SSJ Boiler Plant Safety Devices.pdf

Last Updated: 02/01/22

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL

ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.5

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C241-22-AP-2216, Emergency Repairs Boiler Plant Safety Devices

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 01, Stations 689 & 689A4, Facilities Management Service (138) VA Medical Center, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516 and VA Medical VACT Medical Center, 555 Willard Avenue, Newington, CT 06111.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed:

The justification is to support the emergency repairs and corrections of multiple safety devices for the West Haven and Newington Boiler Plants. Multiple safety device failures on boilers and safety related concerns at each facility have been identified and require immediate correction. The associated work requires a qualified company capable of providing the services to perform the requirements for the services. The contract shall be firm-fixed contract.

Estimated value - $250,995.00

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

Destination Zero, LLC is a certified company that can provide all supportive services to complete the required repairs and corrections for the safety device failures. The company is able to correct the safety requirements with an emergent response and can address the items identified for repairs within 30-60 days of award, with only a few items taking longer due to overall market conditions indicating longer lead times (i.e., Feed water valve-WH-est 75-90 days; monitoring system- Newington-120-180 days). The estimated value of the services also includes the Newington Monitoring system, to replace an antiquated, almost non-existent, mechanical monitoring/recording system. The new monitoring system shall be a modern digital recording system that will supply current parameters and provide a history of plant trends and operational issues to meet compliance.

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:

( ) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

( X ) 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

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

Safety violations within the boiler plants at both facilities poses a high risk of catastrophic failure which can be life threatening. Having a company with experience, technical safety skills and knowledge of both Boiler Plants can reduce potential risks. Recent inspections identifying the failures places more risk with urgency for immediate correction for the devices to pass retesting after repairs with documentation, so the facilities are not in violation of operational regulations for these devices. The failures are posing an unsafe environment for contractors, staff and employees that work within the area of the boiler systems at both locations.

Destination Zero, LLC has familiarity working at both Boiler Plants in accordance with policies and procedures to correct safety violations within a timely manner and less risk having the technical skills to provide a safe environment for everyone working in and nearby the boiler systems.

Effectively correcting these violations coherently reduces risks that impact operations of the facilities and hospitals and meets regulatory compliance. The contractor has experience working with Lock out, tag out (LOTO) safety procedures to ensure proper shut offs when needed.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: Due to the high level of safety concerns and exposure to risks of a catastrophic event, it is not in the best interest to solicit the work requirements from potential sources at this time. Life/Safety measures and protocols are in the highest priority, therefore, the time and effort to review offers from solicitating the requirement to seek qualifications for potential sources increases the impact of risks identified in this document and prolongs the repairs and corrections.

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

Fair and reasonable cost will be determined by the CO based on the price being acceptable to both the agency and contractor considering all extenuating circumstances such as market conditions, location, inflation, and comparison with prices previously paid, and prices charged for functionality of similar items.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Performing the time to conduct market research for the services to repair and correct deficiencies not in compliance for life/safety measures increases the risks as described in this document for a catastrophic event which has already occurred in one Boiler Plant at the West Haven facility. Therefore, all measures are being taken to have the repairs and corrections performed timely.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: The Boiler Plants are both facilities requiring the related work for repairs and corrections and are not to be performed separately, having (1) one contractor with the qualifications, skills, experience, and availability provides the services required to be received in a timely manner minimizing risks for further failure.

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: The urgent work required is not being solicited based on information provided in this document for life/safety measures and precautions.

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: Facilities Management Service continues to monitor industry developments in boiler plants for safety devices and other associated work needed within their boiler systems. Should there be services in the future not of a critical and urgent and compelling need, competition can be sought for acquisitions with related services.

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.

Name: Joseph Simonetta Date Title: Acting Asst FMS Chief Facility: Connecticut Health Care

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.

Name Date Title Facility

JOSEPH D. SIMONETTA 133640 Digitally signed by JOSEPH D. SIMONETTA 133640 Date: 2022.04.27 16:35:01 -04'00'

David C.

Gabrysiak 272636

Digitally signed by David C.

Gabrysiak 272636 Date: 2022.04.28 08:00:22 -04'00'