Redacted SSJ.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT (OPEN MARKET OR GSA)

UNDER $350,000

Sole source acquisitions may be used on a limited basis and only when the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)/Program Official has provided sufficient justification and the Contracting Officer has determined that the circumstances warrant such action. The content for a justification must contain detailed facts and rationale to justify the sole source acquisition. Soliciting from a single source must be done in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b) or 8.405-6. At a minimum, the following information must be included:

Identification of Program Office, Contracting Activity, and Proposed Requirement, Justification and Program Office Certification:

A. Program Office:

Chronic Viral Diseases Branch, DHCPP, NCEZID Roybal Bldg 24, Room 12-110, Mailstop H24-12 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, GA 30329

B. Contracting Activity:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Financial Resources Acquisition Branch II

C. Identification of Requirement:

1. Nature of Action to be Approved by Contracting Officer:

a. Sole source acquisition of: The purpose of this procurement is to build on the ongoing work for online medical education services from Family Health Centers of San Diego, Inc. This follow-on contract will provide CDC with up to date continuing medical educational programs in two formats that will reach more primary health care providers in FQHCs and other primary care settings, to build their clinical capacity to care for patients with infection-associated chronic conditions, and thereby increase access to quality care informed by scientific advances, minimize unnecessary overuse of specialty care, and reduce patient burden.

b. Procurement Request (PR) Number (if available): Click here to enter text.

2. Proposed Vendor and Estimated Procurement Amount (if available):

a. Proposed Vendor:

Family Health Centers of San Diego, Inc.

Rev. 5/14/19

b. Estimated Procurement Amount: REDACTED

3. Is the requirement on GSA Schedule? Yes No

If yes, provide schedule number: Click here to enter text.

D. Justification:

1. The justification for this non-competitive action is: (NOTE: Must select only ONE of the listed justifications for other than full and open competition and fully support the justification in the following paragraphs. Please delete this note prior to submitting the justification.)

In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), “only one source [is] reasonably available” which states that, “For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (i) 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 (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization). (ii) Where a single source is identified to provide a portion of a purchase because that portion of the purchase specifies a particular brand-name item, the documentation in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section only applies to the portion of the purchase requiring brand-name item. The documentation should state it covers only the portion of the acquisition which is brand- name.”

Urgency

Exclusive licensing agreements/Proprietary data

Brand name required

Industrial mobilization

Other (e.g., compatibility, space issues, continuity, compatibility, etc.)

In accordance with FAR 8.405-6 “Limiting Sources” which states that, “the only circumstances that may justify the action are – (A) An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays; (B) Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized; or (C) In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-up to an original Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original BPA must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.”

Urgency

Only One Source

Logical Follow Up

Brand name required

2. Other facts supporting sole source procurement:

a. What can this product/service do that other products/services cannot do?

From January 2022 to October 2024, the Family Health Centers of San Diego, Inc. implemented a pilot project to provide interactive medical education and mentoring on infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses (IACCI), through videoconferencing, for primary care providers in one Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). During this time this vendor also coordinated webinars and on-demand short courses on this topic for primary care providers nationwide. Under the current contract, the Family Health Centers of San Diego expanded the tele-mentoring services to primary care providers in settings beyond the one FQHC beginning in November 2024. This is the only online learning program in the U.S. that covers IACCI other than Long COVID in educational programs targeting primary care providers working in safety net care settings. Under the current contract, the Family Health Centers of San Diego has continued to provided webinars and a short-course for primary care providers across the U.S., irrespective of health care setting. These educational services address primary care providers’ needs for information, as ascertained through the mentoring program. The main objective of this procurement is to extend the reach of these educational services to primary care providers, especially providers working in FQHCs and other safety net care settings. Due to the rapid evolution of knowledge and clinical practice in this topic area, the curriculum and many of the educational materials that the Family Health Centers of San Diego has already developed are already out of date. The Family Health Centers of San Diego is poised to continue to update the curriculum and materials because of its ongoing involvement in delivering educational programs in this topic area. Other vendors would have to first assess training needs and become familiar with current clinical practice regarding IACCI and the supporting evidence base to be capable of providing educational programs informed by the latest clinical advances, as required. In addition, other vendors would have to build the infrastructure necessary for successful program delivery, e.g., relationships with faculty and academic medical centers conducting the latest clinical research, and mechanisms for recruiting participants, that Family Health Centers of San Diego has already established. Contracting with another vendor would thus duplicate cost,and would delay deliverables. In addition, experience with the prior contract indicates that the vendor must be a Federally Qualified Health Center to work effectively to meet the educational needs of providers in these Centers and other safety net care settings, which is a primary focus of this acquisition.

b. What other products/services were considered and why did they not meet the need?

Consultants from the TMF Health Quality Institute (Our Work (tmf.org) have worked with health care providers in all settings of care to navigate the rules and requirements of various federal quality improvement programs, but have not provided education on IACC. The University of New Mexico ECHO Institute established training centers that provided small-group training and mentorship to 9,058 nursing homes in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for the AHRQ ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 ACTION Network. The ECHO Institute has trained other groups to implement education and mentoring through a tested videoconferencing platform but has relied on partner clinical facilities to develop the curriculum and content to address health care provider training needs. Neither of these vendors has the capacity to meet the requirements of this procurement upon award.

Therefore, contracting with either of them would duplicate cost and lead to unnecessary delays. However, if the requirements of this procurement change, these vendors could be viable alternatives.

3. Program Office efforts to seek potential offerors:

Conducted internet search of vendors who coordinate virtual health care provider education on IACC for the government and for private foundations

E. Program Office Certification:

I have reviewed this sole source justification and certify the justification is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Center/Institute/Office COR/Program Official Name/Title: NCEZID/DHCPP/CVDB/ Joanna Regan/Technical Monitor Niyai Johnson, COR

Center/Institute/Office COR/Program Official Signature:

Certification Date: May 1, 2026

F. Contracting Office Certification:

I have fully relied on the information provided herein and hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Contracting Officer Name: Click here to enter text.

Contracting Officer Signature:

Certification Date: Click here to enter a date.