JA_-_VOV_-__FY_Close_Out_Fielding(CRD).pdf

Justification & Approval for Other Than Full & Open Competition Voice of the Veteran Customer Service Survey – Sole Source

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

This justification and approval is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center located in Frederick, Maryland, on behalf of US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), and Benefits Administration Services (BAS) which administers the Voice of the Veterans (VOV) Customer Satisfaction Survey.

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

The proposed action is for a single award contract to J.D. Powers, to provide the VBA with close out services pertaining to the current VOV Customer Service Survey Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), specifically for the Continues Measurement Satisfaction Research Program. This contract will be for one year from date of award.

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

In 2012, the VBA awarded a single award BPA to J.D. Powers & Associates (JDPA) for the VOV Satisfaction Survey Program. In 2014 BAS launched the VOV Continuous Measurement Satisfaction Research Program to incorporate Veteran and beneficiary feedback into the decision-making process at VBA. Via orders JDPA collects data through the survey instrument which provides VBA with various satisfaction measures on numerous touch points the agency has with Veterans and beneficiaries. The study allows VBA to establish performance metrics, and provide VBA with an overall satisfaction score using the survey information collected. JDPA compares VBA processes against commercial organizations and Government agencies providing similar services and processes; and provide best practices from those organizations on how to increase overall client satisfaction.

The proposed services and tasks within this last contract will allow VBA to close out the continuous measure instrument function and track how various initiatives executed by the Lines of Business (LOBs) impact satisfaction metrics across the organization. The data collected will be analyzed to determine what aspects of the Veterans’ experience is most important in terms of satisfaction and what processes need to be followed and implemented in order to increase satisfaction.

The proposed contract action is for a single-award contract with a total period of performance of initial one year, anticipating start date of September 25, 2017 through September 24, 2018. This will allow adequate time for J.D.Powers (JDP) to close out all Continuous Measurement Satisfaction Research Program functions. The amount of this contract is $1,958,278.08.

4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is found under 41 US Code § 3004(a)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. JDP is the only company that can perform the services of closing out Continuous Measurement Satisfaction Research Program survey instrument. JDPA created the survey instrument developed the statistical analysis of the survey instrument, which provides the statistical validity and reliability of the data already collected.

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

In May 2012, the then Center of Acquisition Innovation (SAC-F) awarded a single-award BPA to the then JDPA (JDP) due to the delay in developing the rec-ompete package, the SAC-F extended the BPA POP for five months from May 1, 2017 to September 31, 2017.

In January 2017, JDPA was bought out by a Delaware Company changed their name from JDPA to JDP.

In May, JDP contacted General Schedule Administration to facilitate the Change-Of Name Agreement in accordance with FAR 42.12.GSA did not complete JDP’s request timely and in May 19, 2017 JDP lost their status as an eligible Government Contractor in System for Award Management (SAM.gov). When JDP tried to correct their SAM.gov status they were informed by the Defense Logistics Agency that they need to contact the Agency that has the largest contract value. JDP then contacted SAC-F in August requesting VA modify the existing BPA to change their name. Upon reviewing the Contractor’s request SAC-F concluded that the Change-Of Name Agreement has to be between JDP and GSA since this BPA was an award off of their GSA Schedule.

However, since JDPA lost their eligibility in SAM.gov for the legal binding entity that has the existing JDPA BPA with SAC-F, the BPA is null and void and cannot be modified nor have orders placed against it. The contract to close out the Continuous Measurement Satisfaction Research Program survey instrument will be award to another subsidiary of

JDPA that is registered in SAM.gov as JDPA, a subsidiary that is able to obtain the proprietary methodology used for the surveys.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

Currently the Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick (SAC-F) is pursuing a competitive set-aside to Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), single-award off of GSA. SAC-F received eight qualified SDVOSB companies, and BAS has just completed their evaluations. Award of the BPA is anticipated for early FY18.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

SAC-F started the order process for the close out efforts when they became informed of the situation. JDP has provided the Government with a quote for this effort. JDP’s price quote is consistent with the BPA pricing and JDP has agreed to use those same pricing for this effort, which was found fair and reasonable by GSA and again through the issuance of the BPA by

VA.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Extensive market research was conducted for the re-compete of the BPA; however, given the program needs JDP is the only source available to close out an already established survey instrument and further market research will not produce different results.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

This is a very unusual situation, one that the SAC_F office has had before and/or could not anticipate this happening to have a mitigation plan in the hopes of remediating risks. We cannot re-compete for new services as the work that is required is to close out the services on an existing customer service survey instrument that was developed by JDP.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

This is not applicable. A notice was published to Federal Business Opportunities on XXX and no responses were received from any interested parties.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

The VOV Customer Satisfaction Survey BPA is close to being awarded. The award will go to a registered SDVOSB through competitive procedures.

12. Technical and Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer’s Representative Date

13. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Date

DAWNA S. QUICK

310997

Digitally signed by DAWNA S. QUICK 310997 DN: dc=gov, dc=va, o=internal, ou=people, 0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=dawna.quick@va.gov, cn=DAWNA S. QUICK 310997 Date: 2017.09.20 15:50:37 -04'00'

Tara C. Flores 898543 Digitally signed by Tara C. Flores 898543 DN: dc=gov, dc=va, o=internal, ou=people, 0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=tara.flores@va.gov, cn=Tara C.

Flores 898543 Date: 2017.09.20 16:31:33 -04'00'

Concurrence

Based on the foregoing justification, I concur with the acquisition of Voice of the Veteran Closeout Survey in the estimated amount of $1,958,278.08, on an other than full and open competition basis, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Competition Advocate Date Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick

Clint Druk 1067224 Digitally signed by Clint Druk 1067224 DN: dc=gov, dc=va, o=internal, ou=people, 0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=clint.druk@va.gov, cn=Clint Druk 1067224 Date: 2017.09.21 11:28:44 -04'00' vacofloret Typewritten Text