Justification Approval - Westat Inc VA119-17-D-0038 36C10G20F0069 (signed).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 Westat, Inc., a Large Business, for the procurement of a Veterans Health Administration (VHA), National Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) follow on “Eating Disorders” survey. The Contract Number is VA119-17-D-0038 and the Order Number is 36C10G20F0069. The period of performance is 12 months. The awarded amount for this acquisition is $245,139.00 and the period of performance for the awarded contract is as follows:

Base Period: September 17, 2020 – September 16, 2021

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

The original survey questionnaire was developed by Westat, Inc. They have been under contract with the VA to design, create and administer the survey to 4,125 Veterans. The overall purpose of this project is to conduct a follow-on survey, web and paper based of Veterans in a VA-funded research project who previously responded to the survey assessing the prevalence of eating disorders, risk factors for eating disorders, healthcare use, and barriers to care. The purpose of the new study is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Veterans’ eating disorder symptoms.

The survey is to be prepared and programmed for online administration or hard-copy administration and programmed for data entry. The survey and analysis follow-on to the “Eating Disorders” survey conducted utilizing a cohort of Veterans who have previously responded to an initial survey assessing the prevalence of eating disorders, risk factors for eating disorders, healthcare use, and barriers to care in a previous task order. An additional survey will assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Veterans’ eating disorder symptoms.

The follow-on survey will only be going out to Veterans who participated in the initial Eating Disorders task order. The number of Veterans is 1187 of original respondents/participants for the COVID-19 survey. The purpose of the study is to examine the prevalence of eating disorders, risk factors for eating disorders, healthcare use, and barriers to care as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating disorder symptoms. The survey will be administered primarily online, with paper copies provided to participants who prefer a hard copy and to non-respondents. Cover letters with a link to the online survey and a study fact sheet are to be mailed. The follow-on survey is to be provided to the 1187 of original respondents/participants from the Time 1 survey.

This will be a multi-stage mailing administered with a target response percentage of 60% of the original participants). All data from returned surveys will be entered into a database and delivered to VA Boston, as well as the hard copies of the surveys themselves.

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: Westat, Inc. 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 cohort of U.S.

military veterans who completed a comprehensive survey in the two previous task orders.

Altarum offers the following unique services:

a) National experience in the survey of the 4,125 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.

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 July 28, 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 July 28, 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.

Christine Quigley Date Assistant Director for Operations WHSD, National Center for PTSD VA Boston Healthcare System

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