P03_ Sole Source Justification_CO Signed.pdf

VHAPG Part 813.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures for Certain Commercial Items Attachment 1: Request for Sole Source Justification Template >SAT-$7.5M under FAR13.5

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Acquisition ID#: UID VA-25-00012510

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL

ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.5

Acquisition Plan Action ID: Planning UID VA-25-00012510

1. Contracting Activity:

Requesting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Integrated Service Network 05 (VISN 5) VA Maryland Health Care System (Baltimore) VISN 5 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC)

Contracting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs VHA Regional Procurement Office East (RPOE) VA Maryland Health Care System Perry Point VA Medical Center 515 Boiler House Road Building 101C Perry Point MD 21901 Purchase Request (2237): 512-25-1-883-0011

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: This procurement is for a new contract with the University of Maryland for research that leads to the development and evaluation of effective treatment strategies to improve the care of Veterans with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses within the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and Nationally.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: This request is pursuant to FAR Subpart 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute. The statute which authorizes this request is 38 U.S.C. 8153 (research with affiliates). The anticipated period of performance will be 12/27/2024 – 12/26/2025 . Total Estimated Cost for this contract will be: $394,331

The primary mission of the VISN 5 MIRECC is to improve the care of all veterans with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses within the VISN, and ultimately, within the entire VA system as well as in the community. One of the primary ways the MIRECC achieves this goal is by generating research data that lead to the development and evaluation of effective treatment strategies.

MIRECC researchers need to have access to data analysts and statistical staff to support MIRECC funded investigators. The main goal of this contract is to facilitate the research and mission of the VISN 5 MIRECC. The contractor will provide support throughout the life of a study, from inception to publication of final analyses. This encompasses rigorous study design, efficient management of data that ensure its quality and integrity, and statistically sound data analysis and interpretation. The MIRECC has utilized the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Psychology, Division of Psychiatric Services Research in the University of Maryland, School of Medicine to provide this support since

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Acquisition ID#: UID VA-25-00012510

2001. These services will be provided by masters’ level data analysts, a project manager, and epidemiological support staff.

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

( ) Unusual and Compelling Urgency ( ) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert

Services ( ) International Agreement

(X) Authorized or Required by Statute ( ) National Security ( ) Public Interest

Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): The University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry is highly specialized to perform the duties of this contract. The University has been intimately involved in various VISN 5 MIRECC and other joint projects for the past 20+ years. Their statistical data analysis and data management staff have performed this work since 2001, first through multiple Interagency Personnel Agreements (IPA), then through several previous VA contracts. The University has a specific familiarity with the VA research requirements, regulations, and programs along with the extensive knowledge in the field of Mental Illness. This makes the University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry (an Affiliate of the VA Maryland Health Care System) an important asset to the VISN 5 MIRECC. Additionally, there has been 20+ years of successful and collaborative working relationships between VISN 5 MIRECC and The University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry staff. It would take a protracted amount of time to attempt to bring another company up to the level of skill and knowledge with the University, which would result in an unacceptable delay in fulfilling the MIRECC’s research requirements. Accordingly, The University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry is the only affiliate capable of providing the supplies and services described in Section III above without the Veteran’s Health Administration experiencing substantial duplication of cost that could not be expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements.

5. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: IAW FAR 6.302-5(a) (2) (i) Full and open competition need not be provided for when a statute expressly authorizes or requires that the acquisition be made through another agency or from a specified source. The University of Maryland is an affiliate of the Baltimore VA and as such, the above noted statute is applicable.

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Acquisition ID#: UID VA-25-00012510

A Sole Source Affiliate Contract (SSAC) Non-Clinical Health-Care Resources (HCR) Acquisition Concept Memo was approved. This SSAC non clinical HCR acquisition concept approval was granted by the VAMHCS and VISN 5 Network Director and this authority was given under VA Directive 1663.

6. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: The Contracting Officer anticipates the price noted above to be fair and reasonable.

The Government anticipates paying for the Vendor’s actual costs plus an indirect cost per University established schedules. Negotiations may be conducted if the Contracting Officer deems necessary.

The Contracting Officer will determine fair and reasonable pricing prior to award and option periods being exercised.

7. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Due to their expertise, The University of Maryland is the only one capable to do this work, therefore, we can not go through vets or small business. As described in Section 6 above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, was conducted by synopsis of the proposed acquisition, advising industry of the pending acquisition and soliciting inquiries from interested parties

8. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: There are no additional supporting facts related to this procurement.

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

University of Maryland 220 Arch St.

Room 02148 Baltimore, MD 21201

10. 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: Given the unique nature of this requirement and the collaborative nature of the research work being conducted it is unlikely that another source will be identified in the near future.

11. 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.

_____________________________ _11-8-2024__________ Amanda Federline Date Administrative Officer

VISN 5 MIRECC, VAMHCS

AMANDA

FEDERLINE

Digitally signed by AMANDA

FEDERLINE

Date: 2024.11.08 12:29:09 -05'00'

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Acquisition ID#: UID VA-25-00012510

Date

Name: Robert O'Keefe Jr.

Title: Contracting Officer Facility: Network Contracting Office 05

b. 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.

Date

Name: Amy Ritchey Title: Branch Chief Facility: Network Contracting Office 05

12. 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.