N00244-18-D-0003-P00005000.docx

Control Number TAC-19-55815 Verizon Wireless Bridge Control Number TAC-19-55815

FedBizOpps Justification and Approval Notice

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* = Required Field FedBizOpps Justification and Approval Notice Rev. March 2010 D Verizon Bridge De-Ob and PoP extension 07724 N 517312 Department of Veterans Affairs Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way Eatontown NJ 07724 joseph.jones6@va.gov

FAR 6.302-1

N00244-18-D-0003 36C10B19F2964 P00005 675,820.48 06-28-2019

CELLCO PARTNERSHIP

ONE VERIZON WY

BASKING RIDGE

NJ

07920

JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

2. Description of Action: The proposed action is for a firm-fixed-price (FFP), modification to task order (TO) N00244-18-D-0003 36C10B19F2964 to add/replace devices and mobile data service plans and extend the period of performance, issued under the Department of the Navy (DON), Department of Defense (DOD) and Government-Wide Agencies Wireless Services Program, Spiral 3 (DON Spiral 3); an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for the procurement of Verizon wireless voice and data plans for VA employees.

3. Description of the Supplies or Services: The proposed action is for the acquisition of wireless Verizon voice and data plans for currently deployed mobile devices for approximately 1500 medical providers, social workers, home based care providers, and nurses located in 51 specific sites in rural areas across 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Those 51 sites include the following:

The current TO provides for 68,000 wireless Verizon voice and data plans. This modification will lower that amount of users to approximately 1,500 wireless Verizon voice and data plans that cannot receive coverage as outlined in Section 5 of this Justification. The 1,500 approximate users are based on both current users and the potential to add/remove users. The current TO expires on June 29, 2019 and this modification will extend that period of performance. The Period of Performance will be June 30, 2019 to December 31, 2019 with two 12-month option periods and one 8-month option period. Prior to exercising these option periods, VA will conduct market research to verify that no other service provider can meet VA’s requirements. The total estimated price of the proposed action, inclusive of options, is $XXX,XXX. This estimate is based on approximately 1,500 wireless Verizon voice and data plans.

4. Statutory Authority: The statutory authority permitting an exception to fair opportunity is Section 41 U.S.C. 4106(c)(2) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), entitled “Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized.”

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: The proposed source for this action is Verizon Wireless (Verizon), One Verizon Way, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. Cellular signal strength is measured in decibels (dB). Verizon is the only source that can provide the voice and data plans with the required -110 decibel-milliwatts (dBm) minimum signal strength for exterior locations due to placement of Verizon cellular towers in the identified rural geographic areas which allow an adequate signal to propagate the service delivery points. Only Verizon devices can detect this signal due to the Verizon chip installed inside the device.

Testing for sufficient signal strength has been ongoing since August 2018 and there are still approximately 1,500 VA users currently receiving Verizon voice and data plan service that are unable to transition to any other service provider. Currently, only Verizon leases or maintains cell phone towers in those rural areas outlined in Section 3 of this Justification, that will maintain the basic VA functional requirement of -110 dBm. Any signal that drops below the -110 dBm call degradation will occur and service will not be provided to those devices. Specifically, VA functional requirements for voice and data coverage include providing a reliable service coverage, defined as signal strength, reported in dBm, of not less than -110 dBm in exterior locations for over 51 sites, which include VA medical centers (VAMC), hospitals, community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC), Home Based Primary Care teams, Social Workers, and Homeless Veteran HUD-VASH Program. The -110 dBm minimum requirement ensures mobile device user’s uninterrupted recurring air-time services. The cellular service industry has established minimum signal strength for acceptable cellular voice and data communication at a minimum exterior strength of -110 dBm. Signal strength that does not meet -110 dBm will not meet VA’s functional requirements with users unable to make or receive calls.

The proposed action to Verizon is being placed under the DON Spiral 3 IDIQ contract. Only T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T are providers under the DON Spiral 3 IDIQ contract. In November 2018, End User Operations, a VA Department, assigned a nationwide Action Item that called for signal strength measurements in VA external community locations frequented by non-stationary staff, to ensure staff in remote and rural areas have coverage where they are located. The results of the assessment were reviewed with all the DON Spiral 3 IDIQ contract holders, specifically T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T. T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T confirmed the results that neither AT&T or T-Mobile demonstrated the -100 dBm requirement in areas Verizon currently meets the -100 dBm minimum signal requirement. T-Mobile and AT&T did not object to the assessment that they could not provide the minimum signal requirement.

The voice and data features to be included in the proposed TO modification are relied upon by home based veteran care physicians, therapists, nurses, and campus policing units throughout these sites to coordinate, respond to, treat, and interact with patients and colleagues while delivering benefits and care to Veterans. Failure to provide the -110 dBm minimum requirement for exterior locations will result in these health care professionals not having the capabilities of assured communications and data/information sharing to provide uninterrupted and timely care to Veterans.

VA completed the significant undertaking of testing the exterior signal strength for 51 sites and the results have determined that VA will require limited Verizon cellular service for the foreseeable future. Cellular coverage studies reveal that only Verizon has cellular towers in the 51 exterior locations where VA requires service as described above.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in the market research section of this document. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government’s requirements. There is no competition anticipated for this acquisition. In accordance with FAR 5.301 and 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(D), the award notice for this action will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities Page (FBO) and the justification will be made publicly available within 14 days of award.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the market place that would enable future actions to be competed.

8. Market Research: Market research was conducted in September 2018 through May 2019 to ascertain if any other sources could meet VA’s needs. Specifically, internet search and product descriptions of similar items and services were reviewed. VA determined through this market research that T-Mobile and AT&T could not meet VA’s needs as outlined in Section 5 of this Justification. In addition, from September 2018 through May 2019 the Government’s technical experts continuously conducted market research by performing onsite testing at the aforementioned 51 sites, of devices provided by T-Mobile and AT&T. The results show that Verizon is the only carrier that can meet VA’s specific functional requirement at this time.

To allow the VA the ability to utilize the DON Spiral 3 IDIQ contract for future competitive requirements, the period of performance for this modification has been reorganized to co-term with the DON Spiral 3 IDIQ contract.

9. Other Facts: None.