P03 36C256-27-AP-0874 SS JA PKG- HCA SIGNED Nursing Svcs-NOLA-Kovarovic.pdf

Attachment 1: Request for Sole Source Justification Format >SAT

VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Revision: 03 Effective Date: 04/15/24 Acquisition ID#:3 6 C 2 5 6 - 2 7 - A P - 0 8 7 4

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C256-27-AP-0874

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 16, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (SLVHCS) 2400 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70119.

Network Contracting Office 16.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: Agency Nursing Services to eligible beneficiaries as a sole source direct award in accordance with FAR 6.302-1.

This is a short-term bridge requirement pending award of the long-term 5-Year contract. A new 5-year follow-on contract was ready for award on 10 November 2025.

A protest was filed against the award decision on 21 November 2025 by Millbrook Support Services on protest file number B-424107.1. There was a further protest to the Court of Federal Claims (COFC) that took place on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 – 2:00 pm EDT. The current bridge contract number 36C25626D0026 expires on 30 September 2026 and we received a COFC decision on the protest in late July. We were informed by OGC to stand by while the Small Business Administration reviewed the decision.

We were cleared to move forward by the office of General Counsel on 13 August 2026.

There is not enough time to get the new contract in place and have enough time for credentialing of providers. The sole source short-term 6-month contract will have a period of performance of 1 October 2026 – 31 March 2027 to avoid a gap in service.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: The Contractor shall provide Registered Nurses, (RNs) Med/Surg (Estimate 25), RN Specialty and Extended Care (CLC) (Estimate 15), Licensed Practical Nurses (Initial Estimate 4 LPNs), and Certified Nursing Assistants (Estimate 18 CNAs), to include weekends, holiday, evening, and night hours with a start date of 1 October 2026 and expiring 31 March 2027. The estimated total value of this bridge requirement is $4,703,220.00.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition:

( X ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy

Agency Requirements per 41 USC §3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1;

( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per 41 USC §3304(a)(2) as implemented by FAR

6.302-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per 41 USC §3304(a)(3) as implemented by FAR 6.302-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per 41 USC §3304(a)(4) as implemented by FAR 6.302-4 ( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute per 41 USC §3304(a)(5) as implemented by FAR

6.302-5;

( ) (6) National Security per 41 USC §3304(a)(6) as implemented by FAR 6.302-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per 41 USC §3304(a)(7) as implemented by FAR 6.302-7;

Revision: 03 Effective Date: 04/15/24

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the

Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

The award announcement was made on 10 November 2025 for a follow-on contract with a 5-year period of performance, but a protest was filed against the award decision on 21 November 2025 by Millbrook Support Services on protest file number B-424107.1. The GAO protest halted the acquisition process until a final decision could be made. We were cleared to move forward by the office of General Counsel on 13 August 2026, and there is not enough time to get the new contract in place and have enough time for credentialing of providers. The sole source short-term 6-month contract will have a period of performance of 1 October 2026 – 31 March 2027 to avoid a gap in service. The current nurse services contract is awarded to Solvet Services, LLC (Certified SDVOSB) on contract number 36C25626D0026 and expires on 30 September 2026. Solvet Services is the only contractor with the ability to continue the services starting on 1 October 2026 as the nurses that are providing the current services have already been credentialed and are able to continue providing the services beyond 30 September 2026. Average credentialing time can take up to 30 days to accomplish therefore any other contractor would not be able to provide the services by 1 October 2026 and there would be a gap in services that would directly affect veteran health care. The sole source award to Solvet Services LLC would have a period of performance of 6 months, which would be enough time to get the new competitive contract awarded after an amendment is posted, revised price proposals are received for evaluation, and allow the new contractor time to get all nurses credentialed and in place to provide healthcare to veterans.

Accordingly, Solvet Services, LLC, a certified SDVOSB, is the only firm capable of providing the nurse services described in Section 3 above in an immediate fashion without the Veteran’s Health Administration experiencing unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements as nurses are already credentialed.

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

Minimal market research was conducted as Solvet services is the only contractor that can possibly provide the services by 1 October 2026 as their nurses are already credentialed and in place. Any other contractor would need to have their nurses credentialed and average credentialing time exceeds 30 days. The main 5-year contract award will be ready to be executed once an amendment is posted in August 2026, revised price proposals are received, and evaluated. Solvet Services LLC is the only contractor to provide the required services immediately.

7. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and

Reasonable:

The anticipated cost is considered fair and reasonable as Solvet Services LLC has been providing the services on contract 36C25625D0055, as well as 36C25626D0026, and their current pricing has been determined fair and reasonable. Solvet solutions pricing remains the same as it was on the previous two contracts with no increases.

Revision: 03 Effective Date: 04/15/24 Acquisition ID#:3 6 C 2 5 6 - 2 7 - A P - 0 8 7 4

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

Recent market research that was conducted for the current follow-on solicitation indicates that there is adequate competition among certified SDVOSB contractors. Solvet Services, LLC is a certified SDVOSB and is currently providing the required services to the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System. Minimal market research was conducted as this action only has a period of performance of six months to prevent a break in service. The main 5-year contract is expected to be awarded as soon as possible after an amendment is posted in August 2026, revised price proposals are received, and revised proposals are evaluated.

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

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

-Solvet Services, LLC/UEI WWX8RCMUFVA3/jsere@solvet.com

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:

This is a short-term bridge requirement required to prevent a gap in service. The long-term competitive contract will be awarded as a competitive 100% SDVOSB set-aside and is anticipated to be awarded for an effective period of 1 April 2027 – 31 March 2032.

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.

Date Name:

Title: Associate Nurse Executive, Facility: Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System

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

a. Contracting Officer Certification (required): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Thomas M. Kovarovic Date Contracting Officer, NCO 16

TAMMARA KELLY

Digitally signed by TAMMARA

KELLY

Date: 2026.09.03 09:47:05 -05'00'

THOMAS KOVAROVIC

Digitally signed by THOMAS

KOVAROVIC

Date: 2026.09.03 10:57:34 -05'00'

Revision: 03 Effective Date: 04/15/24

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over SAT but not exceeding $750K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Corey Labbe Date Branch Chief, Medical Sharing Team, NCO 16

c. Director of Contracting: I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Reuben A. Zepeda Date Director of Contracting, NCO 16

d. VHA RPO HCA Review and Approval: I have reviewed the foregoing justification and find it to be complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and recommend approval (if over $75 million) or approve ($750K to $75 million) for other than full and open competition.

Daryl A. Berg Date Executive Director, RPO Central Head of Contracting Activity (HCA)

COREY

LABBE

Digitally signed by

COREY LABBE

Date: 2026.09.03 12:15:33 -05'00'

VHAMINBergD2 Typewritten Text 09/10/2026

Title of Program/Project/Requirement: Sole Source Bridge Nurse Contract 1 October 2026 – 31 March 2027 AP-36C256-27-AP-0874

Rodney Singleton

Program Analyst

Nursing Education

504-507- 7565 Rodney.singleton@va.gov

Marvelle Williams

Associate Nurse Executive, Operations

SLVHCS 504-495-

7823 Marvelle.williams@va.gov o

Thomas M.

Kovarovic

NCO 16 850-226-

Thomas.kovarovic@va.gov CO

X

(INCLUDE REFERENCES TO

ATTACHMENTS TO REPORT)

(e.g., List of Journals and

Literature Reviewed included as Attachment 4 to this report)

N/A

Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert)

Solvet Services is a certified SDVOSB, and their tentative quote was less that the IGCE and less than the current task order that expires 30 October 2026.

Reached out to Jared Sere at Solvet Services and they are willing to continue to provide the services.

N/A

(Include References to

Report Attachments)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

(Include References to Report Attachments)

Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert)

The Veteran Certification search was conducted on 4 December 2025 and Solvet is a certified SDVOSB under NAICS Code 561320.

VetSearch attached.

A Feddata check was conducted on 4 December 2025 and Solvet does not have any exclusions, have not been debarred, and are SDVOSB under

NAICS 561320. CRA

Attached.

(Include References to Report Attachments)

N/A

N/A

N/A o

THOMAS

KOVAROVIC

Digitally signed by THOMAS

KOVAROVIC

Date: 2026.09.02 15:07:42 -05'00'

Appendix A IGCE Sample for a FTE contract

B C D E F G H I J K L

INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE (IGE) COST ESTIMATE SIMPLE FORMAT

Hours based on Escalation factor : N/A Total Contract Value 4,703,220.00$

FTEE HOURS HOURLY

RATE

BASE PERIOD (October 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027) Direct Labor RN (Med/Surg/CLC/WC) 25.00 24,062.00 99.00$ 2,382,138.00$ RN Speciality 15.00 14,310.00 105.00$ 1,502,550.00$

LPN (CLC/WC) 4.00 3,816.00 57.00$ 217,512.00$

CNA (Certified Nurse Asst.) 18.00 17,172.00 35.00$ 601,020.00$

SUBTOTAL LABOR 4,703,220.00$

OVERTIME

TOTAL OVERTIME -$

TOTAL LABOR COSTS 4,703,220.00$

OTHER DIRECT COST:

Travel

Equipment -$ Materials -$ Other Direct Costs -$ Training / Clearances -$

TOTAL OTHER DIRECT COST -$

SUBTOTAL OF LABOR & ODC'S 4,703,220.00$

G&A RATE 0.00% -$

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Appendix A IGCE Sample for a FTE contract

B C D E F G H I J K L

SUBTOTAL OF LABOR ODC'S & G&A 4,703,220.00$

PROFIT/FEE 0.00% -$

BASE YEAR GRAND TOTAL 4,703,220.00$

Prepared By: Rodney Singleton

Signature & Date:

TOTAL FOR BASE AND ALL ORDERING PERIODS $4,703,220.00

RODNEY SINGLETON

Digitally signed by RODNEY

SINGLETON

Date: 2026.08.19 12:54:27 -05'00'

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY