P03 Final SingleSourceJustification_TRIP database_signed.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification for Brand Name IAW FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) For

Over Micro-Purchase Threshold but Not Exceeding the SAT ($250K)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C776-23-AP-1481, TRIP database subscription

1. Contracting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC) 6150 Oak Tree Boulevard, Suite 300 Independence, Ohio 44131

2. Brief Description of Supplies/Services required and the intended use/Estimated Amount:

This action is a brand-named justification for access to the TRIP medical database. This access will support a new, standalone, and firm-fixed-price contract. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and the VA Library Network (VALNET) require existing, commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS), web-based content to an online medical search engine database. TRIP’s database is a closed search engine database, containing only evidence-based medical information. TRIP is not a search engine that tries to collect the most sources possible. The TRIP database enables VA clinicians to search, within a closed collection, resources that only contain online evidence-based medical resources. TRIP uses electronic medical journals content and other medical resources. Many of these resources (UpToDate, Cochrane, PubMed) are already reviewed, indexed, and contained in the TRIP resource.

TRIP’s primary function is to help clinicians identify the best available healthcare evidence with which to answer clinical questions. Its roots are firmly established in the world of EBP.

The development of the TRIP database content comes from a search and review of a variety of published sources to find EBP from systematic reviews, EBP synopses, clinical guidelines, and regulatory guidance. TRIP content also includes international guidelines, e-textbooks, PubMed, and PubMed Central indexed resources. In addition to these high-quality sources, such as BMJ, Lancet, JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine, and NEJM, the most prominent general journal titles in the world are included.

The estimated amount for a base year plus four (4) option years is $143,111.10 Base Year $27,500.00 OY 1 of 4: $28,050.00 OY 2 of 4: $28,611.00 OY 3 of 4: $29,183.22 OY 4 of 4: $29,766.88 https://www.acquisition.gov/?q=/browse/far/13

VHAPG Part 813.106 Simplified Acquisition Procedures: Soliciting from a Single Source Attachment 1: Single Source Justification for SAP under the SAT

Last Updated: 02/01/22

3. Unique characteristics that limit availability to only one source, with the reason no other supplies or services can be used: TRIP continuously researches available products to find the most well rounded and complete products that encompass the needs of the VA clinicians. To effectively support evidence-based healthcare care, the VA requires a search engine that specifically searches sources such as journal articles, practice guidelines, and grey literature to provide rapid and vetted information to clinicians. The results from the search engine need to be quality-ranked and be easily understood by VA Clinicians for providing high-quality, evidence-based care.

VA clinicians can use this database like no others that provide a search engine whose content is reviewed and selectively contains EBP. Regular search engines (such as Yahoo, Bing and Google) do not filter for only vetted evidence-based results, making them impossible to use effectively to support EBP clinical decision making.

TRIP is a medical search engine with an emphasis on only EBP evidence included within medical queries. TRIP’s brand-name subscription provides the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art research and peer reviewed medical articles and other sources by recognized experts in their field.

Search results are weighted by evidence- based systematic reviews that are applicable in clinical practice.

The search engine must provide the ability to search for images which would include photographs, illustrations and radiographs. In addition, there must be a further filter that will allow the user to retrieve images that are freely usable without copyright restrictions.

The search engine must provide the ability to search for videos that are freely available.

The search engine must include the ability to filter by publisher.

The focus of the database must be on information that can be used in a clinical setting for health care professionals who need point-of-care information. The LNO selects specific EBP resources that is based upon a multitude of criteria:

a. Input from a select group of VA medical librarians

b. Recommendations from the Core Collection Advisory Committee (CCAG)

c. Reviews provided by librarians and clinical staff

d. Doody’s Review – an authoritative medical review service designed to assist medical librarians and institutions with their purchasing decisions. Resources are reviewed by medical librarians and content specialists.

e. Recommendations/support of authoritative medical organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, American Medica Association and

f. Impact factors and other bibliometric data

g. Annual review of usage of current resources of VA subscribed collections

The TRIP database will:

• Supply and maintain a web-based method of establishing self-registration accounts for VA staff.

• Supply a system which can utilize a link resolver resource, such as Serials Solutions and access to an authentication resource of Liblynx IPs (157.230.189.45 and 162.243.143.27). VA Gateway IPs also need to be available.

• Provide expansive usage statistics on request to any account manager/administrator.

• Supply a system which functions independently from the VA computer network and requires no software to be loaded/uploaded to the VA computer network.

• Provide links to full text of journals/PDFs (where available) so that patrons can quickly access VAMC subscribed electronic journals and other content.

• The system is accessible via a variety of personal mobile devices including Apple and

Android devices.

• System downtime is minimal, and the VA project manager is notified when such occurs.

• All site content and support of the system is the responsibility of the contractor.

• Onsite and/or remote instruction with training materials is available and designed to integrate solutions with maximum efficiency and effectiveness into the VA environment.

• A variety of searching tools and (EBP), resources access includes:

• Tens of thousands of systematic reviews

• Largest collection of clinical guidelines

• PICO search capability

• Email alerts for new evidence of interest

• Answer engine – instant answers

• Large collection of grey literature

• Use search refinement tool

• Easy selection of RCTs (randomized controlled trial)

• Over 175,000 ongoing clinical trials

• Massive database of medical images

• Tens of thousands of clinical videos

• Link to over a million full-text articles

• Export links to reference management software

• No advertisements

• Advanced search

• Filter results by clinical area

• Article views, see which articles are most popular.

• Smart Search showing unlimited related articles

• Smart Link out to your organization full-text subscription journals

• Institutional usage stats

The TRIP search engine interface is laid out as a Google-like search box, with search mode. TRIP’s search is a basic search the supports Boolean operators (AND, OR NOT), truncation, phrase searching, proximity searching, dates ranges, and title field searching.

The search algorithm ranks the results based upon the research quality, date, and a text score. A Cochrane Systematic Review is high-quality research and will be scored higher than a BJM article, which will be higher than a textbook. Relevance looks at how many times and where the search appears in the text and newer articles have a higher score. Results can be exported to CVS or RIS files. Also, an option is available for email alerts. Full-text links are provided for results in PubMed Central and other sites that provide open access to the full text. Institutions can also register that allows TRIP to access the institutions’ full-text holdings via Open URL linking.

TRIP also searches for any keywords and/or synonyms matching valid search terms entered. The database can be searched using Boolean operators as well as natural language searching.

Two other important features of the TRIP database are its Medical Images and Patient Information Leaflet options. When users run a search in TRIP, it automatically retrieves any available images and patient information leaflets.

4. Description of market research conducted and results or statement why it was not conducted:

On 23 May the Contracting Officer met with the Program Team to discuss Market research.

She established that there were 3 verified resellers, according to the OEM. Market research was conducted on SBA’s VetCert, using NAICS code 519290, which resulted in 13 SDVOSBs/VOSBs. The vendor was contacted and confirmed there are 3 resellers and/or U.S. partners who are authorized to provide this subscription, none of which are SDVOSB or VOSB’s, one of which is a small business (Cox)

On 5/31/2023 an email was sent to the 3 authorized resellers identified on the Market Research report. The authorized resellers are EBSCO, Cox Subscriptions and Prenax. Martha Keene from Prenax was the only vendor to respond to the inquiry and stated Prenax would not be bidding on this requirement.

On 6/12/2023 an email was sent directly to the OEM, Max Price Max.price@tripdatabase.com to confirm there are no other authorized US resellers. The contracting officer had a follow-up discussion with Tom Waugh of VALNET and determined that the OEM (TRIP) is not SAM registered since they are a foreign entity. It was then determined that requirement could be awarded to one of the 3 approved vendors.

There is not a reasonable expectation that 2 responsible small business sources are available to bid on this requirement. Only one of the three approved resellers is small, therefore the small business set-aside will be dissolved and documented on a VA2268 and the requirement will go out as full and open.

5. Contracting Officer's Certification: Purchase is approved in accordance with FAR13.106-

1(b). I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. A Price reasonableness determination will be made at the time of award.

Tom Waugh Librarian

Dawn Atterbury, Contracting Officer https://acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%2013_1.html#wp1125466 https://acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%2013_1.html#wp1125466