P03 JA PL109 VSO Pathfinder_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL)

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 5202 Presidents Ct, Suite 103

Frederick, MD 21703

Justification And Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

This Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This activity proposes to negotiate a non-competitive award (sole-source) with Red Duke Strategies LLC (RDS), a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), for the procurement of program management support services - to support the execution of innovative best practices, processes, standards, and procedures that focuses on new and emerging healthcare solutions and technologies.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The contractor shall provide program and project management support services from a to manage downselection from VA’s Pathfinder platform, engage Veteran Support Organizations (VSOs) in support of VHA innovation, scout for health technology solutions that address priority Veteran health conditions, and develop business cases to scale solutions that have been successfully tested. This includes activities such as developing presentation materials and project artifacts, conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis, supporting communications, and managing program and project activities between national stakeholders, field sites across VHA, and industry partners throughout the lifecycle of the VHA Innovation Operational Model.

To effectively manage these programs, OHIL requires expertise in emerging health care technology, managing and implementing programs that promote industry best practices in innovation, leveraging strong VA – VSO relationships to promote innovative healthcare ideas that address priority Veteran requirements, and strategic communications that engage and excite healthcare innovation audiences both internal and external to VA. In summation, the contractor shall provide the following support:

Pathfinder program/project management, VSO engagement in support of OHIL objectives, health technology scouting, business case development, and strategic communications.

The total estimated value of this firm-fixed price contract is and the period of performance (PoP) is

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 5202 Presidents Ct, Suite 103

Frederick, MD 21703

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 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. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

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;

The estimated value is and does not exceed $5M.

(2) The justification prepared pursuant to FAR 6.302-5(c)(2)(ii) will be posted in accordance with FAR subpart 5.301(d);

This J&A will be posted on SAM.gov.

(3) The SDVOSB concern has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance;

Red Duke Strategies (RDS) LLC is a registered and verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB).

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 5202 Presidents Ct, Suite 103

Frederick, MD 21703

RDS’ unique qualifications include: Pathfinder program/project management, VSO engagement in support of OHIL objectives, health technology scouting, business case development, and strategic communications.

(4) 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

(5) The Contracting Officer has determined that the use of this authority is in the best interest of the Government based upon the fact that Red Duke Strategies, LLC is a SDVOSB, which has the ability to provide the Department of Veterans Affairs 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.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

IAW VAAR 819.7007(b), the determination to make a sole source award to a SDVOSB is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer; therefore, the requirement to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable is not applicable to this procurement. In addition, 819.7007(c) further authorizes the contracting officer to make the award without first determining that only one SDVOSB source can meet the requirement.

A notice of the proposed action will be synopsized via the Government Point of Entry (GPE) in accordance with FAR Section 5.201, and the agency will make publicly available the justification required by 6.305(a) within 14 days after contract award.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

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 (if available), other information made available, and an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 5202 Presidents Ct, Suite 103

Frederick, MD 21703

8. A description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted and RDS 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 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management 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, their current services meet and exceed Government requirements and the Contracting Officer reviewed their VIP verification verifying that they are an SDVOSB as well as their Representations and Certifications under this NAICS code in the System for Award Management (SAM).

In addition, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) was reviewed and FAPIIS shows no reports for RDS 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. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

The Contracting Officer has determined that this proposed action meets all the requirements of 38 U.S.C. 8127(c). This acquisition is below the $5,000,000.00 threshold, RDS, LLC is a responsible SDVOSB for performance of the services described herein, and the proposed contract can be awarded at a fair and reasonable price.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Red Duke Strategies, LLC 1313 Merchant Lane McLean, VA 22101

SAM UEID #: FAXCFVRLN839

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

All future requirements will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Toward the expiration of this contract, should this concept solution be proven effective, market research will be conducted in order to determine if there are other capable vendors who can provide the required services and consideration will be given as to whether the future acquisition should be competitive.