Justification _ Approval 36C10G18D0091 Order 36C10G20F0040.pdf

JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

6.302-1 ONLY ONE RESPONSIBLE SOURCE

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Procurement and Acquisition Logistics (OPAL) Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 10300 Spotsylvania Avenue, Suite 400

Fredericksburg, VA 22408

2. Description of Action Being Approved: The proposed action is for a sole source firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract with Ipsos Public Affairs, a Large Business, for the procurement of a Veterans Health Administration (VHA), National Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) follow on survey using the original 4,075 U.S. military Veterans who participated in the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS). The Contract Number is 36C10G18D0091 and the Order Number is 36C10G20F0040. The period of performance is 12 months. The awarded amount for this acquisition is $406,776.83 and the period of performance for the awarded contract is as follows:

Base Period: August 21, 2020 – August 20, 2021

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs:

VA has a requirement to conduct PTSD Survey Analysis Follow-On to the 4,075 U.S.

military Veterans who participated in the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), which aims to characterize the prevalence, longitudinal course, and determinants of major trauma -related disorders in this population.

Baseline data for the NHRVS, which are de-identified, are proprietary and were ascertained by researchers in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Ensure that sample is comprised of the original baseline NHRVS cohort of 4,075 U.S.

military veterans, who completed a comprehensive survey in Fall 2019 – Winter 2020.

To conduct a survey of a nationally representative sample of 5,000 U.S. military Veterans to characterize the prevalence, correlates, and genetic and psychosocial factors associated with traumatic stress-related disorders.

4. Statutory Authority: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41.U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 - Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Ipsos Public Affairs has the original names and addresses of the originally surveyed personnel. No other company has this information. They also have the questions used on the original survey, which no one has either. Although this could be provided to vendors from the VA, it would not allow for the capture of the actual veterans and their addresses, phone numbers, and/or the emails. This ensures the sample is comprised of the original baseline NHRVS cohort of 4,075 U.S. military veterans, who completed a comprehensive survey in Fall 2019 – Winter 2020.

Ipsos Public Affairs offers the following unique services:

a) National experience in the survey of the 4,075 U.S. military veterans originally surveyed.

b) The sole knowledge of the names, addresses, phone numbers, and or emails to provide the original baseline of veterans.

c) The sole knowledge of the base weights including probability of selection and post-stratification weights generated by statisticians to permit generalizability of survey results to the broader population in U.S. Veterans.

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: A notice was issued to all holders of the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) on April 22, 2020, which resulted in no vendor responding they could meet the requirements of the follow on acquisition.

7. Contracting Officer Determination: The cost to the Government was evaluated to determine if it was fair and reasonable. An Independent Government Cost Estimate was used to assist in the determination of a fair and reasonable quote.

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: A notice was issued on April 22, 2020 to all holders of the IDIQ which resulted in no vendor responding they could meet the requirements of the follow on acquisition. All vendors were provided the opportunity to provide their capabilities, however, none were received.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

None

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

None

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. This will be the end of this particular survey and there are no further anticipated acquisitions planned for in the future for this particular survey or those surveyed.

12. Certifications:

Technical Representative Certification:

Technical and Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Veronica Thurston Administrative Officer Date Veterans Health Administration National Center for PTSD

Contracting Officer Certification:

Pursuant to (FAR 6.303-2(b)(12)), For the contract exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold but not exceeding $700,000.00, the contracting officer’s certification required by FAR 6.303-2(b)(12) will serve as approval. I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. As this contract action does not exceed $700,000.00, the certification below required by FAR 6.303-2(b)(12) serves as approval.

Mauricio Vazquez Date Chief, Acquisition Services Division 4A Contracting Officer