Sole Source Justification.pdf

Public Health Service

Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center 10 Center Drive, MSC 1151 Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center Bethesda, MD 20892-1151

Date: February 10, 2026

From: Teresa McDivitt, Program Director, Staffing & Workforce Planning Office NIH CC Nursing Department

Subject: Sole Source Justification and Approval: Nursing Engagement Survey / Nursing Satisfaction Survey

To: NIH Clinical Center Contracting Officer

1. Agency Identification National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Nursing Department 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 AO: Amber Scott, MHA Amber.scott@nih.gov Phone: 301-767-7393

2. Contracting Activity NIH Clinical Center Nursing Department Office of purchasing and Contracts 6707 Democracy Blvd Bethesda, MD 20892

3. Nature and Description of Acquisition Being Approved

The NIH Clinical Center Nursing Department is seeking approval to procure the Press-Ganey Nursing Excellence Survey, a 31-item product that is approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and whose survey questions are mapped to the seven (7) required Magnet categories.

In 2024, the NIH Clinical Center was awarded Magnet® with Distinction by the ANCC, a top-tier designation received by only the top 1 percent of hospitals in the United States. This elite designation signals to our current and future scientific investigators, patients/families, and employees the NIH Clinical Center is committed to only the highest quality clinical research care and thus, this designation becomes an important recruitment tool. The Magnet® with Distinction designation, however, is not a permanent status. Documentation of sustained outperformance of clinical and operational metrics must be submitted at least every 4 years to the ANCC including the results of an annual nursing excellence survey administered to eligible nursing staff.

Nursing excellence surveys gather nurses� perceptions about their work environment and the resources provided by the hospital in support of high quality and safe patient care; survey data are used by hospitals to drive targeted improvements in the working environment.

The NIH Clinical Center Nursing Department has subscribed to the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators® (NDNQI®) since approximately 2008. NDNQI was first established by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and offers a comprehensive database that collects and analyzes nurse sensitive data (e.g., clinical outcomes, operational metrics, and nurses� perceptions about their work environment). The annual NDNQI subscription supports the ability to administer the annual NDNQI RN Survey. The NIH CC Nursing Department has administered the Survey annually and in 2024, submitted survey results which contributed to the hospital�s Magnet with Distinction designation.

In 2025, it was determined the demographic data collected by RN Survey respondents were no longer in alignment with federal guidelines. NDNQI advised the demographic questions could not be suppressed. An alternative Nurse Satisfaction Survey was sought that minimally included the following critical requirements:

A nursing survey that meets the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program® requirements as required and provides robust, benchmarkable data for analysis.

A nursing survey whose demographic questions can be suppressed as required by the federal government but do not impact the validity or reliability of the required seven (7) survey categories.

Press Ganey is a U.S.-based healthcare performance improvement company known for measuring patient experience, employee engagement, and clinical quality. Two points about Press-Ganey are noteworthy:

Since 2022, Press-Ganey has administered a patient experience survey to registered NIH Clinical Center patients.

In 2014, Press Ganey Associates acquired the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) from the ANA, and although the NDNQI RN Survey continues to be offered under Press Ganey, the company also offers a separate nursing engagement survey which the NIH CCND would like to procure.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES AND SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY�S NEEDS

The Press-Ganey Nursing Excellence Survey is a 31-item survey that is approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and whose survey questions are mapped to the seven (7) required Magnet categories. Critically, demographic questions that are not in alignment with federal guidelines can be suppressed without impacting the reliability and validity of the scoring criteria. The survey is a web-based product. Survey results can be returned in 2-3 weeks after the survey closes; data are nationally benchmarked and are visually graphed in accordance with ANCC requirements. The Press-Ganey Nursing Excellence Survey is not included in the annual NDNQI subscription and will be an additional fee. The NIH Clinical Center Nursing Department must survey eligible nursing staff and submit results no later than November 2026.

4. IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. X FAR 13.106-1(b) (1):

For purchases not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT), contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstance of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g.

urgency, inclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization).

5. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR�S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION

REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED

Between September and November 2025, the NIH Clinical Center Nursing Department Program Director for Nursing Professional Development conducted market research with three vendors. All vendors were able to suppress undesirable demographic questions; however, Press Ganey offered significantly more competitive pricing. In addition, the Clinical Center has an established relationship with Press Ganey. Use of the Press-Ganey product was found to reduce survey completion time from approximately 30 minutes to 10 minutes, and survey results available to the hospital within 2�3 weeks. Given that the NIH CC Nursing Department must survey eligible nursing staff and submit results no later than November 2026, it is imperative this work is started with a known vendor who understands the complexities of this organization and will assist in meeting the critical deadlines.

6. A DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS

PRACTIABLE

7. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE

Based on market research of products with similar functionality, this cost is reasonable.

8. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS OR STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET

RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED

The Program Director, Nursing Professional Practice and two staff members met virtually with representative(s) from Press-Ganey, Qualtrics, and Perceptyx with the sole intent of conducting market research using a structured interview. Results were summarized in a comparison table. From that review and comparison, Press-Ganey was found to be the only vendor who provided a survey product that met critical specifications and was competitively priced.

9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.

None

10. LISTING OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION.

None

11. STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION

BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE REQUIRED SUPPLIES OR SERVICES.

None

12. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER/PROGRAM OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Teresa McDivitt, Program Director NIH Clinical Center Nursing Department, Staffing & Workforce Planning 10 Center Drive Bldg. 10/1-5664 Bethesda, MD 20892 Email: Teresa.mcDivitt@nih.gov Phone: 301-451-1256

13. CONTRACTING OFFICER�S CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Susan Nsangou

NIH Clinical Center Contracting Officer 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1000A Bethesda, MD 20817 Email: susan.nsangou@nih.gov