P03 JA_OVER_SAT LR ICU RN v3 Redacted.pdf

VHAPM Part 813.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures for Certain Commercial Items Attachment 1: Request for Sole Source Justification Template >SAT-$7.5M under FAR13.5

PM Part 813.5 SAP for Certain Commercial Items Page 1 of 3 Original Date: 08/30/17 Revision 03 Date: 02/11/2021

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL

ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.5

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C256-22-AP-0238

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 16, Network Contracting Office 16 (NCO 16), 2002 Holcombe Boulevard (90C), Houston, TX 77030.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: Firm Fixed Price Contract 36C25621P0401 Solvet Services LLC 345 Doucet Rd Ste 212 Lafayette LA 70503 is being modified to extend the period of performance for seventy-five (75) days and add 5362 additional Registered Nurse hours to support an unexpected increase of inpatient admissions at the John L. McClellan Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) 4300 W 7th St Little Rock AR 72205. This action is being executed in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.103-1 (b) (2) for purchases exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. The requirements at FAR 13.501(a) apply to sole-source (including brand-name) acquisitions of commercial items conducted pursuant to subpart 13.5.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: This contract modification will maintain day, night, holidays, and weekends operations and supplement Hospital staff to keep continuity of services for current patients receiving nursing care at the VAMC for the period of 12-

7-2021 to 02-22-2022.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Restricted Competition:

FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The statutory authority for applying the Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items of FAR 13.5 is 41 U.S.C. § 1901 and is implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) for restricting competition on this procurement. Competition is restricted on this procurement for the reason below:

(x) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

( ) Unusual and Compelling Urgency ( ) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert

Services ( ) International Agreement ( ) Authorized or Required by Statute ( ) National Security ( ) Public Interest

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): Continuity of patient care is required for the increase in patient admissions. Contracted Registered Nurse providers are already providing nursing support for the VAMC and do not required VetPro credentialing and background

PM Part 813.5 SAP for Certain Commercial Items Page 2 of 3 Original Date: 08/30/17 Revision 03 Date: 02/11/2021 checks, a process that can take up to 30 days. If there is no continuity of services for this period, nurse-to-patient ratios are affected compromising the Hospital’s ability to effectively manage and implement patient care. This action will ensure proper nurse staffing ratios are maintained to ensure Veterans optimal care, reduce nurse fatigue and burn out, reduce medication management errors, and reduce patient hospital stay. Awarding this action to Solvet Services, LLC is the most appropriate, as they are the only one responsible source in fulfilling the agency’s requirement so there is no unacceptable delays to affect patient safety and operations of the medical center

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: The Government will continue to assess the Registered Nurse requirement to issue a request for quote for a follow on contract within the next 120 to 150 days.

7. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: Contract 36C25621P0401 is a Firm Fixed Contract competitively awarded where price fair and reasonableness was established based on competitive quotations in accordance with FAR 13.106-3 (a) (1).

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 by analyzing the current contract prices by Solvet Services LLC.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: Typical timeline for procuring these type services is 150 to 180 days. It is expected that hospitalizations will continue to increase during holidays mass gathering events due to lingering COVID 19, Influenza, and other respiratory illnesses infections. Due to these facts, the health care resources will be overwhelmed and result in higher demand for Registered Nurse personnel making more important to retain staff already in place and ensure proper Veteran care continuity.

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

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: Efforts to anticipate the Registered Nurse services need over the next 120 to 150 days will continue to establish follow-on procurement strategy for this requirement.

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.

PM Part 813.5 SAP for Certain Commercial Items Page 3 of 3 Original Date: 08/30/17 Revision 03 Date: 02/11/2021