JnA.pdf

Acquisition Plan ID# 36C252-25-AP-1894 Page 1 of 5

DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) for

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C252-25-AP-1894

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office

(NCO) 12, Great Lakes Acquisition Center, 115 South 84th Street, Suite 101, Milwaukee Wisconsin, on behalf of the Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Affairs Hospital (Hines VAH), Hines, Illinois. This is a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition for the services requested. Purchase request is TBD.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: Justification and approval for a five-year sole source contract award for residential placement and supportive services under the Low Demand Safe Haven (LDSH) Program for beneficiaries of the Hines VAH, in accordance with FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items and specifically FAR 13.501 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. The contract will be awarded to Volunteers of America, 47 West Polk Street, Suite 250-2, Chicago, Illinois 60605. Award will be a firm-fixed (unit) price Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract with a 5 year ordering period.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency�s Needs: This requirement is for residential placement and supportive services under the LDSH Program for beneficiaries of the Hines VAH, who are homeless veterans with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and/or mental illness or other chronic medical problems and are unable to participate in other housing programs. The contractor is required to provide or have arrangements/relationships with subcontractors or community organizations to provide the following services: room and board, 24/7 on-site staff, 3 meals per day and snacks, free laundry facilities, health and personal hygiene products, medications, supportive/case management services, substance use disorder treatment services to include providing Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND), education regarding community living skills, and transportation services. Contractor is required to provide a low-demand, non-intrusive environment designed to re-establish trust and eventually re-engage the homeless person in needed treatment services and transitional and permanent housing options.

The performance period is 15 May 2025 through 14 May 2030. The estimated value of the contract is $2,958,045.00.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: FAR 13.5

Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The statutory authority for applying the Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items for FAR 13.5 is 41 U.S.C.

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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

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

Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above: None of the other community residential facilities provide care for clients who need a low demand environment. Volunteers of America (VOA) is the only vendor capable of providing the required services for beneficiaries of the Hines VAH under the VA LDSH Program and that meets all VA requirements. VOA is licensed by the State of Illinois and has met all federal, state, and local regulatory requirements for the operation of this program.

VOA has sufficient staff in numbers and positions to carry out the policies and responsibilities of the VA LDSH Program. VOA staff involved with the VA LDSH Program are certified in CPR and First Aid, including use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and trained to integrate the Harm Reduction Model and principles in the veteran�s care plan.

Volunteers of America � Hope Hall facility conforms to local and state licensing standards for residential �board and care� type occupancies as well as the standards in the general chapters of the latest edition of the Life Safety Code and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard No. 101.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Ensure that Offers are Solicited from as Many Potential Sources as Deemed Practicable: Market Research was conducted. These results are listed in the Description of the Market Research Conducted in paragraph 8.

An Intent to Sole Source was also posted to the Contract Opportunities website (36C25225Q0275) on February 20, 2025, requesting interested and qualified vendors to submit a response of their capability to perform the required services. Two (2) responses were received by that date and neither meet the requirements.

Kastel Enterprises does not provide services that fall under NAICS Code 623220 and is located in Alabama and does not identify if Low Demand Safe Housing Services can be provided.

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BHPE identified themselves as an interested partner. The information provided included a webpage for capabilities which states that they provide Military Aftermarket Distribution solutions for military equipment and systems. There is no indication that Low Demand Safe Housing Services can be provided.

7. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: The anticipated cost of the contract will be fair and reasonable. The CO will compare the quoted price with historical prices paid accounting for differing terms and conditions, quantities, and market and economic factors; pricing obtained via market research for the same or similar services; and with the Independent Government Cost Estimate.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: In accordance with FAR Part 10, Market Research was conducted. The findings are described below.

A. VetCert: October 22, 2024, a search using NAICS 623220 resulted in 164 vendors. 150 are Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) with only 6 in Illinois, as listed below. None of these meet the requirements for this acquisition.

Citrio Labs LLC Project management services Drew Industries LLC Website does not identify provided services Endearing Home Services, LLC 4.5-hour drive from Hines VAH (286 miles) Fidon LLC Website does not identify provided services Osedo LLC Real estate services & management Rx Medical Billing Consultants LLC Medical billing services

B. SBA: October 22, 2024, a search using NAICS 623220 and keywords residential housing, restricted to Illinois produced 0 vendors.

C. GSA: On October 22, 2024, a search using the NAICS 623220 returned one vendor � Community Hope, Inc. out of New Jersey. There were 54 other vendors listed under Category 624SS (Social Services); further restriction to VOSB and SDVOSB produced 10 SDVOSB vendors. However, none of these organizations provide low demand housing services.

In summary, market research efforts did not locate any vendors in Suburban Cook County or the surrounding counties other than the incumbent, Volunteers of America, that would be able to meet the needs of the Government. The VA �Rule of Two� has not been met.

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

None.

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an interest in the Acquisition: None.

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11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency may Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making, Subsequent Acquisition for the Supplies or Services Required: Market research will be conducted for future acquisitions for these services.

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the requirement outlined in this justification is a Bona Fide Need of the Department of Veteran 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.

Goldlicia English LDSH Coordinator Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital

13. Approvals in accordance with the 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.

CARRIE DESWARTE

Contracting Officer

NCO 12

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer: I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

PATRICE R. BOND

Medical Sharing Team Branch Chief

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c. Division Chief: I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Scott Ivy Division Manager

d. Recommend Approval / Disapproval

Paul Lauro Director of Contracting

e. 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 Executive Director, RPO Central Head of Contracting Activity