P03 - Sole Source JA.pdf

PM Part 813.5 SAP for Certain Commercial Items Page 1 of 3 Original Date: 08/30/17 Revision 03 Date: 02/11/2021

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL

ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.5

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C263-21-AP-1845

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 23, VA Central Iowa Health Care System

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: The VA Central Iowa Health Care System

(VA-CIHCS), 3600 30th Street, Des Moines, IA, 50310, has a need for an interim Cardiology Services contract. VA-CIHCS Specialty Care service Line has had two Cardiologists retire in the past six-months, leaving a gap in Cardiology physician coverage for cardiology care services. It is the intent to hire new physicians to backfill, but efforts to recruit have been unsuccessful to date.

3. Description of Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: VA-CIHCS has a need for contract services to cover Cardiology requirements until new physicians can be hired and on-boarded. VA- CIHCS has a need for these services and is pursuing a contract to fulfill this need starting May 1, 2021. Without these services, the Des Moines VA Medical Center will be severely limited in its ability to provide cardiology services to veterans. Additionally, this service is necessary to continue surgerical operations, due to the requirement to have a cardiologist on-site when surgeries are performed.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Restricted Competition:

FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The statutory authority for applying the Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items of FAR 13.5 is 41 U.S.C. § 1901 and is implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) for restricting competition on this procurement. Competition is restricted on this procurement for the reason below:

( ) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

(X) Unusual and Compelling Urgency ( ) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services ( ) International Agreement ( ) Authorized or Required by Statute ( ) National Security ( ) Public Interest

5. Demonstration that the Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above:

Without contracted cardiology services, the Des Moines VAMC will be severely limited in its ability to provide cardiology care to veterans. Additionally, without contracted cardiologist services, the hospitial would be forced to cancel surgeries for any time that there was not a cardiologist at the hospital. These cancellations would delay critical care to veterans scheduled for those surgeries, and it would create a ripple effect of delayed surgeries for other veterans with serious health conditions.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: There is currently only one Cardiology Group in the Des Moines metro area

PM Part 813.5 SAP for Certain Commercial Items Page 2 of 3

Revision 03 Date: 02/11/2021 that has expressed any interest in doing business with the Government. The vendor can meet the

VA’s very short timeline for implementing the requirement need date of May 1, 2021. The vendor, Iowa Heart Clinic, has the capability, qualified personnel and willingness to support the

Government’s requirement. A search of the System for Award Management (SAM) did not reveal any other providers in Iowa.

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

Reasonable: The anticipated cost is considered fair and reasonable. The prices submitted by MercyOne Iowa Heart are on par with other pricing for cardiology services. Addition pricing analysis will be included in the award documentation.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results: The Service Line Administrative Officer checked with local Cardiology groups in the Des Moines metro area for interest and capability to support our requirement, and only MercyOne Iowa Heart Center expressed interest in supporting the government’s requirement.

Additionally, the contract specialist conducted additional research in an attempt to identify other vendors that might be capable of meeting the government’s need within a short timeline. A search of VA Federal Supply Schedule 621-007 – Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing Services (Physician Cardiology) listed four SDVOSB or VOSB vendors, however none of those vendors provide services in Iowa.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: None

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: MercyOne Iowa Heart Center

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: The agency does not plan to take any actions at this time. VA-CIHCS plans to recruit for the two FTE cardiologist positions.

12. Contracting Officer: I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Daniel Vagts Date Contracting Officer Network 23 Contracting Office

04/13/2021

PM Part 813.5 SAP for Certain Commercial Items Page 3 of 3

Revision 03 Date: 02/11/2021

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

Andrew J. Schoenecker Date Branch Chief Network 23 Contracting Office