29700 - PrivPlus Renewal

Added: Aug 02, 2016 2:25 pm JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION



1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Office of Acquisition Operations

Technology Acquisition Center

260 Industrial Way West

Eatontown, NJ 07724



2. Description of Action: The proposed action is for a firm-fixed-price contract, issued on a sole source basis to Vendor Credentialing Service, LLC, located at 124 1st Avenue South, Suite 200, Franklin, Tennessee 37067.



3. Description of Supplies or Services: VA, Office of Information and Technology, Service Delivery and Engineering, Field Operations Region 3 (Veteran Integrated Service Networks [VISNs] 6 through 10) requires renewal of 43 existing brand name PrivPlus software licenses currently being used by these VISN Credentialing and Human Resource departments across 41 VA facilities. PrivPlus software is a supplemental product to VetPro, the national credentialing software system utilized by VA. PrivPlus credentialing software allows healthcare providers' clinical privileges and pertinent information (including photograph of provider) to be viewed electronically by Veteran patients investigating provider options. The contractor shall provide software renewals and updates via virtual download capabilities. The contractor shall also provide any training and technical support as required via helpdesk. The period of performance shall be 12 months from August 7, 2016 to August 6, 2017.



4. Statutory Authority: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.3304(a)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 entitled, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements."



5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Vendor Credentialing Service is the sole provider for PrivPlus software and products that supplement the credentialing software currently being used by VA facilities across the country as required by VA Central Office. PrivPlus has an import function that can import data directly from VetPro into PrivPlus and provide reporting capabilities that are vital to day to day operations. For example, PrivPlus runs a license expiration report, an integral feature required by the Credentialing department. Other reports unique to PrivPlus include Committee Attendance, Basic Life Support/Advanced Cardio Life Support, and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation/Focus Professional Practice Evaluation. Additionally, PrivPlus has incorporated many VA Forms into its program and will print the standard VA Report of Contact, Board Actions Forms, Request for Military Records, and other VA specific forms. PrivPlus is the only product that meets VA's need by allowing a provider's clinical privileges and/or other pertinent information (including photograph of provider) to be viewed electronically and on the VA Intranet, on a need to know basis by location, provider, service, or section. The flexibility of PrivPlus allows programs to run on local Personal Computers or facility networks with the ability to verify license and board certifications by entering a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) address in the License Agency and Board Master List in the PrivPlus system. By utilizing the URL address through PrivPlus, the appropriate individual's license/board standing is immediately accessed, allowing "real time" information to be verified. Images of verification can also be captured and stored in PrivPlus. There is no other brand name software that can meet all of VA's needs and be interoperable and compatible with the VetPro credentialing software database. Failure to acquire PrivPlus licenses could pose a risk to ensuring timely physician license verification and accurate reporting.



6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in section 8 of this document. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government's requirements. There is no competition anticipated for this acquisition. Procurement data does not include any unnecessary requirements that may inhibit competition.



7. Actions to Increase Competition: In order to remove or overcome barriers to competition in future acquisitions for this requirement, VA will continue to conduct additional market research so that other software solutions can be considered.



8. Market Research: Market research efforts were conducted by VA subject matter experts in February 2016. A Request for Information (RFI) was issued via the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) to determine if any other credentialing software besides PrivPlus is available in the market place that could meet the Government's technical requirements. Responses were received from two sources and evaluated by VA's technical experts. One responding source, Insight Public Sector Inc., did not provide adequate documentation to demonstrate it had a product that could meet the Government requirements. The second responding source, Transource Computers offered license verification capabilities, as well as indicating it could track aspects of the credentialing process; however, the response did not confirm that its software could run on local computers or networks, nor provide specific reporting capabilities that are interoperable with the existing VA VetPro software.



In furtherance of the aforementioned market research the Contract Specialist contacted Vendor Credentialing Service, LLC in April 2016. Vendor Credentialing Service informed the Contract Specialist that it acquired CBR Associates, who was the previous sole provider of PrivPlus software in May 2015. Moreover, Vendor Credentialing Service informed the Contract Specialist that it is now the sole provider of all PrivPlus products and there are no other authorized resellers who can provide the required software renewals and support. The Contract Specialist reviewed existing contract vehicles, to include the NASA SEWP V GWAC and General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), to identify available sources as resellers of the required PrivPlus software renewals. These reviews revealed that PrivPlus software and renewals are not available from any source other than Vendor Credentialing Service, and that Vendor Credentialing Service is not a holder of a NASA SEWP V GWAC, GSA FSS contract or any other existing contract vehicles available for ordering by Government agencies.



9. Other Facts: None.

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10. Technical and Requirements Certification. I certify 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.



Preparer



Name: Suzanne Fulmer Date: ___________________________



Title: R3 OI&T Management Analyst Signature: ________________________



11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination. I hereby determine that the anticipated price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on price analysis of the successful quote against the Independent Government Cost Estimate.



Name: Debra G. Clayton Date: ___________________________



Title: Procuring Contracting Officer Signature: ________________________



12. Procuring Contracting Officer Certification. I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. As this contract action does not exceed $700,000, the certification below required by FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(C)(1) serves as approval.



Name: Debra G. Clayton Date: ___________________________



Title: Procuring Contracting Officer Signature: ________________________