Redacted Sole Source Justification.pdf

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

PM Part 813.5 SAP for Certain Commercial Items Page 1 of 3 Original Date: 08/30/17 Revision 03 Date: 02/11/2021

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL

ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.5

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C242-21-AP-1290

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 02, New York Harbor Healthcare System

– Brooklyn campus (800 Poly Place, Brooklyn, New York 11209) has submitted a procurement request to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 2, Hudson Valley Healthcare System – Montrose campus, for Ambulance Services, effective April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.

Funding is supported with funded procurement action VA2237 630-21-2-150-0031.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: This procurement is for Ambulance Services in accordance with FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items and specifically FAR 13.501 Special Documentation Requirements, where acquisitions conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6, but still require a justification using the format of FAR 6.303-2. Ambulance Services are provided at the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System (New York, NY; Brooklyn, NY; St. Albans, NY), where the contract/task order is nearing expiration and there are no more options allowed on the contract. This sole-source justifictation supports the award of a three-month firm-fixed-price Indefinite Delivery contract (and subsequent task order) with the incumbent contractor, effective April 1, 2021. This time is necessary to support a long-term effort anticipated to take effective July 1, 2021.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs: The requirement is for 24-hour ambulance services to transport eligible beneficiaries of the medical center for medical services.

Ambulance services are for basic life support (BLS), staffed with non-emergency attendant/drivers, and advance life support (ALS), staffed with paramedics, ALS-trained registered nurse and/or certified emergency medical technician. These services are for VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, including the New York Campus, Brooklyn Campus and the St. Albans Community Living Center. The performance period is for three months with no options. The total estimated value for this proposed action is $588,269.01.

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:

(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

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Revision 03 Date: 02/11/2021

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has an ongoing requirement for 24-hour ambulance services. Per the statute listed above, there is only one responsible source to provide the required services. The incumbent Contractor, Citywide Mobile Response Corp. (1624 Stillwell Ave., Bronx, NY 10461), has assets and procedures on hand to provide services during this three-month period and has continuously provided this service with a satisfactory or better performance. The proposed period of performance under this action is to provide continuous coverage while the long-term procurement action is competed, which is anticipated for performance to begin on July 1, 2021. The demobilization efforts that would be required to transition to another provider by April 1, 2021 would create a chaotic environment. Any other source required to accomplish transitioning efforts would require several weeks of transition to include familiarization, training, and security screening background checks. Accomplishing this transition without sufficient planning and organization significantly places the operational readiness of the medical centers at increased risk and ultimately would likely result in unacceptable harm to the Veterans which the organization services. Citywide Mobile Response Corp. is a responsible source specializing in Ambulance Services and is qualified to meet or exceed the minimum requirements of this acquisition.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: There were no efforts made to solicit other potential sources for this procurement action. A funded requirement has been provided to seek a new long-term award, with market research completed and procurement strategy nearly completed. A competitive solicitation will be accomplished during this extension period, allowing sufficient time to conduct evaluations, pre-award reviews, and phase-in activities to begin services under a new contract on July 1, 2021;

therefore, services shall continue to be provided Citywide Mobile Response Corp., 1624 Stillwell Ave., Bronx, NY 10461.

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

The anticipated costs are considered to be fair and reasonable based on the evaluation of previous contract pricing. Pricing for this three months shall be comparative to the prices established for Option Year 4 under the current contract, VA240-15-D-0014. During the initial evaluation of the request for proposal, all CLINs were evaluated by the Contracting Officer. Pricing for this three-month award is approximately $588,269.01.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons

Market Research Was Not Conducted: Only one source will provide the services as described in above. No market research was done as the agency seeks to temporarily utilize the continued services of the incumbenet Contractor following the expiration of a competitively-awarded contract. To change Contractors at this point would prove detrimental to the agency. For the long-term effort, market research is completed while the procurement is in the pre-solicitation phase; solicitation is anticipated in March 2021.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: None.

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: None.

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Revision 03 Date: 02/11/2021

11. 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: The agency is preparing to compete a longer-term requirement, which has been funded via VA2237 630-21-1-150-0005, with anticipated award during the third quarter of 2021. In the interim, and based on the information above, this extension is necessary. Given the unique circumstances, there are no actions the agency could take to remove barriers to competition.

12. 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.

VA New York Harbor Healthcare System – New York

13. 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.

Contracting Officer VA Network Contracting Office 2 – Montrose

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.

Branch Chief, Services Team 2

NCO 2

No other signatures required.