P03 JA SDVOSB_OAL Court Reporting_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, and specific identification of the document as a "Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition."

This Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick (SAC-F), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OAL).

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

This activity proposes to negotiate a non-competitive award firm fixed price sole source award to Jamison Professional Services, Inc., a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), to provide Court Reporter/Transcription services for the VA Acquisition Academy (VAAA).

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

The VAAA requires one court reporter to produce official transcripts of an EEO deposition scheduled for December 20, 2024. The court reporter shall be present (virtually via Microsoft Teams) during the deposition, transcribe all proceedings and deliver a complete transcription package within 5 days after completion of the deposition. The documents must be stored for 30 days after the closure of the case and all records must be destroyed and certification of destruction provided as outlined in VA Directive 6300. The estimated value for this acquisition is $3,248.18 for a potential full day (8 hours) of Court Reporter and transcription services for a maximum of 425 pages.

(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 U.S.C.§ 8127(c), VAAR 806.302-570(c) and VAAR 819.7008.

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

(5) A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The proposed source for this acquisition is Jamison Professional Services, Inc., 2995 East Point Street, East Point, GA 30344-4261. Jamison Professional Services, Inc. is a certified SDVOSB and is technically qualified to provide Court Reporter/Transcription services. This contractor has demonstrated recent proven capabilities to perform the required services as it is currently providing court reporting and transcription services for the VA Office of End User Operations (EUO). Jamison Professional Services, Inc. has demonstrated experience with providing the same support services for the past 12-months.

(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.

In accordance with 819.7008(b), the determination to make a sole source award to an 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, 819.7008(c) further authorizes the Contracting Officer to make the award without first determining that only one SDVOSB source can meet the requirement. Since the acquisition is less than $25,000 a synopsis to the Government Point of Entry (GPE) is not required (see FAR 5.201(a)(1)), nor is a display in a public place (see FAR 5.201(a)(2)). However, the agency will make this justification publicly available within 14 days after contract award as required by FAR 6.305(a).

(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, an Independent Government Cost Estimate, average General Services Administration (GSA) rates, and other information as made available.

(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.

Jamison Professional Services, Inc., has successfully supported VA in similar efforts and has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance.

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

They are registered and verified in SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) database as a SDVOSB with the NAICS code 561492– Court Reporting and stenotype for this requirement which in accordance with Public Law 109-461, Section 502(c) meets the requirements of this statute to allow a sole source to a

SDVOSB.

In addition, the Federal Awardee Performance, and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) was reviewed and FAPIIS shows no reports for Jamison Professional Services, Inc. that would indicate defective pricing, instances of contractor fault or recipient not- qualified, terminations for cause, default, 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 procuring 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, Jamison Professional Services, Inc. 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.

Jamison Professional Services, Inc.

2995 East Point Street East Point, GA 30344-4261

(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 purchase order, consideration will be given as to whether the future acquisition should be competitive.