Redacted J_A_StatDx.docx

VHAPG Part 813.106 Simplified Acquisition Procedures: Soliciting from a Single Source Attachment 1: 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)

POINT OF CARE RADIOLOGY DIAGNOSTIC SUBSCRIPTION (StatDX)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C776-22-AP-1983

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC), 6100 Oak Tree Blvd., Suite 490, Independence, OH 44131 Purchase Request Number: 776-22-4-8251-0098

Brief Description of Supplies/Services required and the intended use/Estimated Amount: This action is a brand name justification to support a new, standalone, firm-fixed-price contract. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) requires an existing commercial off the shelf web based, Point of Care Radiology Diagnostic Clinical Decision Support Product that will be made available throughout the VHA healthcare system. VHA’s goal is to ensure uniform availability to a purchase-based collection of high quality, clinical online resources in the VHA system to improve clinical decision making at the point of care.

This effort falls in line with VA’s mission, goals, and objectives in support of providing Veterans’ care. What distinguishes these products from sources such as electronic textbooks or bibliographic citations databases is that it includes a mechanism to support and provide clinical Radiology decision support knowledge at the point-of-care.

Overall estimated value for this contract is $218,550.00 for a nine (9) month base period.

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

VHA continuously researches available products to find the most well-rounded intellectual property products that encompass the needs of the VA. This brand‐name J&A provides the most up‐to‐date, state‐of‐the‐art research and due to their proprietary nature, copyrighted material and intellectual property are unique and highly specialized and only available from publishers and authorized resellers. The information is proprietary and contributed to by recognized experts in all fields of healthcare. VHA approves the selection of certain products based on relevancy and appropriateness by consulting with the field and confirming the needs are current and ongoing.

Product is 508 compliant.

The desired goals of the nationwide provision of a commercial Point of Care Radiology Diagnostic Decision Support Products are as follows:

· Providing access nationwide to standard knowledge based clinical information resources available at the point of care.

· Initiating a nationwide, centralized purchase to capitalize on the economies of scale offered by vendors.

· Negotiating one license/contract to decrease the current contracting and reviewing efforts that are required at the facility and/or VISN level and thereby avoid the costs and workload associated with multiple procurements.

· Making this Point of Care Radiology Diagnostic Decision Support Product available through CPRS (Computerized Patient Record System), the VA’s Electronic Health Record, nationwide to insure consistent access at the bedside for all VHA health professionals and staff.

This license will also allow for authorized user access at all Department of Veterans Affairs current and future physical facilities included but not limited to current and future medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, DOMs, vet centers and all other locations where Department of Veterans Affairs employee’s work. The online web‐based version of this subscriptions provides unique access to StatDX.

StatDX includes:

• StatDx images and knowledge-based information assists the provider in the identification, diagnosis, and management of common skin disorders. Other resources do not include the combinations of these two important mechanisms for use in direct patient care.

• A diagnostic decision support system is included to assist radiologists’ providers in differential radiological diagnosis.

• Vivid displays of Radiology images showing the variation of disease and injury presentation. Other resources do not.

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

On July 19, 2022, Contract Specialist Lamonte Jones contacted the publisher, Elsevier, to determine the authorized resellers of the Point of Care Radiology Diagnostic Clinical Decision Support (StatDx) . The publisher provided that there is one (1) authorized reseller: WT Cox Information Services Dba Cox Subscriptions Inc. that will meet VA’s needs. (Attachment 2) An email was sent on July 22, 2022, to the authorized reseller requesting them to indicate interest in providing these services to the government. WT Cox indicated they would be interested in providing these services to the government.

Per the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 810.002 and Veterans First Contracting Program (VCP 2016) deviation, the Vendor Information Page (VIP.gov) was queried on July 25, 2022 to locate verified SDVOSB and VOSB concerns utilizing the NAICS code 519130. The search resulted in a list of 244 organizations. (Attachment 1 - VIP NAICS 519130).

A request for information (RFI) was not posted to Contract Opportunities because the Contract Specialist reached out directly to the authorized reseller through email.

The results of the above market research shows that WT Cox, a small business concern is interested, authorized, and capable of providing the subscription services described above. The VA Rule of Two has not been met based on the Contracting Officer not having a reasonable expectation that two or more SD/VOSB companies can provide these services.

The Contracting Officer will determine the prices to be fair and reasonable prior to award by evaluating the proposed price against historical known values and competition. VA will continue to perform market research in attempts to find other sources for new procurements for the same or similar future acquisitions of the services being acquired.

4. 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.

Contracting Officer

List of Document(s):

(a) Attachment 1 – VIP NAICS 519130

Last Updated: 02/01/22 Page 1 of 1