P03 Single Source Justification Loftis OHSU.pdf

VHAPM Part 813.106 Simplified Acquisition Procedures: Soliciting from a Single Source Single Source Justification for SAP under the SAT

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification for Single Source Awards IAW FAR 13.106-1 For

Over Micro-Purchase Threshold but Not Exceeding the SAT ($250K)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C260-24-AP-2950

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Healthcare Administration, Regional

Procurement Office West, Network Contracting Office 20, 1601 East Fourth Plain Boulevard, Vancouver,WA 98661 on behalf of Veterans Integrated Service Network 20 Network, VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS), Research Service (P3R&D), 2237: 648-24-3-770-0230.

2. Brief Description of Supplies/ Services required and the intended use/Estimated Amount:

This contract allows the VA to maintain an essential capability for drug addiction, inflammation, and COVID-19 research that cannot be currently performed by Portland HCS. The tasks required evaluate human research subjects using functional magnetic resonance instruments (fMRI) Image Acquisition, fMRI Image Optimization, and fMRI Image Analysis.

Total estimated cost for the year is $48,547.20.

3. Unique characteristics that limit availability to only one source, with the reason no other supplies or services can be used:

VHA is the country’s largest integrated health care system and as such it embraces close ties with academic affiliates by partnering with affiliates such as Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). OHSU and Portland VA Medical Center are connected by a sky bridge which allows easy access to the equipment for the providers and patients. The inability to use the OHSU Advanced Resource Center (AIRC) will be detrimental in terms of cost and quality of the research performed.

This is because: (1) equipment at the AIRC is uniquely suited to perform the data collection; (2) an existing collaborative relationship is already in place; and (3) existing VA and OHSU staff are already in place and trained to use the AIRC equipment in a manner that is specific to the primary outcome variables dictated by the project. Therefore, using OHSU as the sole source excludes the need for recruitment, training, and acquisition of equipment. All of which are time, labor, and cost intensive processes.

4. Description of market research conducted and results or statement why it was not conducted:

OHSU is currently providing similar services to Portland HCS under the expiring contract 36C26019P0800. This application establishes a similar 1-year contract for a new Merit Review project looking at post-COVID-19. The services will have overlapping and coordinating functions within the research projects. The Outcomes Data Manager on this project team has a unique combination of knowledge related to the subject matter. The VA will review the requirements periodically to ensure that all the requirements of the contract reflect the minimum requirements of the Research Service. An RFI 36C26024Q0558 was posted to Contract Opportunities on 5/10/2024- 5/17/2024 and yielded no responses. The circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available due to the medical affiliation agreement between the VA and OHSU.

https://www.acquisition.gov/?q=/browse/far/13

VHAPM Part 813.106 Simplified Acquisition Procedures: Soliciting from a Single Source Single Source Justification for SAP under the SAT

5. Contracting Officer's Certification: Purchase is approved in accordance with FAR13.106-1(b). I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Jennifer Robles Date Contracting Officer

JOFOC Log Number: FY24-NCO20-1853

05/30/2024 https://acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%2013_1.html#wp1125466