P03 - JA_ALF Phases (R).pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

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

5202 Presidents Court, Ste 103 Frederick, MD 21703

VHAPM Part 813.106 Page 1 of 6 Original Date: 08/30/17

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

UNDER FAR SUBPART 13.5

Acquisition Plan Action ID: VA-21-00048246

1. Contracting Activity:

This Sole Source Justification and Approval is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center, Frederick (SAC-F), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Acquisition Logistics, (OAL), located at 810 Vermont Avenues, NW, Washington DC, 20420.

2. Description of Action:

This activity proposes to negotiate a non-competitive, sole-source, Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) award with Military Service Alliance, a verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), for professional support services to assist the Acquisition Lifecycle Framework (ALF) with the implementation of innovative, interactive, eLearning training modules focused on the ALF utilizing agile, engaging, and retention-based delivery learning methods.

3. Description of Supplies or Services

VA OAL has a requirement to procure contractor support for OAL in the development eLearning interactive training modules focused on the ALF. The ALF is a disciplined, reproducible, and comprehensive methodology designed to manage acquisition programs and projects encompasses five phases to include Conceptualization, Definition, Development, Delivery, Execution, and Operations, and Close-Out. This training will be one component of a three-part training curriculum to improve the skills of the acquisition workforce to execute the various activities within the acquisition lifecycle. Specifically, the contractor shall provide participants with an in-depth, comprehensive, understanding of the following objectives:

Describe the 5 (five) ALF Phases, the purpose of ALF, and outline all activities needed to complete each phase;

Specifically detail the required analysis and ALF documentation/how to complete templates that are associated with the lifecycle;

Detail the ALF Governance process;

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

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Explain in detail the required documents and Identify the Acquisition Decision Events and Exit Criteria required for each phase;

Describe how to prepare for an Acquisition Decision Event and present before governance boards;

Explain how to create a basic Rough Order of Magnitude, Life Cycle Cost Estimate, Independent Government Cost Estimate and other documents associated with the lifecycle.

The total estimated value for this requirement is $490,019.36 and the period of performance is one 12-month base period and one 6-month option period.

4. Statutory Authority:

The statutory authority permitting the use of noncompetitive procedures is 41 U.S. Code § 1901(a)(2), as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.501, entitled “Special documentation requirements” and 41 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 USC § 8127(c).

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above:

a. Background

VAO OAL is committed to improving acquisition management across the agency. As the VA develops a new framework for Acquisition Management entitled, Acquisition ALF, OAL’s goal is to implement agile, engaging and retention-based delivery learning methods. This will ensure consistent and efficient acquisition management, support, review, and approval throughout the Department. The ALF Office is responsible for executing ALF and developing training specifically in the areas of acquisition lifecycle management and acquisition program/project management. This training will be one component of a 3-part training curriculum to improve the skills of the acquisition workforce to execute the various activities within the acquisition lifecycle. The goal is to train and educate the VA acquisition workforce manage, support, and improve P/P management more effectively and efficiently. The intent is to combine this training development understanding with acquisition subject matter expertise to develop and implement a training solution that will reinforce key concepts of the ALF.

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

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b. Justification

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 is $744,630.41 and does not exceed $5M.

3) The justification prepared pursuant to FAR 6.302-5(c)(2)(ii) will be posted to FBO 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

Military Service Alliance is a registered and verified SDVOSB. Military Service Alliance has performed similar services in the past and it is imperative that a contractor with subject matter expertise in Acquisition Management, the related ALF components, and innovative eLearning capabilities performs the work under this requirement.

5) 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.

6) The contracting officer has determined that the use of this authority is in the best interest of the government based upon the fact that Military Service Alliance is a SDVOSB which has a satisfactory performance history in providing quality products and services at a fair and reasonable price and has the necessary working knowledge of the VA systems, programs and policies to provide the needed deliverables within the stringent timeline required.

Based on an analysis of market research as outlined in the Market Research Memorandum, Military Service Alliance is best suited to provide the required professional support services to integrate human-centered design approaches into the design and development of eLearning interactive training modules, and provide monitoring and tracking tools to access participation and knowledge retention. The support for ALF eLearning Interactive Training Curriculum efforts includes Program Management, eLearning Training Module Development, Curriculum Development, eLearning Training Development, Data Analytics, and Data Management & Metric Analysis.

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

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Military Service Alliance is fully capable of successfully delivering the services to the VA, ALF Office. Military Service Alliance offers an exceptional combination of highly skilled capabilities, innovative research-methodologies, evidence-based strategy, human-centered automated learning solutions, and an exceptional combination of corporate and personnel capabilities needed to support the requirements at a high level.

Of note, Military Service Alliance has developed automated applications and delivered automated learning solutions, Virtual Training Environments, and organizational and management assessment services. To this end, Military Service Alliance has extensive and germane experience developing and implementing workforce development programs valued at over $300M for a workforce comprised of over 300,000 federal employees. This relevant experience will prove valuable to this contract effort.

c. Impact:

The contractor shall provide overarching integrated support and acquisition expertise in training development and training facilitation to specifically:

1. Develop adaptive, interactive, role-based eLearning training modules focused on the five (5) ALF phases and the related processes, documentation, and underlying principles with a strong emphasis across the lifecycle;

2. Integrate human-centered design approaches into the design;

3. Provide monitoring and tracking tools to access participation and knowledge retention; and

4. Provide acquisition program/project management expertise

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

Market research was conducted, details of which are in the market research section of this document. IAW VAAR § 819.7007 Sole source awards to service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns (b), “The contracting officer’s determination whether to make a sole source award is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer. A determination that only one SDVOSB concern is available to meet the requirement is not required.

A notice will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2.

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 5202 Presidents Court, Ste 103

Frederick, MD 21703

VHAPM Part 813.106 Page 5 of 6 Original Date: 08/30/17

7. Determination of Best Value:

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 current contract pricing, past proposal submissions, and an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).

8. Market Research:

Market research was conducted, and Military Service Alliance has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance. They are registered and certified in VetBiz.gov as a SDVOSB with the NAICS code for this requirement which in accordance with Public Law 109-461 Section 502(c) meets the requirements of this statute to sole source to a SDVOSB. In addition, a review of their Representations and Certifications was conducted in the System for Award Management (SAM) and Military Service Alliance has no exclusions.

In addition, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) was reviewed and FAPIIS shows no reports for Military Service Alliance 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. Interested Sources:

Military Service Alliance 7926 Hollington PL Fairfax Station, Virginia 22039-3161, United States

10. Overcome Barriers:

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.