicited for this interim contract. As indicated in Section 5 above, only the incumbent contractor has the necessary personnel in place and cleared as well as the current connections to the OIT network to ensure continuity of healthcare services in accordance with VISN 16 performance requirements.

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

The incumbent contractor currently provides the required services to all VISN 16 medical centers.

This demonstrates the incumbent contractor’s understanding of the healthcare services required and capability to provide those services at fair and reasonable market pricing. The contracting officer intends to evaluate pricing for the interim services in relation to current contract pricing, which was determined fair and reasonable at award, and the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).

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

The CO onduct separate market research for this 12-month interim contract because market research for was conducted and provides a current and accurate representation of the commercial market for these services. For the reasons detailed in Section 5 above, the CO’s interaction with industry in relation to the subject sole source procurement was limited to confirming the interest and capability of the incumbent contractor to satisfy the interim requirement.

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

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

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

The following sources have expressed interest in writing previously to agency request for information These sources be considered by the CO and detailed in the market research and planning documents supporting the competitive procurement strategy for the long-term contract award. As indicated in Section 5 above, however, these firms except the incumbent cannot meet the subject need date of 07/01/2026 given the timeframe for credentialing, privileging, onboarding new contract physicians and connections to the VA Network.

Vet Med Group LLC Prime Tri Providers

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 agency has conducted appropriate market research to support competitive procurement of the long-term contract for these services. The CO will release a solicitation as a 100% SDVOSB Set-Aside for a competitive procurement strategy that maximizes competition while maintaining compliance with VA’s statutory small business obligations. Additionally, the establishment of the subject interim contract may increase competition by mitigating the risk of a lapse in services and consequently increasing the timeframe for industry to develop competitive proposals.

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.

Cody Pledger PACS Administrator, COR Date

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

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

Thomas Kovarovic Date Contracting Officer, Medical Sharing Team, NCO 16

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

Corey Labbe Date Branch Chief, Medical Sharing Team, NCO 16

C d Pl d

03-30-2026

03-30-2026

THOMAS

KOVAROVIC

Digitally signed by THOMAS

KOVAROVIC

Date: 2026.03.30 09:57:42 -05'00'

COREY LABBE Digitally signed by COREY LABBE Date: 2026.03.30 10:06:06 -05'00'

c. Director of Contracting 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 for other than full and open competition.

Reuben A. Zepeda Date Director of Contracting, NCO 16

d. VHA 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 for other than full and open competition.

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

DAVID

BOURGEOIS

Digitally signed by DAVID

BOURGEOIS

Date: 2026.04.01 08:04:56 -05'00'

04/01/2026

DARYL

BERG

Digitally signed by

DARYL BERG

Date: 2026.04.01 12:33:02 -05'00'