P03 VR Meta Headsets 6.302-1c Justification_CO Signed.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL)

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 5202 Presidents Ct, Suite 103

Frederick, MD 21703

BRAND NAME

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a "Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition.

This Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Healthcare, Innovation, and Learning (OHIL)

(2) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This activity proposes to award a firm fixed price contract for the purchase of 33 Meta Quest 3 headsets and accessories to conduct VA Firearm Safety Training under TAC Contract 36C10B21N10150056.

(3) A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The Office of Healthcare, Innovation, and Learning (OHIL) and more specifically the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, VA Immersive, and Strategic Innovations Lab (SIL) has developed, in collaboration with private industry, training software to teach VA personnel the various aspects of firearm safety (TAC performance-based Task Order (TO) 36C10B21N10150056 entitled, “Product and Technology Ecosystem Management Services (PTEMS)). Under this contract the “Firearm Safe Handling” Virtual Reality Application is currently being developed to increase VA healthcare providers’ familiarity with firearms, enabling them to better support Veterans in crisis. This software was designed to be immersive using virtual reality. This training is optimized for Meta Quest 3 VR devices. VA Immersive has completed the testing phase under the PTEMS contract and is now moving to the pilot phase in which 33 virtual reality headsets with accessories are needed for VA employees to use for training purposes and provide feedback.

(4) An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.3304(a)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 entitled, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.” Specifically 6.302-1(c) for Brand Name acquisition.

(5) A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The application is configured and optimized to run on the Meta Quest 3 device (Reference eCMS file P02 PTEMS_Solution_FirearmSafeHandling_v1.docx Pg.9).

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

(6) A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is 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.

Market Research was conducted to attempt to obtain an understanding of what retailers existed for the sale of Meta Quest 3 headsets, specifically if any distributor agreements were in place and or if VA socioeconomic goals could be met through SDVOSB/VOSB set-aside. The VA has determined through market research that Meta restricts sales directly to 4 authorized resellers. Three are large businesses and one is an SBA verified small business. This brand name justification shall be posted IAW FAR 5.203(a)(1).

(7) A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

No award shall be made until the Contracting Officer (CO) determines the cost to the Government to be fair and reasonable. This determination will be based on a comparison of current publicly available pricing, an Independent Government Cost Estimate, market research request for information (RFI) submissions, and other information as made available to the CO.

(8) A description of the market research conducted (see part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Four authorized resellers currently exist that resell Meta:

• Insight Direct, SAM UEID: P2L5J5XEYCN3 - Large

• CDW Govt, SAM UEID: PHZDZ8SJ5CM1 - Large

• SHI, SAM UEID: CEFCD41CLDJ8 – Large

• Mace Virtual Lab, SAM UEID: P8SKMMJKNJU9 – Minority, Small DB The VA contacted all four authorized resellers to obtain pricing and other information from them.

(9) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

At this time, no other facts pertain to this acquisition.

(10) A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

MACE Virtual Labs Maria Rankin (maria.rankin@macevl.com) 1401 Greengrass Dr, Suite E7 Houston, TX 77008

SHI

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-5#FAR_Subpart_5_2 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-5#FAR_5_202 mailto:maria.rankin@macevl.com

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC)

Owen Cesareo (owen_cesareo@shi.com) 300 Davidson Ave Somerset, NJ 08873

(732) 624-5939

(11) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

The PTEMS contract is working to enable multiple VR devices to accommodate software application development. Future procurements shall comply with FAR Part 6 Competition Requirements.

(12) Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (e.g., verifying the Government’s minimum needs or requirements or other rationale for an exception to fair opportunity) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel.

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

(13) Contracting officer certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer ’s knowledge and belief.

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. As this action does not exceed $750,000, the certification below required by FAR 6.304(a)(1) serves as approval.

Signature: ____________________________________________

Brian N. Ballard Contracting Officer Strategic Acquisition Center mailto:owen_cesareo@shi.com