P03. JUSTIFICATION PG_Part819.7008-7009 AIR AMBULANCE SVC - OLA CO Signed.pdf

Attachment 1: Request for SDVOSB/VOSB Sole Source Justification Format IAW VAAR 819.7008/9

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VOSB Page 1 of 4 Revision: 05 Effective Date: 12/15/2025

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition

Fixed Wing Air Ambulance Services (PVAHCS, SAVAHCS, and PVAHCS)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C262-27-AP-0242 (SAVAHCS)

36C262-27-AP-0467 (PVAHCS)

36C262-27-AP-0168 (NAVAHCS)

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Integrated Services Network

(VISN) 22, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 22, 1501 San Pedro Drive SE Albuquerque, NM 87108:

Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System 3601 S. 6th Avenue Tucson, Arizona 95723 Phoenix VA Healthcare System 650 E. Indian School Road Phoenix, Arizona 85012 Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System 500 Hwy 89N Prescott, Arizona 86313

PR: 678-27-1-139-0001 (SAVAHCS)

PR: 644-27-1-461-0002 (PVAHCS)

PR: 649-27-1-3376-0002 (NAVAHCS)

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved: A new firm-fixed priced (FFP), Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract to provide beneficiaries assigned to VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) mentioned in paragraph 1, pre-arranged Fixed-Wing Air Ambulance Services twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week, including all holidays.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: Arizona VAMCs Fixed-Wing

Air Ambulance Services is required beginning October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027. Service includes pre-arranged BLS, ALS, and CCT air transport of patients requiring continuous ECG monitoring or a physician designates a patient as critical care transport. Only a physician or registered nurse with current critical care training and advanced cardiac life support training will be designated as the medical flight attendant, in accordance with the standards of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport System (CAMTS), the National Accreditation Alliance Medical Transport Applications (NAAMTA Global), or European Aero Medical Institute (EURAMI). Vendors must also meet all Arizona Department of Health Service licensing and registration requirements and be a “Covered Entity” as defined by Medicare.

Period Estimated Price Quantity VAMC

10/01/2026 - 09/30/2027 $384,000.00 1 Year SAVAHCS

10/01/2026 - 09/30/2027 $120,000.00 1 Year PVAHCS

10/01/2026 - 09/30/2027 $200,000.00 1 Year NAVAHCS

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VOSB Page 2 of 4

Effective Date: 12/15/2025

Contract award amount: $895,000.00

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: 41 USC §3304(a)(5), 38 U.S.

Code § 8127(c), as implemented by RFO 6.103-5 (Authorized or Required by Statute). COs may use the non-competitive (sole source) procedures authorized in VAAR 819.7008 (DEVIATION) or VAAR

819.7009 (DEVIATION)- up to $5,000,000. Check the specific VAAR clause used below:

(X) 819.7008 Sole source awards to a certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business; or ( ) 819.7009 Sole source awards to a certified veteran-owned small business

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications and/or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): The authority at VAAR

819.7008 (DEVIATION) allows sole source awards to an SDVOSB based on 38 U.S.C. 8127(c) and that the SDVOSB concern has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance.

Air EMS is documented as fully qualified to provide BLS, ALS, and Critical Care Transport (CCT) air medical services. Their operations comply with CAMTS, NAAMTA Global, or EURAMI accreditation requirements. They are a highly specialized resource with staff already in place. Air EMS possesses:

Specialized aircraft, medical flight crews with advanced cardiac life support and critical-care training.

Specialized medical monitoring equipment required for organ-transport scenarios and high-risk interfacility transfers.

Existing state licensing & Medicare “Covered Entity” status.

Air EMS is determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by RFO 6.301 and, if not, which exemption under RFO 5.101(b)(1) applies: Market research was conducted. An SBA search for NAICS 621910 (Ambulance Services) resulted in 2,138 small businesses and 275 SDVOSBs. Sources sought notice 36C26226Q1451 was posted to SAM.gov on 09/03/2026 and closed on 09/10/2026; Received the following responses:

Two (2) SDVOSBs – SDVOSB 1 with primary NAICS 621910 and is the incumbent contractor and SDVOSB 2 with primary NAICS 485991 (special needs transportation). SDVOSB appears capable to provide the highly specialized Air Ambulance Services. The capability statement for SDVOSB 2 has past performance showing passenger transportation, motorcoach, van, parking shuttle, wheelchair/gurney which are all ground transportation. The capability statement for SDVOSB 2 does not list Air Ambulance or Air Transportation Services and therefore does not appear capable of providing the highly specialized Air Ambulance Services.

Two (2) SB - neither SB 1 nor SB 2 listed NAICS 621910 on their SAM Registration or SBA certification; SB 1 holds GSA Contract 47QMCB23D0002 for Travel Agent Services under NAICS 561510 (Travel Agent), however, does not appear capable of providing the highly specialized Air Ambulance Services.

One (1) LARGE business with no NAICS representation; the vendor sent an auto generated response email which did not include any of the requested interested vendor information (capability statement or vendor information) per the sources sought notice, therefore this vendor has been determined not capable or interested to provide the highly specialized Air Ambulance Services.

Based on market research, there is one interested, capable and readily available vendor which is the incumbent: Air EMS, Inc. Under FAR 19.1406, a contracting officer may award a service-disabled

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VOSB Page 3 of 4

Effective Date: 12/15/2025 veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) contract on a sole source basis if specific conditions are met, and VAAR 819.7008 provides similar authority for VA-designated SDVOSBs. This requirement meets those conditions and therefore this requirement should be acquired via sole source with the authority at statute VAAR 819.7008. This determination to make a sole source award is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer and only in the best interest of the Government.

7. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: The contracting officer has reviewed historical pricing on existing contracts for this requirement and determined pricing to be fair and reasonable.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons

Market Research Was Not Conducted: Market research was conducted. An SBA search for NAICS 621910 (Ambulance Services) resulted in 2,138 small businesses and 275 SDVOSBs. Sources sought notice 36C26226Q1451 was posted to SAM.gov on 09/03/2026 and closed on 09/10/2026; Received the following responses:

Two (2) SDVOSBs – SDVOSB 1 with primary NAICS 621910 and is the incumbent contractor and SDVOSB 2 with primary NAICS 485991 (special needs transportation). SDVOSB appears capable to provide the highly specialized Air Ambulance Services. The capability statement for SDVOSB 2 has past performance showing passenger transportation, motorcoach, van, parking shuttle, wheelchair/gurney which are all ground transportation. The capability statement for SDVOSB 2 does not list Air Ambulance or Air Transportation Services and therefore does not appear capable of providing the highly specialized Air Ambulance Services.

Two (2) SB - neither SB 1 nor SB 2 listed NAICS 621910 on their SAM Registration or SBA certification; SB 1 holds GSA Contract 47QMCB23D0002 for Travel Agent Services under NAICS 561510 (Travel Agent), however, does not appear capable of providing the highly specialized Air Ambulance Services.

One (1) LARGE business with no NAICS representation; the vendor sent an auto generated response email which did not include any of the requested interested vendor information (capability statement or vendor information) per the sources sought notice, therefore this vendor has been determined not capable or interested to provide the highly specialized Air Ambulance Services.

Based on market research, there is one interested, capable and readily available vendor which is the incumbent: Air EMS, Inc. Under FAR 19.1406, a contracting officer may award a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) contract on a sole source basis if specific conditions are met, and VAAR 819.7008 provides similar authority for VA-designated SDVOSBs. This requirement meets those conditions and therefore this requirement should be acquired via sole source with the authority at statute VAAR 819.7008. This determination to make a sole source award is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer and only in the best interest of the Government.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: None. The authority at VAAR 819.7008 (DEVIATION) allows sole source awards to an SDVOSB based on 38 U.S.C. 8127(c) and that the SDVOSB concern has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance.

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VOSB Page 4 of 4 Revision: 05 Effective Date: 12/15/2025

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

Air EMS, Inc. (SDVOSB) 7601 E. Apache Street, Hanger 22 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74115 Angela Hall, 915-392-5350, AHall@airems.us

UEI: NY3FJTH4JUN8

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: The VA will continue to conduct market research for Fixed-Wing Air Ambulance Services during the one year period, providing the time for VHA Procurement and Logistics Transportation office to properly conduct a full and open competition for a new base plus four (4) option year contract.

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.

Martin Howard Date Medical Administration Officer Southern Arizona VA Health Care System

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

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

Date

Norman Napper-Rogers Services 1 Contracting Officer Network Contracting Office 22

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over the SAT but not exceeding $900K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Mayte Diaz Date Services 1 Branch Chief, Contracting Officer Network Contracting Office 22

MARTIN HOWARD

Digitally signed by MARTIN

HOWARD

Date: 2026.09.23 14:56:36 -07'00'