Redacted JA Amplifire_Redacted final.pdf

Control Number VA-24-00008637

JA template - FAR Part 6_AUG_05_2019

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics Technology Acquisition Center 23 Christopher Way Eatontown, NJ 07724

2. Description of Action: The proposed sole source action is for a firm-fixed price contract with Knowledge Factor, Inc., 4775 Walnut Street, Suite 210, Boulder, Colorado 80301 for the procurement of 1,000 learner licenses and seven author licenses for the Amplifire adaptive e-learning software platform. This effort includes online-only author training licenses and technical support. The Amplifire adaptive e-learning software platform is proprietary to Knowledge Factor, Inc.

3. Description of Supplies or Services: The proposed action is to provide Amplifire licenses to support Office of Information & Technology (OIT) Member Services (MS) Training and Quality Management (TQM) in their mission to provide world class learning events to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) personnel. MS is based out of four locations, in Topeka, KS, Waco, TX, Atlanta, GA, and Canandaigua, NY. MS TQM delivers learning events to internal business lines, including (but not limited to) Pharmacy Customer Care, Help Desk, Veterans Transportation Program, First Party, and the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans. MS TQM supports Veterans nationwide via the Health Eligibility Center through VHA’s National Enrollment Standardization Training and Income Verification trainings. MS TQM has a need for Amplifier software as a learning management system (LMS) which supports the standards for accessibility and security set forth in VA Directives for training and education. Amplifire will supply MS TQM with authoring access for the creation of course content, and technical support and learner licenses for student access.

Additionally, analysis tools included in the software package ensure excellent learner performance supporting business line specific builds.

Amplifire is a commercial product which provides comprehensive authoring software and an e-learning platform which integrates neurobiology and cognitive psychology.

With multidimensional big-data analytics Amplifire is projected to aid in improved learning outcomes and facilitate increased Veteran satisfaction with MS business line interaction. This web-based service can develop and deliver healthcare alliance courses, related testing, assessment, and validation. The platform provides comprehensive data collection, storage, and reporting capabilities to assist managers and leadership in strategic planning and resource management to improve clinical outcomes. Benefits to the agency are improved Veteran outcomes through professional education; courses utilized in place of existing competency assessments to eliminate duplicate work; administers both initial and ongoing education to assure information retention and confidence of staff; and the ability to integrate with the Talent Management System (TMS).

Amplifire licenses Control Number VA-00008637

The period of performance of the proposed action is a 12-month base period with two 12-month option periods. The total estimated value of the proposed action is

4. Statutory Authority: 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) 13.106-1(b)(1) entitled, “For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.”

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Amplifire software is a unique educational platform because it is the first scalable tool that corrects learners misinformation, uncertainty and struggle which ultimately leads to costly errors and poor performance. The active learning platform is grounded in neurobiology and cognitive research, where a Science Board and lead researchers from around the country, apply evidence-based research and results to practical learning for knowledge absorption, retention and improved outcomes. Amplifire has pre-built courses with the ability to have content reviewed by subject matter experts. Knowledge Factor Inc. has built in analytics software to deliver results to various levels of staff leadership, supervisors, educators, etc. These results display trends and opportunities for additional hands-on education to specific units and/or disciplines, as well as the opportunity to identify a performance improvement project within the hospital. The software is also able to display improved learning of staff over time and delivers a solution based on its patented algorithms, built from insights in the brain sciences, rapidly detect and correct the knowledge gaps, cognitive biases and confidently held misinformation in the clinical workforce that leads directly to adverse incidents and patient harm. The platform intelligently adapts to this previously invisible knowledge variation and struggle to learn among clinicians until each achieves mastery. The platform reports on workforce proficiency in an easily understood graphical format. These particular dashboards and analytics capabilities are powerful for leadership and education staff to make pivotal decisions and changes within the organization, beyond other standard education reporting software.

Amplifier is the only software that uses adaptive learning algorithms to personalize learner experiences. MS requires an adaptive platform in order to support Human Capital Management (HCM) Initiative 3.1.6: Leverage Mind Booster technology to help learners retain more of what they learn. As an adaptive learning tool, the software modifies content and pace based on user performance. Amplifier will reintroduce knowledge checks in different formats when a learner answers questions incorrectly. It will also provide assessment feedback based on the users selection. These adjustments occur in real time, adjusting as the user progresses through a course.

Waiting for other vendors to develop a similar commercially available product/service that accomplishes these processes, in an attempt to yield competition, would substantially delay MS’s mission and potentially lead to mission failure. There are no vendors or products commercially available that can satisfy MS need for an adaptive

Amplifire licenses Control Number VA-00008637 learning software. The Amplifire adaptive e-learning software platform is proprietary to Knowledge Factor, Inc.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in the market research section of this document. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government’s requirements. There is no competition anticipated for this acquisition. Additionally, the proposed action will be synopsized on the Contract Opportunities in accordance with FAR 5.201. Any proposals that are received shall be evaluated.

7. Actions to Increase Competition:The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the market place that would enable future actions to be competed.

8. Market Research: Market Research was conducted between August 1, 2023 and October 27, 2023. MS queried the FedRamp database and FedRAMP Marketplace to determine if there were any similar products which could meet the Government’s requirements. The search terms included “eLearning” “Learning Management System” “LMS” “Training Resources” “Education” and “Development Tools.” No other brand name products were identified. In addition, other similar products were also queried based on previous research performed by Member Services during FY22 and 23.

Specific brand names that were researched include “Canvas” ,“Moodle”, and “Blackboard.” Currently, there is no information, or certifications available for the aforementioned products. Additional market research was conducted between September 14, 2023, to September 21, 2023, in the form of a Request for Information (RFI) 288144. The RFI was posted using the SEWP Quote Request Tool. No responses were received.

In October 2023, VA conducted further market research by issuing a RFI on the Contract Opportunity web page, SAM.gov. A copy of the draft Product Description was provided with the RFI. In response to the RFI, four responses were received for non- Amplifier alternatives; inclusive of Awak3ning Cyber (A3|C), Denamita, Matrixyz LLC (Matrixyz) and SRR International, Inc (SRR). VA technical subject matter experts reviewed the information provided by A3C and determined A3C did not identify any commercial off the shelf products with the capability to deliver educational content with the use of adaptive methodologies in learning as defined in the draft PD. The second company, Denamita, an IT infrastructure and maintenance company, also did not provide any examples of software which supports creation or delivery of asynchronous, eLearning curriculum as defined in the draft PD. The third company, Matrixyz, proposed its eLearning software, Magister. Matrixyz explained Magister is made to order with an estimated turnaround time of six months. As stated in their RFI response, Matrixyz are not currently using Magister which utilize adaptive learning technologies for any existing VA contracts. Accordingly VA determined Matrixyz is unable to fulfill the technical requirements of providing an adaptive eLearning in the timeframe required. The fourth company, SRR, did not specifically state they would provide learner licenses to access the content created with their software. SRR did not discuss how its solution can

Amplifire licenses Control Number VA-00008637 provide an adaptive learning environment which adjusts to participant performance in real time. As discussed in paragraph five above, MS requires adaptive learning algorithms to personalize learner experiences. As such, the software needed will modify content and pace based on user performance. Adaptive learning will reintroduce knowledge checks in different formats when a learner answers questions incorrectly. It will also provide assessment feedback based on the users selection. These adjustments occur in real time, adjusting as the user progresses through a course.

Adaptive learning emphasizes mastery, requiring participants demonstrate competence and understanding before progressing to the next topic. On November 17, 2023, VA contacted A3C, Denamita, Matrixyz and SRR, and informed them of the Government’s assessment as discussed herein. No objections have been received.

Based on the market research, the Government’s technical experts have determined that only Knowledge Factor, Inc.’s Amplifire product can meet all of the Government’s requirements.

9. Other Facts: None

Amplifire licenses Control Number VA-00008637

10. Technical and Requirements Certification: 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.

11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on price analysis to include comparison to the Independent Government Cost Estimate and historical pricing for the Amplifire adaptive e-learning software

Procuring Contracting Officer Signature: ____________________________

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