VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Revision: 04 Effective Date: 12/15/25 Acquisition ID#: 36C242-26-AP-2388

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C242-26-AP-2388

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 02, Northport VA Medical Center, 79 Middleville Road, NY 11768. The organizational activity is the New Jersey VA Healthcare System, 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018;

151 Knollcroft Road Lyons, NJ 07939 and Toms River CBOC, 1051 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ 108755.

2237 number is 561-26-4-033-0032.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved:

NCO 2 intends to award a sole source contract to VetMed, LLC., a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) registered with the Small Business Administration (SBA). The requirement is for teleradiology services in support of the New Jersey VA Healthcare System while they have 2 full-time Radiologist leaving federal employment therefore will need 2 full-time vacancies. The National Teleradiology Program (NTP) was previously used for these services, but recently NTP has not been able to keep up with STAT exams and routines. This has put New Jersey out of mandated turnaround times for both exam types. This contract is intended to provide these services until multi-site contract is awarded for all downstate facilities.

The proposed sole source contract is a firm-fixed price, Indefinite Delivery (ID) requirements contract type. The anticipated period of performance is 09/01/2026 to 02/28/2026.

The total estimated value of this procurement is $437,970.00.

This is a new requirement.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) New Jersey Healthcare System has an immediate need for teleradiology services until a larger multi-site contract is awarded for downstate facilities. These services are needed urgently to prevent diversion to local hospitals, as diversion negatively impacts clinical outcomes, patient safety, and patient satisfaction.

Acquisition ID#: 36C242-26-AP-2388

2 FTE radiologists on staff cannot keep up with the number of cases performed.

They cannot read body or extremity MRI’s. If timely reading doesn’t occur, VA may have to reduce the type and number of exams performed. This will cause more Veterans to be forced to use community care. 10-20 exams are sent to NTP daily and have been averaging over 14 days to be read and results returned for New Jersey. The delay with NTP and struggles to hire full-time radiologists and not expected to be a short-term issue. The additional service will ensure that the cases are read within 7 days, and VA can continue to offer a full array of exams to patients.

VetMed is already working within VISN2 and has been able to assist other medical centers to improve their exam review times. VetMed providers have been credentialed and privileged at other VA facilities, which will reduce time of implementation at New Jersey.

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

( ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per 41 USC §3304(a)(1) as implemented by

RFO 6.103-1;

( X) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per 41 USC §3304(a)(2) as implemented by RFO 6.103-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per 41 USC §3304(a)(3) as implemented by RFO 6.103-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per 41 USC §3304(a)(4) as implemented by RFO 6.103-4

( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute per 41 USC §3304(a)(5) as implemented by RFO 6.103-5;

( ) (6) National Security per 41 USC §3304(a)(6) as implemented by RFO 6.103-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per 41 USC §3304(a)(7) as implemented by RFO 6.103-7;

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

VetMed, LLC, UEI: Z7NABFAK25Y7 is verified as an SDVOSB by the Small Business Administration (SBA), last verified 07/28/2026 and active through 09/04/2027.

VetMed, LLC is uniquely qualified to perform this service due to their existing contracts and presence in VISN2. Several credentialed and privileged radiologists currently supporting other VISN2 contracts are anticipated to service this requirement as well. As a result, the on-boarding, credentialing, and background reinvestigation process will be significantly streamlined—expected to take only 2-3 weeks. This efficiency enables contract services to commence much sooner than would be possible with a vendor new to VISN2.

Acquisition ID#: 36C242-26-AP-2388

The need to expedite this procurement is both urgent and compelling, consistent with the authorities provided for in FAR 6.302-2 (Unusual and Compelling Urgency). Delays in acquiring these essential radiology services could directly impact the continuity and quality of patient care within VISN2. Procuring a vendor already established in VISN2, such as VetMed, LLC, minimizes risk of service disruption and supports uninterrupted access to critical radiology services for Veterans. Therefore, the proposed sole source award is justified to mitigate risks associated with onboarding delays and to ensure timely, high-quality care delivery.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as possible (including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by RFO Part 5 and, if not, which exception under RFO Part 5 applies):

This contract maintains critical patient care services until VA radiologists can be hired and on-boarded. Due to the urgency of this requirement, no additional outreach was conducted.

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

Fair and Reasonable:

An initial review of items that are being requested have been determined fair and reasonable based on comparison to NTP and Fee basis physicians.

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

VetMed, LLC is a verified SDVOSB on SBA’s Small Business Search. Due to the urgent nature of this request, minimal market research was conducted. The following tasks were completed:

a. In a query of SBA Small Business Search, VetMed, LLC., is certified as an

SDVOSB.

b. VetMed, LLC has confirmed that they can fulfill this requirement immediately.

c. A search of SBA Small Business Search using keyword “teleradiology” and filtered for SDVOSB’s and VOSB’s identified 9 vendors that match the search criteria.

d. A search of GSA eLibrary using keyword “teleradiology services” did not identify any schedules that match the search criteria.

e. No additional outreach was conducted as a result of the information outlined in items a-c above, and the urgency of this requirement.

Acquisition ID#: 36C242-26-AP-2388

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

This urgently needed contract is required to provide uninterrupted services while pursuing VA hires and a long-term contract. It would be impossible to award a competitive long-term contract in a timely manner. On average the solicitation phase for this type of procurement takes six to eight months from the time the solicitation was issued to award. Then, once the contract is awarded, an additional 6-12 weeks are needed to on-board.

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

None.

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 requirement will result in a six-month contract to fulfill urgent and immediate need for teleradiology services. Concurrently, VA New Jersey is working towards awarding a long-term contract with multiple downstate facilities.

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.

Christopher M. Mele, MD Date Imaging Service Chief New Jersey VAMC

CHRISTOPHER MELE

Digitally signed by

CHRISTOPHER MELE

Date: 2026.08.10 11:02:22 -04'00'

Acquisition ID#: 36C242-26-AP-2388

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.

Prepared by:

Jasmine Elsawaby Date Contract Specialist

Approved by:

Danelle Wassink Date Contracting Officer

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

Cheryl Brimmer Date NCO2, Acting Director

JASMINE ELSAWABY

Digitally signed by JASMINE

ELSAWABY

Date: 2026.08.10 11:33:36 -04'00'