Justification_Sole Source_St. Pats_RML RRH_signed_Redacted.pdf

transmission of these communicable infectious diseases from infected patients to non-infected patients, hospital staff, Government officials and the local community. This requirement is a follow-on renewal of services.

These services are currently being performed under the contract indicated below:

Purchase Order: HHSN272201601397P Contractor: St. Patrick Hospital Period of Performance: 9/29/2016 – 9/28/2021 Award Date: 9/27/2016 Total Obligated: $503,006.00

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

a. Project title. Regional Referral Hospital Care and Isolation Unit

b. Project description. This requirement provides commercially available in-patient and out-patient medical support services for NIH RML staff and contractors who have been exposed to, or infected with, a high-consequence biologic agent typically handled in BSL3 and BSL4 laboratories. The Care and Isolation Unit must meet the CDC criteria for an Assessment Hospital. As such, the facility must have a staffing plan to care for the patient and infection control procedures that minimize the potential for transmission of these communicable infectious diseases from an infected patient to others. The Regional Referral Hospital (RRH) shall have an infectious disease specialist available for consultation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. The infectious disease specialist will work with NIH personnel to determine an appropriate course of action and potential treatment. This acquisition also includes costs associated with facility improvements and telehealth capabilities in order to maintain the standard of care and environment suitable for NIAID’s patient treatment requirements.

Requirement type.

Research & development (R&D) R & D support services Support services (non-R&D) Supplies/equipment Information technology (IT) Construction Architect-engineer (A & E) services Design-build Other (specify): ____________________

Type of action.

New requirement Follow-on Other (specify): ______________________ estimated 55 hospitals with Ebola treatment centers in the U.S. St. Patrick Hospital is the only hospital in the State of Montana equipped to handle infectious diseases like Ebola. The nearest hospital to Hamilton, Montana that has the capability to handle Ebola patients, besides St. Patrick Hospital, is Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington. Spokane is 243 miles away; which exceeds the 75 mile radius required in RML’s settlement agreement. St. Patrick Hospital also already has in place the necessary isolation rooms and specialized care teams to treat infections and diseases of this nature.

6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Indicate whether a FedBizOpps notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies. As required by FAR Subpart 5.2, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to award a sole source contract was publicized on July 12, 2021 on SAM.gov for 15 days announcing the Government’s intent to obtain in-patient and out-patient medical support services on a non-competitive basis. The announcement indicated indicate the reasoning for awarding this award without competition. The notice closed on July 27, 2021 and no responses to the NOI were received.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable. The techniques identified at FAR 13.106-3(a)(2) will be used to ensure award will be fair and a reasonable price.

NIAID will consider comparison with industry labor rates, independent government estimate, and proposed prices found reasonable on previous contracts as a determining factor for price reasonableness. A final determination by the Contracting Officer will be conducted prior to award of this contract.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10. The Program Office conducted the initial market research by reviewing RML’s existing in-patient and out-patient medical support services and scanning the market for alternatives. Their research concluded that St. Patrick Hospital is the only source of medical support services that can meet RML’s requirements for a RRH.

Market research conducted by the Contract Specialist (CS) included a review of mandatory priorities in accordance with FAR Subpart 8.002(a)(1) Priorities for Use of Government Supply Sources and the CS determined that none of the mandatory Government sources could satisfy this requirement. Additional market research by the CS includes reviewing previous purchases for these services and contacting knowledgeable Government and Industry professionals. As mentioned previously, there is only one hospital within a 75 mile radius which has the capabilities to provide the required services. As a result of a settlement agreement with local residents, RML is required to utilize a RRH within this prescribed distance. Other hospitals in the local area do not have the facilities and resources necessary to provide the level of isolation and infectious disease care required for RML. Additionally, NIAID did not receive any inquires to the Notice of Intent to Sole Source that was posted on SAM.gov for this requirement.

In conclusion, the market research supports a sole source award to St. Patrick Hospital as the only source available to the Government for these services.