Justification_Redacted.pdf

Effective Date: 12/30/2025 Page 1 of 5 Revision: 02 Acquisition ID#: 36C252-26-AP-3308, 36C252-26-AP-3241, 36C252-26-AP-3219

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS IN

Accordance with Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) 12.102(b)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C252-26-AP-3308, 36C252-26-AP-3241, 36C252-26-AP-3219

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 12, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical

Center has submitted 695-26-3-969-0401, 695-26-3-969-0382, 695-26-3-969-0367 for new ceiling lifts to the Great Lakes Acquisition Center (NCO12). Matthew Hohl from NCO12 will be responsible for the Contracting Action.

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

This procurement is for purchase and installation of Guldmann Patient lift systems at the Clement J.

Zablocki VA Medical Center in accordance with FAR 12.1 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items and specifically FAR 12.1 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.

This will be a firm-fixed price brand name only solicitation for lifts and installation.

3. Description of Supplies/Services : The Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center requires purchase of seven (7) new ceiling lifts throughout the hospital.

Dermatology and Hematology/Oncology departments (3), Echo clinic and Blue Clinic (2), and the GEC 9th floor (2) requires these lifts to be the Guldmann brand only as the hospital has standardized all lifts to meet safe patient handling requiresment for staff to safely lift and transport patients.

capabilities.

The estimated value of the proposed action is $124,000.00.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Restricted Competition:

FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The statutory authority for applying the Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items of FAR 13.5 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

Effective Date: 12/30/2025 Page 2 of 5

Acquisition ID#: 36C252-26-AP-3308, 36C252-26-AP-3241, 36C252-26-AP-3219

5. Demonstration that the C Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

The Lift systems at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center currently provided by Guldmann.

in different environments instead of using floor based lifts. Installation of Guldmann lifts is critical as it allows the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center to continue to provide for the best safety of both employees and veterans. If a different brand is installed it could cause a safety risk for veterans/staff as having two different brands with buttons in different locations could result in severe injury.

Additionally, adding any new system requires additional training manuals / protocols requiring man hours away from direct care of veterans and could cause confusion on proper use of another system (for example: Control of the lift system vary between vendor systems and if a staff member pressed the wrong button at the wrong time, it could result in harm to staff or veteran). Sling systems can vary by design and use restrictions, again causing the opportunity for confusion and impacting patient safety and staff competency and safety. Many companies require only the use of their sling system with their equipment, so this would require Miwlaukee VA Logistics to stock all the necessary slings for differing lift systems leading to extra cost and usage of additional space, which is already limited at the facility.

Guldmann ceiling lifts are the only ceiling lifts that meet the clinical needs of our staff and patients is internal with patient weight displayed on a screen located on the hand control. An internal scale maximizes hanger bar height, maximizing lift functionality. Recording patient weights is needed for medical treatment decisions such as medication dosing and equipment selection. When the weight readout is near the lift motor, staff often must strain to read it.

Installing these seven (7) [1.6% of the facility] new ceiling lifts from an alternative brand would result in staff being unfamiliar with the safe handling procedures for our veterans, increasing the risk of injury to both veterans and staff when using these lifts. Each lift brand has distinct operating controls, sling attachment mechanisms, weight capacity indicators, and emergency stop procedures;

introducing a second brand would require staff to mentally switch between two different sets of procedures depending on which lift they encounter, increasing the likelihood of user error.

Therefore, it is critical for the Milwaukee VAMC to maintain one brand of ceiling lifts for continuity, ensuring:

Consistent training Staff are trained once on a single set of operating procedures, rather than maintaining competency across multiple systems.

Reduced risk of misuse Uniform equipment eliminates confusion over controls, weight limits, and safety features that vary between manufacturers.

Simplified maintenance and parts inventory Standardizing on one brand reduces the need to stock multiple types of slings, batteries, and replacement parts, and allows biomedical/facilities staff to service all units using the same expertise.

Compatibility with existing infrastructure A single brand ensures compatibility with existing ceiling track systems, sling attachments, and charging equipment already in use throughout the facility.

Effective Date: 12/30/2025 Page 3 of 5

Acquisition ID#: 36C252-26-AP-3308, 36C252-26-AP-3241, 36C252-26-AP-3219

Improved emergency response In the event of a lift malfunction or emergency lowering situation, staff can respond quickly and correctly without needing to identify which brand-specific procedure applies.

Given that these seven lifts represent only 1.6% of the facility's total ceiling lift inventory, introducing a second brand would create disproportionate risk and operational complexity relative to the limited scope of the installation.

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

The Contracting Officer completed an initial Sources Sought (36C25226Q0596) which was posted from July 13th, 2026 to July 21st, 2026 (8 Days). The Contracting Officer completed a second Sources Sought (36C25226Q0652) which was posted from August 3rd, 2026 to August 14th, 2026 (11 days).

The Contracting Officer received a total of six (7) responses: P.X. Inc. [HJMUGF5J3LB3], Premier Medical Distributors (SDVOSB) [NXG6V8L9SY13], Handicare USA LLC. (OTSB) [EYPQJDKAKXC6], Guldmann (SB) [ZWTVNPKKCXZ7], BanCar Services Group, LLC (SDVOSB) [XNTRMT2H41D5], TRL Government Services (SB) [GEPFAVWWQVY3]. 2B Accessibility LLC (VOSB) [GHNBNMSLKEV3].

Bancar Services Group, LLC, and 2B Accessibility LLC offered equal products but all those manufactured products are not Buy American Act compliant. Bancar Service Group, LLC is offering Mackworth Ceiling lifts which is manufactured in the United Kingdom (UK).

Handicare replied and identified the manufactured location is within the United States and compete. EZway OEM or authorized distributors did not respond to this Sources Sought requests.

The Contracting Officer also requested if the site was open to other brands of slings and Ceiling lifts. Milwaukee VA is not as they only use the Manufacturer Brand of slings to ensure the lowest risk to the patient. The entire Hospital has been standardized to the Guldmann ceiling lift to ensure continuity for the staff. The seven (7) ceiling lifts are new installs to expand the current capability of the Milwaukee VAMC.

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 historical pricing from same or similar scope contracts and market price lists in conjunction with the pricing methods.

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

Market Research Was Not Conducted: The Contracting Officer knows of two (2) brands that are possibly made in the United States: Handicare, EZway. Handicare (now part of Savaria) is based out of Sweden does have manufacturing locations around the world. EZway ceiling lifts is an American based company that manufactures in the United States. It is unclear if either of these could meet the requirements of the Milwaukee VAMC.

Effective Date: 12/30/2025 Page 4 of 5

Acquisition ID#: 36C252-26-AP-3308, 36C252-26-AP-3241, 36C252-26-AP-3219

Handicare replied and identified the manufactured location is within the United States and compete. EZway OEM or authorized distributors did not respond to this Sources Sought requests.

The CO reached out to the OEM Guldmann requesting a listing of SB vendors and the OEM responded that they do have one SDVOSB authorized vendor Market research listed above concluded that there were two (2) vendors domestically manufactured items but are not capable of meeting the requirements of the Milwaukee VAMC.

Although there are 2 or more small businesses, they do not offer domestic products and therefore the procurement cannot be set aside for SDVOSBs, VOSBs, or small businesses due to the nonmanufacturing rule and the Buy American Act. Based on the market research provided above, this acquisition will be an Unrestricted Brand Name Only solicitation.

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

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

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

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.

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