P03 PG_Part819.7008-7009_Atch1_FAR6_JA_IAW_VAAR_819.7008-7009 C_Redacted.pdf

Attachment 1: Request for SDVOSB/VOSB Sole Source Justification Format IAW VAAR 819.7008/9

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VOSB Page 1 of 3 Revision: 03 Effective Date: 06/15/2024

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition

Acquisition Plan Action ID:___________________________________________

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network/Program Contracting Office NCO 1, in support of VISN 01 VA Health Care System at VISN 1 VA Health Care System at VISN 1 Knowledge and Information Service, 200 Springs Road Bldg 10 Rm 110, Bedford, MA, UNITED STATES, 01730

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

This requirement is being solicited as a new requirement for a base plus one option period. The Contract Type is firm fixed price (FFP).

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

A base year plus one option year contract for VISN1-wide subscription to DynaMed and four databases (a package deal) from EBSCO containing: DynaMed (Clinical Decision Support Resource), Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (database), MEDLINE Complete (database), Dynam Decisions (Supplementary resource for the clinical decision support tool). The VISN1 Library makes these resources available to all VISN1 staff in supporting their point-of-care and research requirements.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: 41 USC §3304(a)(5), 38 U.S.

Code § 8127(c), as implemented by FAR 6.302-5 (Authorized or Required by Statute). COs may use the non-competitive (sole source) procedures authorized in VAAR 819.7008 (DEVIATION) or VAAR

819.7009 (DEVIATION) up to $5,000,000. Check the specific VAAR clause used below:

(X) 819.7008 Sole source awards to a certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business; or ( ) 819.7009 Sole source awards to a certified veteran-owned small business

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

The VISN 1 library staff have researched multiple sources of supply in regards to this requirement.

The Government found that there is a wide range of point-of-care information tools and clinical decision support resources that advertise their ability to provide the most recently up dated, peer-reviewed evidence based clinical information. The clinical digital tools like EPIC Electronic Health Record, CareCloud Breeze, and Nuance (Tungsten) were examined with Case Points (BMJ) Practice.

Attachment 1: Request for SDVOSB/VOSB Sole Source Justification Format IAW VAAR 819.7008/9

VHAPG Part 819.7008/7009 Sole Source Awards to SDVOSB/VOSB Page 2 of 3 Revision: 03 Effective Date: 06/15/2024

The Government found that EBSCO’s DynaMed presentation of information was more effective.

The display began with a short bulletized list of pertinent symptoms or items of a given query, where the clinician could quickly scan and determine if result was worth the time going further reading the display. The library team has received numerous comments and observations that this information format is faster than scanning a multiline paragraph or two to determine if the query results were pertinent. The presentation of information in DynaMed starts with the short bulletized list of pertinent facts, then the results expand into a more detailed description or analysis of the queried topic. BMJ Best Practice does not follow this format. Additionally the team needed to consider the transition to a new clinical decision platform which is vitally important and needs a lot of planning and coordination. There are also numerous hypothetical costs associated with a transition of this sort included, system downtime, additional training, and configuration management costs. In light of these findings the evaluation team chose to remain with DynaMed as the VISN1 clinical decision platform as no other brand was able to meet the libraries requirements regarding detailing, information assistance, and presentation.

Furthermore at this time, transitioning to another branded journal would incur costly transitional costs that outweigh any possible benefits by transitioning to another branded subscription besides EBSCO.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies:

An intent to brand name synopsis has been posted to SAM.GOV notifying the public of the Government’s intent to formally solicit this requirement on a brand name specific bases ONLY – no substitutes allowed.

7. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable:

The Contracting Officer expects to receive adequate price competition for this procurement. Should the Government not receive competitive offerors, the Government will evaluate and approve offers in accordance with FAR 13.106-3.

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 and it was concluded that there are two SDVOSB authorized distributors that can fulfill the required journal subscription, J.E. Federal and Graham Advisory Network.

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

None