P03 - Redacted J_A.docx

Attachment 1: Request for SDVOSB/VOSB Sole Source Justification Format >SAT

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C776-22-AP-4574

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC), 6100 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 490, Independence, OH 44131. Purchase Request Number: 133-21-4-5460-0014

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

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has an immediate need to provide surge resource management services that are critical to the efficient and effective implementation of the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act). This is a new contract action, and the contract type is firm fixed price.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: The purpose of this contract is to increase resource management capacity within the Office of Workforce Management and Consulting (WMC) to ensure timely position review, approval, and creation, in support of VHA Central Office (VHACO) resource management activities. Support acquired through this contract includes personnel who will provide surge capacity staffing to WMC to meet high-volume workload requirements and special projects.

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 819.7007 or 819.7008 up to $5,000,000. Check the specific VAAR clause used below:

( ) 819.7007 Sole source awards to a verified service-disabled veteran-owned small business; or

(X) 819.7008 Sole source awards to a verified 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): Ward Circle Technologies has the knowledge and experience to provide the needed support services. The authority allows sole source awards to Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses/ Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB/ VOSB) based on 38 U.S.C. 8127(c) and that the SDVOSB/VOSB concern has been determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance. The business meets eligibility requirements in 819.7003 and list registered in Vendor Information Pages (VIP).

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 subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies: Notice of intent to sole source 36C77622Q0515 was published to Sam.gov on September 22, 2022 notifying industry of the government’s intent to award directly to Award Circle Strategies. Further, per the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) Sections 810.001-70 & 810.002, The Vendor Information Pages (VIP) was queried on September 22, 2022 utilizing NAICS 541611.

7. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: The contracting officer will determine the price is fair and reasonable by comparing the proposed pricing to the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) per FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(vi)) to ensure that the price is determined to be fair and reasonable before the award is made.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Notice of intent to sole source 36C77622Q0515 was published to Sam.gov on September 22, 2022 notifying industry of the government’s intent to award directly to Award Circle Strategies. Further, per the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) Sections 810.001-70 & 810.002, The Vendor Information Pages (VIP) was queried on September 22, 2022 utilizing NAICS 541611.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: None per the authority under 38 USC 8127(c).

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

Ward Circle Strategies Mason PPM Technologies

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: VA will continue to perform market research in attempts to find other sources before soliciting new awards for the same or similar future acquisitions of the services being acquired.

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.

Director Workforce Strategy and Standardization Workforce Solutions

13. Approvals in accordance with the VHAPM Part 806.3 OFOC SOP:

a. Contracting Officer or Designee’s Certification (required): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Program Contracting Activity – Central

b. One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over the SAT but not exceeding $750K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Supervisory Contracting Officer Program Contracting Activity – Central

Effective Date: 02/01/2022 Page 1 of 6