Sole Source Justification Training Programs signed.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A) For

Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C24E-23-AP-0384

Contracting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Procurement Office-East R&D 1010 Delafield Road. Bldg. 32, Suite 1A111 Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Requesting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs VA Boston Healthcare System Center for Information Dissemination and Education Resources (CIDER) 150 South Huntington Avenue Boston, MA 02130-4817 2237 Number: 523-23-3-7172-0050

Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed:

The proposed sole source IDIQ contract vehicle is for a five (5) year base firm-fixed price (FFP) effort for VA Fellow’s training and mentoring in various health services research and implementation science programs at Washington University in Saint Louis (WUSTL), including but not limited to Mentored Dissemination and Implementation Training (MeDIT) Program, IS2 NIMH Mentoring Networks for Mental Health Research Education, Implementation Research Institute programs, and other programs and trainings in implementation research, as needed.

The purpose of these trainings is to provide experiential learning, didactic training, faculty mentoring, and support for grant writing for two to four VA Fellows per cohort per project to create a highly impactful way to educate researchers nation-wide about health services research, evidence-based innovations and resources aimed at improving the quality of health care for veterans, and to encourage implementation of evidence-based innovations to improve health care effectiveness and patient outcomes.

Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs:

The proposed action is to provide training and mentoring in various health services research and implementation science programs at Washington University in Saint Louis (WUSTL) to include:

One-week annual on-site training at Washington University in St. Louis for each training program.

Bimonthly, long-distance, mentoring with an expert researcher associated with the Implementation Research Institute (IRI or Institute) to help craft a competitive research proposal in each program.

Travel funds to support each Fellow's visit, up to 3 days, to the site of a funded project, relevant to their research interests.

36C24E-23-AP-0384 Mentored Implementation Science and Research (WUSTL)

d. Training to mentor others in each training program.

e. Training to lead the development of implementation research capacity and other teachings in their home institutions.

f. To enlarge the existing collaborative of scholars by VA fellows, two core faculty members (one existing core faculty member and one core faculty designee who will be mentored by and then replace the existing core faculty during the projects transition) and expert faculty members who will bring expertise in implementation issues specific to veteran’s issues.

g. To support IRI VA fellows’ learning through learning visits to VA or NIH-funded research sites and participation in distance learning activities.

h. To systematically and objectively evaluate these educational training efforts for short term and lasting effects, including fellows’ scholarly publications and successful grant proposals in implementation science. Impacts will occur through scientific publication and submission of competitive NIH grant proposals on mental health and veteran’s issues, plus implementation science questions with potential to improve the delivery of evidence-based care.

This is a five (5) year IDIQ contract.

The period of performance is from 05/01/2023 – 04/30/2028.

Mentors/Trainers for VA Fellows $35,000 F&A (Facilities and Administration) Fees $20,000

Total 1-year Contract Price: $55,000 Total 5-year Contract Price: $275,000

Funding will be issued on separate task orders.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition:

(X ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy

Agency Requirements per 41 USC §3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1;

( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per 41 USC §3304(a)(2) as implemented by FAR 6.302-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per 41 USC §3304(a)(3) as implemented by FAR 6.302-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per 41 USC §3304(a)(4) as implemented by FAR 6.302-4 ( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute per 41 USC §3304(a)(5) as implemented by FAR 6.302-5;

( ) (6) National Security per 41 USC §3304(a)(6) as implemented by FAR 6.302-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per 41 USC §3304(a)(7) as implemented by FAR 6.302-7;

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

Washington University in Saint Louis (WUSTL) is highly specialized and uniquely qualified to provide the needed services and training to VA fellows because of its substantive knowledge of various health services research and implementation of science programs to include Mentored Dissemination and Implementation Training (MeDIT) Program, IS2 NIMH Mentoring Networks for Mental Health Research Education, Implementation Research Institute programs, and other programs and trainings in implementation research, as needed. WUSTL is a non-profit organization and devoted to the promotion of health service research.

The purpose of these trainings is to provide experiential learning, didactic training, faculty mentoring, and support for grant writing for VA Fellows to create a highly impactful way to educate researchers nation-wide about health services research, evidence-based innovations and resources aimed at improving the quality of health care for veterans, and to encourage implementation of evidence-based innovations to improve health care effectiveness and patient outcomes. WUSTL has these unique programs and trainings in place and the VA has used these services in the past. The continuity for VA fellows and staff to continue with similar training from unique qualified experts is critical to the VA mission and improving the quality of health care for veterans.

Accordingly, WUSTLis the only firm capable of providing the services described in Section III above without the Veteran’s Health Administration experiencing substantial duplication of cost that could not be expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable:

A search was conducted in the VA’s VIP database using NAICS code 611310 PSC code U004, and keywords Grant Writing, which resulted in 0 SDVOSB’s and no VOSB available to meet this requirement. A search was also conducted in the Small Business Administration Dynamic Small Business Search (SBA DSBS) using NAICS code 611310 with keywords Training Grant, which resulted in no small businesses available to meet this requirement. A pre-solicitation notice with intent to sole source will be posted on FBO. There are no other potential sources for the trainings offered by WUSTL. Given VA HSR&D’s focus on health services and implementation research, WUSTL is uniquely qualified due to its emphasis on, but not limited to, implementation research, mentored dissemination and implementation training, and partnership in NIMH Mentoring Networks for Mental Health Research Education training, all of which are a part of health services and implementation research. Recommend sole source to Washington University in Saint Louis (WUSTL).

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

WUSTL is a not-for-profit organization. The CO will determine the price fair and reasonable by comparing the proposed pricing to the IGCE. The CO will complete a comparison of proposed prices using the previously awarded contracts 36C24E18D0015and VA241-16-D-0017. These previous contracts have demonstrated that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer anticipates the price noted in #3 above to be fair and reasonable, however, price negotiations may be conducted if the CO determines this is necessary.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

As described in Section 6 above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, was conducted by synopsis of the proposed acquisition, advising industry of the pending acquisition, and soliciting inquiries from interested parties.

The Government’s technical experts conducted market research by reviewing other research companies and universities that hold similar trainings and mentorships on the highly specialized topic. The search concluded that other agencies do not specialize in the required healthcare topics needed and they also do not have the existing research organizational clientele. No other agency has the individual membership program to reach the health services research community.

A search was conducted in the VA’s VIP database using NAICS code 611310 PSC code U004, and keywords Grant Writing, which resulted in 0 SDVOSB’s and no VOSB available to meet this requirement. A search was also conducted in the Small Business Administration Dynamic Small Business Search (SBA DSBS) using NAICS code 611310 with keywords Training Grant, which resulted in no small businesses available to meet this requirement.

There are no other potential sources for the trainings offered by WUSTL. Given VA HSR&D’s focus on health services and implementation research, WUSTL is uniquely qualified due to its emphasis on, but not limited to, implementation research, mentored dissemination and implementation training, and partnership in NIMH Mentoring Networks for Mental Health Research Education training, all of which are a part of health services and implementation research. Recommend sole source to Washington University in Saint Louis (WUSTL).

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

VHA is the country’s largest integrated health care system and as such, it embraces close ties with affiliates, universities, and certain organizations by partnering on common research interests to leverage resources and expand the impact of federal research investments to assist our nations Veterans. WUSTL has demonstrated itself to be uniquely positioned to identify and target priority needs of the nation’s healthcare system for which collaboration among health services research experts can make major contributions. Without access to WUSTLs organizational expertise and unique training and mentoring practices, VA/HSR&D will be unable to fully meet its dissemination requirements and will lose out on vital scientific collaborations that will advance the science that leads to improved healthcare for Veterans.

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition:

Washington University One Brookings Dr Saint Louis, MO 63130-4862 POC: Meryl Kossmeyer 314-747-5394 makossmeyer@wustl.ed

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 Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.

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.

Rama Palriwala

Date

Administrative Officer, CIDER VA Boston Healthcare System

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.

_____________________________ 03/2 /2023 Ann Marie Stewart Date Contracting Officer Regional Procurement Office-East R&D

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.

Seth Custer Date Division Chief Regional Procurement Office - East R&D

ANN MARIE

STEWART

Digitally signed by

ANN MARIE STEWART

Date: 2023.03.28 11:39:35 -04'00'

3/29/2023

Seth J. Custer 430886

Digitally signed by Seth J. Custer 430886 Date: 2023.03.29 07:26:24 -04'00'

VHALEBCUSTES

Typewritten Text 3/29/2023