P03 - Sole Source Justification ER Physician Services - Redacted.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

Effective Date: 02/01/2022 Page 1 of 3

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL

ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.5

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C259-24-AP-3625 JOFOC Request Number: FY24 – NCO 19 – 2029

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO19), 6162 S Willow Drive, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.

2. Organizational Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Salt Lake City, Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84102; VISN 19; Station: 660.

3. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed:

This procurement is for the establishment of a sole source Firm-Fixed-Price contract with Total Emergency Ambulatory Medicine, LLP (TEAM) to provide Emergency Physician Services for Salt Lake City VA Health Care System (SLCVAHCS).

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

This two-month short-term bridge contract, Period of Performance from 07/01/2024 to 08/31/2024, is needed to ensure there are no lapses in patient care services. Previously, SLCVAHCS maintained services through a long-term contract (36C25919C0031, base plus four option years) that will expire on 06/30/2024. Due to internal hiring, the station no longer requires a long-term contract to fill the physician vacancy. Given the lengthy onboarding process for new hires, this short-term contract will ensure continuous patient services, allowing the new physician to properly onboard for SLCVAHCS.

The total value of this two-month procurement is $543,891.20. This contract includes FAR Clause 52.217-8, which allows for a potential six-month extension if exercised.

5. 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:

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

Effective Date: 02/01/2022 Page 2 of 3

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

Only One Responsible Source – Total Emergency Ambulatory Medicine, LLP (TEAM), a small business, is the incumbent contractor for contract 36C25919C0031 and currently provides physician services for SLCVAHCS. The current physicians have been credentialed and privileged to perform services at SLCVAHCS. Credentialing and privileging for a new provider can take up to 60 days, potentially causing a lapse in services for veterans. A two-month short-term contract will ensure continued critical patient care until the new hire is fully onboarded for SLCVAHCS.

7. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable:

Due to current time restraints to maintain services by the need date of 30 June 2024, no sources sought was issued.

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

A comparison with historic pricing from the previous contract for Physician Services (36C25919C0031) revealed that CLIN 0001 for Clinical Hours was priced at $213.66 per hour five years ago. The Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) for the current contract for CLIN 0001 is $249.95 per hour. Market research indicated that vendors contacted for their current rates charged an average of $258.00 per hour. Based on these findings, the pricing is deemed fair and reasonable according to the current IGCE, market research, and historical pricing data.

9. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

The following websites were used to support Market Research results: GSA E-Library, and Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Dynamic Search tool, and SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) website. A search was conducted of the SBA’s Dynamic Small Business Search Tool, using NAICS Code: 621111, which yielded 26 vendors. Market Research was also conducted on the GSA eLibrary website. Category 621 I – Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing Services, subcategory 621-020- Radiology (Includes Diagnostic, MRI/Mammogram, Interventional and Oncology) which produced 36 vendors. A search was conducted on Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert), verifying NAICS Code 621111, which resulted in 411 vendors.

BAA Exception is applicable to this acquisition since this involves direct patient care.

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

Due to the urgent need to maintain services by 07/01/2024, TEAM is well-equipped to fulfill the required physician services. The incumbent can provide the necessary clinical and administrative hours that the station requires. No other contractors can deliver the needed services in such a timely manner, nor can the onboarding and credentialing process be completed by a new vendor by the required date.

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

Not Applicable.

12. 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:

SLCVAHCS has hired a new employee internally. The immediate need to continue services during the onboarding process is critical to patient care for the veterans of SLCVAHCS. A future contract for physician services will no longer be necessary once the new employee is onboarded. Should a future

Effective Date: 02/01/2022 Page 3 of 3 need for physicians arise, the station has been advised to promote competition for SDVOSB. The limitation of subcontracting will apply to this requirement.

13. 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.

Brooke Sullivan Date Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Salt Lake City VA Health System

14. 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.

Patricia Toliver Date Contracting Officer Network Contracting Office (NCO) 19

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.

Yomika Brock Date Branch Chief-HCR

Network Contracting Office (NCO) 19 https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/VHAProcurement/VHAPM/VHAPM_Part_806.3.aspx