Limiting Sources Justification Health Business and Polcy Ref Redacted.pdf

VHAPG Part 808.405-6 Limiting Sources Attachment 1: Justification for Limiting Sources for Micro-Purchase Threshold up to the SAT

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

FAR 8 – Justification for Limiting Sources (LSJ)

For

Limiting Sources (<SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID:_VA-24-00010072___

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network/Program Contracting Office NCO-

1 in support of VISN 1 VA Health Care System

2. Description of Action: Health Business Elite and Health Policy Reference Center databases from EBSCO Information Services.

3. Description of Supplies or Services:

The estimated value of the proposed action is

VISN-wide subscription to Health Business Elite and Health Policy Reference Center data bases available from EBSCO Information Services. VISN 1 intends to provide this subscription to the

VISN1 all staff in supporting the wide diversity of Veterans. This repository of social work focused journals, research and articles is the largest collection for the social work profession available. This database package would dove-tail with the VISN1 Library’s subscription to the Healthcare

Administration database from ProQuest. With the addition of the health business and health policy

VISN1 and its facility management have resources for specific focus in these areas.

4. Authority:

Order Against FSS: Authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program, Title III of the Federal

Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 USC 251, et seq.); Title 40 USC 501, Services for

Executive Agencies; and Section 803 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2002 (PL 107-107) and implemented by FAR 8.405-6. Mark the applicable exception:

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An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays(FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A);

Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized; (FAR 8.405-

6(a)(1)(i)(B));

In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-on to an original

Federal Supply Schedule order and the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original order was not previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures (FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C)); or

Items peculiar to one manufacturer. An item peculiar to one manufacturer can be a particular brand name, product, or a feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer). A brand name item, whether available on one or more schedule contracts, is an item peculiar to one manufacturer (FAR 8.405-6(b)).

5. Rationale/explanation to support cited authority: The Health Business Elite data base is a definitive database for leadership, managerial and administration professionals in the health care arena. The Health Business Elite contains approximately 500 full-text journals on health care management-oriented topics like quality management, mental health policy, public health management, etc. Significant journals included are high patron demand titles that include the Harvard

Business Review, the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy and the Harvard Health Policy

Review. The Health Policy Reference Center is a full-text database that provides comprehensive access to top-tier journals focusing on topics integral to the administration, leadership and managerial professionals.

The Government decided that the purely “business journal” database would include far too much irrelevant access that would not directly support the VA and the VISN1 Library mission. The

Government found that he Health Business Elite database provides fulltext access to more than 600 journals and magazines and trade publications that included high interest titles (as identified by

VISN1 managers) The Harvard Business Review, Health Facilities Management, Healthcare

Executive, Hospitals & Health Networks, Clinical Data Management et. al.

The Health Policy Reference Center database is also a specialty database containing approximately

500 academic journals, magazines and monographs that focus on health policy specifically.

The Government examined the Scopius database published by Elsevier which is a comprehensive journal and monograph database that covers 240 disciplines including a very robust health care and associated subjects. Scopius is recognized as a premier database largest in the realm of peer reviewed literature; however, this acquisition would be overkill for the purposes of the requirement. Additional publishers the Government examined were: Taylor & Francis, Springer Nature; SAGE; and Wolters

Kluwer Health. These are all very reputable businesses in the healthcare information space and all provide high quality information resources and platforms.

The Government has determined EBSCO’s Health Business Elite database and the Health Policy

Reference Center database are the only resource to fulfill this requirement.

If the Government were to accept an alternative source/branded journal, the alternative journal would not possess the characteristics outlined in this section above. At this time only the Health Business

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Elite and Health Policy Reference Center databases from EBSCO Information Services will be accepted for this requirement.

6. BRAND NAME ONLY : Health Business Elite and Health Policy Reference Center database package by EBSCO brand: This buy is estimated to exceed $25,000 and this documentation will be posted along with the RFQ on e-Buy, as required by FAR 8.405-1(e).

7. Note that this determination satisfies the requirements of FAR 8.405-6. The requirement to prepare a written justification IAW FAR 6.303 does not apply to Federal Supply Schedules.