SSJ - Helena CBOC_Redacted.pdf

VHAPG Part 813.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures for Certain Commercial Items Attachment 1: Request for Sole Source Justification >SAT-$7.5M under FAR 13.5

Effective Date: 02/01/2022 Page 1 of 4

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL

ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.5

Acquisition Plan Action ID:

1. Contracting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 9 – Network Contracting Office (NCO) 9 Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center 2237 No.

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

This procurement action is for a new interim Firm-Fixed-Price sole source contract for Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Services located in Helena, Arkansas, in accordance with FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items and specifically FAR 13.501 Special Documentation Requirements, where acquisitions conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6, but still require a justification using the format of FAR 6.303-2. The proposed period of performance is 10-01-2024 to 03-31-2025, with one

(1) six month option period, to be exercised at the Government’s discretion. The estimated cost for this proposed action is .

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

The Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center has a continued need to maintain primary care and mental health care services to veterans who reside in the rural catchment of Helena, Arkansas. The current long-term, 10-year contract has been competed and awarded, but is currently pending corrective action from a dismissed protest and all further activity related to the long-term procurement is suspended until the corrective action is complete. This interim, short-term contract will allow for continuity of patient care at the Helena CBOC until the protest is resolved.

LI Description

0001AA Primary Care Services 0001AB Mental Health Care Services

1001AA Primary Care Services 1001AB Mental Health Care Services

Helena CBOC Services Base POP: 10-01-20

Helena CBOC Services Option 1 POP: 04-0

Effective Date: 02/01/2022 Page 2 of 4

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:

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

( ) 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):

Operation of a CBOC is considered a highly specialized service. The incumbent Contractor, , currently operates the Helena CBOC under Contract No. . The fully-operational CBOC is staffed with providers and support personnel who are trained, credentialed, possess active Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards, and have completed Office of Personnel Management (OPM) background investigations through the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center. The CBOC facility is leased and managed by the incumbent Contractor, including all furniture, furnishing, and equipment. It would take another Contractor months to obtain, build out, and furnish a suitable site. Transitioning these services to any other Contractor effective 10-01-2024 would result in unacceptable delays, as hiring and onboarding providers and support staff can take upwards of 8 weeks due to the credentialing and background investigation process. Although the current contract expires 09-30-2024, the Contractor is willing and available to continue providing services effective 10- 01-2024 under an interim contract, ensuring continuity of patient care.

Until corrective action is completed in response to the long-term awarded contract’s protest, is the only Contractor that contains the unique qualifications in order to support the justification for awarding a sole source contract effective 10-01-2024, pursuant to 41 USC § 3304(a)(2) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

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

The long-term contract was solicited via Solicitation No. 36C24923R0047, posted open market on 08- 03-2023 via Contract Opportunities, allowing for maximum participation.

Effective Date: 02/01/2022 Page 3 of 4

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

An estimated cost to the Government was derived from the following pricing tools:

a. Current and historical contract pricing for Helena CBOC Services

b. Current pricing for similar-sized CBOCs in the local area; specifically, CBOC services contracts established in VISN 9

c. Medical Sharing Office CBOC Estimating Tool

d. Consumer Price Index (CPI) Escalation (2024) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

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, the long-term contract was solicited via Solicitation No.

36C24923R0047, posted open market on 08-03-2023 via Contract Opportunities, allowing for maximum competition.

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

None.

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

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 long-term requirement has been competed and awarded, thus barriers for competition have been removed.