P03-22F-0234a JA_WBD_JR_DR 27SEP22 (ejf).pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL) Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

5202 Presidents Ct, Suite 103 Frederick, MD 21703

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL for OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

This Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning

(OHIL).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This activity proposes to negotiate a non-competitive award (sole-source) with Washington Business Dynamics, LLC (WBD) System for Award management (SAM) Unique Entity ID (UEID) GCY1LHH7J3M7, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) for the procurement of strategic communications and engagement support services for OHIL and its corresponding programs.

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

The contractor shall provide strategic communications and engagement support services from a team of communications professionals to support the implementation of new and emerging healthcare solutions and technologies. This includes activities such as crafting a cohesive OHIL communications and events strategy, integrated communications campaigns for emerging innovation programs, social media strategies, national and regional events, videography, copyediting, and media relations (ranging from local public affairs office coordination to VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs level engagement). The contractor will also lead community engagement with field sites, industry partners, and other government agencies. The contractor shall provide support in planning and implementing communications programming. OHIL requires expertise in designing communications programs that bring together communities of practice and engage healthcare innovation audiences both internal and external to VA. In summation, the Contractor shall provide the following support: communications planning, implementation of integrated communications campaigns for emerging innovation, graphic design/multi-media services, web development, event planning, social media strategy, and media relations.

The estimated total contract value for this acquisition is $4.9M and the period of performance is a 12-month period.

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 United States Code (U.S.C.)

§ 3304(a)(5) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-5 entitled, “Authorized or required by statute”. The applicable statute is Public Law 109- 461:

“Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006” specifically, the “Veterans First Contracting Program” outlined in 38 U.S.C. § 8127(c).

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

VAAR 819.7007 states explicitly, “A determination that only one SDVOSB can meet the requirement is not required,” and that using this authority, the following must be verified:

1) The anticipated award price of the contract (including options) will not exceed $5 million:

2) The estimated value, including options, is $4,999,674.70 and does not exceed

$5M.

3) The justification prepared pursuant to FAR 6.302-5(c)(2)(ii) will be posted in accordance with FAR subpart 5.301(d);

4) The SDVOSB concern has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance; and

5) Washington Business Dynamics, LLC (WBD) is a registered and verified

SDVOSB.

6) In the estimation of the contracting officer, contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the Government. Historical prices along with market research for similar will assist with making a fair and reasonable price determination prior to award.

7) The Contracting Officer has determined that the use of this authority is in the best interest of the Government based upon the fact that Washington Business Dynamics, LLC (WBD) is a SDVOSB team that has experience supporting the planning and implementation of complex communications programs for healthcare and technology to include campaign implementation, creative services, event planning, web development, social media strategy, media relations, private sector engagement, and customer relationship management.

This contractor has unique in-depth expertise in supporting across a myriad of federal agencies contractor support involving: events strategy, small and large scale event planning, customer relationship management, strategic communications planning and implementation, communications analytics, graphic design and media services, and web development.

Furthermore, the proposed source for this acquisition is Washington Business Dynamics, LLC (WBD), a certified SDVOSB that is technically qualified to create a strategic communication and engagement support services, and has unique capabilities not prevalent in the commercial marketplace.

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 FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

In accordance with VAAR 819.7007(b), the determination to make a sole source award to an SDVOSB is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer; therefore, the requirement to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable is not applicable to this procurement. In addition, VAAR 819.7007(c) further authorizes the contracting officer to make the award without first determining that only one SDVOSB source can meet the requirement.

A notice of the proposed action will be synopsized via the Government Point of Entry (GPE) in accordance with FAR Section 5.201, and the agency will make publicly available the justification required by FAR 6.305(a) within 14 days after contract award.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

No award shall be made until the Contracting Officer determines the cost to the Government to be fair and reasonable. This determination will be based on a comparison of historical pricing, commercially available price lists, and an Independent Government Cost Estimate

(IGCE).

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted and Washington Business Dynamics, LLC (WBD) has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance. They are registered and certified in VetBiz.gov (VIP) as a SDVOSB under NAICS code 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management for this requirement which in accordance with (IAW) Public Law 109-461 Section 502 (c), meets the requirements of this statute to sole source to a SDVOSB.

In addition, the Contracting Officer review their VIP certification verifying they are an SDVOSB as well as their Representations and Certifications under this NAICS code in the System for Award Management (SAM).

In addition, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) was reviewed and FAPIIS shows no reports for Washington Business Dynamics, LLC (WBD) that would indicate defective pricing, instances of contractor fault or recipient not-qualified, terminations for cause, default or material failure to comply, or non-responsibility of the contractor.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

The Procuring Contracting Officer has determined that this proposed action meets all the requirements of 38 U.S.C. 8127(c). This acquisition is below the $5,000,000.00 threshold, Washington Business Dynamics, LLC (WBD) is a responsible SDVOSB for performance of the services described herein, and the proposed contract can be awarded at a fair and reasonable price.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Washington Business Dynamics, LLC (WBD) 1050 30th St NW Washington, DC 20007-3822, United States

UEID: GCY1LHH7J3M7

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.

All future requirements will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Toward the expiration of this contract, consideration will be given as to whether the future acquisition should be competitive.

12. 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.

Jason Rhodes Date VHA Innovations Coordinator Contracting Officer’s Representative

Contracting Officer Certification:

Pursuant to (FAR 6.303-2(a)(12)), I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

David Rupert Date Contracting Officer Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

Competition Advocate Approval:

In my role as Contracting Activity Competition Advocate, based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve this acquisition on an “other than full and open competition” basis pursuant to the statutory authority cited in paragraph four above, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the property and services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition. As this action does not exceed $15M, the certification below required by FAR 6.304 serves as approval.

Efrain Fernandez Date Competition Advocate Strategic Acquisition Center Tracking Number: 22F-0234a