AN13--Research Services Affiliate HERL Tech Transfer Assisted Program Pre-Solicitation Notice with Intent to sole Source

Pre-Solicitation Notice for notice of intent to award a sole source contract. This is not a solicitation. The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to negotiate a sole source contract for a five (5) year period with the University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 to provide research support for the center of Wheelchairs and Assistive Robotics Engineering (WARE) and Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) a rehabilitation research and development (RR&D) Center of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System to continuously improve the mobility and function of people with disabilities through advanced engineering in clinical research and medical rehabilitation. This acquisition is a continuation of services with the University of Pittsburgh, an affiliated practice group with the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Requirements for these positions would be specific education, training, and work experience in the fields of Rehabilitation Engineering, Assistive Technology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and/or assistive robotics engineering. The level of education required includes a bachelors, masters level, PhD level, related degrees in a Rehabilitation-related field such as Rehabilitation Science/Engineering, Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physical, Occupational, or Exercise Science Therapy, or business related that has allowed them to participate in research related activities, and training personnel and recruitment of personnel for research projects. The University of Pittsburgh Center, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, has staff positions that focus on research that is within the mission of the VA WARE/HERL Center.

The Human Engineering Research Lab (HERL), VA Center of Excellence is the only center of its kind in the United States. HERL is a collaboration of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Pittsburgh. The University of Pittsburgh is Pittsburgh VA s primary academic educational affiliate. The high level of specialized research involved requires an ongoing collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh to provide quality study analysis, which provides veterans with the best possible care. The University has the required substantive knowledge of Wheelchairs and Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Engineering Research, and assistive robotics engineering particularly within the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and is necessary for the continuation of the WARE/HERL center s research projects. In accordance with FAR Subpart 6.302-5, the proposed acquisition strategy is consistent with legal precedence for sole sourcing research related affiliate contracts in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 8153. 38 U.S.C. 8153(a)(3)(a) states, if the health-care resource required is a commercial service, the use of medical equipment or space, or research, and is to be acquired from an institution affiliated with the Department in accordance with section 7302 of this title, including medical practice groups and other entities associated with affiliated institutions, blood banks, organ banks, or research centers, the Secretary may make arrangements for acquisition of the resource without regard to any law or regulation (including any Executive order, circular, or other administrative policy) that would otherwise require the use of competitive procedures for acquiring the resource.

This is a continuation of services with the University of Pittsburgh that provides critical research support to the WARE/HERL center. The experience and knowledge that the University brings is highly specialized in facilitating the tasks required. Collaboration in technology leads to faster innovation and designs resulting in solutions that improve lives.

The University of Pittsburgh is the only vendor capable of providing the services described without the Veteran s Health Administration experiencing unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements. Because of the high level of specialized research involved, the ongoing collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh is vital to ensure consistency of the various on-going research projects.

Since the intent is to procure this on a sole source basis, no solicitation will be posted to Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov. The applicable NAICS code is 541720 with a $20 MIL size standard. The PSC is AN13. The authority for this action is FAR 6.302.5 Authorized or Required by Statute. Interested persons may contact the Contracting Officer via email at annmarie.stewart@va.gov regarding this procurement. The determination to conduct a competitive procurement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer.