SPE2D1-17-D-0023-092.pdf

1 Page Source Selection Info – See FAR 3.104 & FAR 2.101

DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS

Office of Acquisition and Logistics

National Acquisition Center

P.O. Box 76

Hines, IL 60141

Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity

FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C) – Logical Follow-on

(1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

This Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity is on behalf of VISN 5, VAMC

Washington, DC Healthcare system, and will be executed by, the Veterans Affairs National

Acquisition Center (NAC) located in Hines, Illinois.

(2) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This activity proposes to issue a sole-source delivery order against Indefinite Quantity contract

SPE2D1-17-D-0023 awarded to Siemens to upgrade the Siemens 64 slice CT to a 128 slice CT in support of the VISN 5, VAMC Washington, DC, Healthcare system.

(3) A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs, including the estimated value.

The upgrade includes software and scanning hardware to upgrade the unit from a 64-slice configuration to a 128-slice configuration with dual energy scanning. The current system technology is outdated and cannot manage the newer studies/tests needed to provide the highest level of patient care. This upgrade will provide the station the ability to migrate current patient records into the new system for continual and prompt patient care. Also, with the newer advances in technology, clinical staff will be able to provide quicker analysis of patient images resulting in better, timelier patient care.

The Sinogram Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction (SAFIRE) enhances spatial resolution, reduces image noise and increases sharpness by introducing multiple iteration steps in the reconstruction process. It also enables the highest rotation speed of 0.28 seconds and fastest pitch of up to 1.7cm (depending on table hardware). This enables a volume coverage in z-direction of up to 23 cm/s (depending on table configuration).

The onsite upgrade of SOMATOM Definition AS 64-slice configuration to SOMATOM

Definition AS+ 128-slice configuration with Stellar Detector contains software and extended data acquisition hardware. The slice upgrades provide higher coverage, faster acquisition speed and allows for more clinical capabilities. The Stellar Detector upgrade allows an acquisition with a spatial resolution of up to 0.30 mm in daily clinical routine without compromise in dose.

The expected value of this order is $456,000.00.

(4) An identification of the exception to fair opportunity (see 16.505(b) (2)) and the supporting rationale, including a demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualification or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the exception cited. If the

2 | P a g e contracting officer uses the logical follow-on exception, the rationale shall describe why the relationship between the initial order and the follow-on is logical (e.g. in terms of scope, period of performance, or value).

The order will be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency as a logical follow-on to delivery order V797A14824, in accordance with FAR

16.505(b)(2)(i)(C). The equipment being upgraded was delivered in March 2014 and has not been updated since delivery. Delivery Order 36A79719N0183 will be awarded under

IDIQ contract SPE2D1-17-D-0023.

The OEM is the only vendor capable of performing this upgrade due to the proprietary nature of the items to be procured. The OEM is the only organization capable of owning the trade information about the system and therefore, is the only vendor qualified to provide and perform the upgrade.

(5) A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

All items are currently on Siemens’s IDIQ contract SPE2D1-17-D-0023 and have previously been determined fair and reasonable at time of award.

(6) Any other facts supporting the justification.

An upgrade to the existing system will be less expensive than a full replacement and will minimize system downtime and additional construction costs. Due to the proprietary nature of the equipment the manufacturer is the only company that can provide the added software and hardware that will work with the existing system.

This follow-on order is an upgrade to the existing system, for which there is an existing support contract with the OEM. Furthermore, upgrading the current system is in the best interest of the

VA as it will increase the level of patient care with the smallest impact to budget and timeline.

The only other option besides upgrading the current system would be a full replacement, which is costly and would result in required downtime for delivery, installation and construction.

(7) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the exception to fair opportunity before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

Future requirements will be handled on a case by case basis and all attempts will be made to provide fair opportunity to all schedule holders.

(8) The contracting officer’s certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief.

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By signing this justification, the Contracting Officer hereby certifies that the justifications are accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge.

(9) Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of the technical or requirements personnel (e.g., verifying the Government’s minimum needs or requirements or other rationale for an exception to fair opportunity) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel.

By signing this justification, the requiring activity hereby certifies that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge.

(10) A written determination by the approving official that one of the circumstances in

(b)(2)(i)(A) through (F) of this section applies to the order.

Based on the information contained herein, a determination has been made that this requirement meets the exception at FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C) since it is a logical follow-on to an order already issued under the contract. All awardees were given a fair opportunity to be considered for the original order.

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CERTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION:

Pursuant to FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(B)(9), I certify that any supporting data that is my responsibility and which forms a basis for the justification is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Kathleen M. Grunder Date

VAMC Washington, DC

Facility Biomedical Engineer

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION:

Pursuant to FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(B)(8), I certify that the justification is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

LaTonya L. Whiteside Date

Contracting Officer

VA National Acquisition Center – Hines

High-Tech Medical Equipment Ordering Division

Monica E. Mende Date

VA National Acquisition Center – Hines

Chief, High-Tech Medical Equipment Ordering Division