AN14--Research Study Coordinator Services 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 firm fixed price contract for a one (1) year period with Brigham & Womens Hospital (BWH), 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, a primary academic affiliate, to provide a uniquely qualified research study coordinator, from Brigham and Womens Hospital to recruit stroke patients for a study titled Developing a rational strategy for visual rehabilitation after cortical lesions . A Brigham and Women s Hospital research study coordinator is needed to review records and screen new patients daily to identify and recruit appropriate patients for the study.

Brigham and Women s Hospital is a large tertiary center for stroke, seeing upwards of 1000 stroke patients per year, which are the type of patient needed for the VA study. Dr. Smirnakis has privileges at Brigham and Women s Hospital, and this is the only hospital where he can obtain approval to approach and evaluate patients for recruitment apart from the VA Hospitals. Furthermore, BWH hospital is located at a short 12-minute walk from the campus of the Jamaica Plains VA Healthcare Center where the study will be performed, making it easy for subjects to travel between institutions to the study location.

Due to the requirement to obtain approvals, proximity, and existing affiliate relationship, BWH is the only vendor practical, without experiencing delays to VA research. Furthermore, since the HSPH is an academic affiliate, the VA is authorized to procure these services pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8153.

Since the intent is to procure this on a sole source basis, no solicitation will be posted to FedBizOps (FBO). The applicable NAICS code is 561110 with a $19.5 Mil size standard. The PSC is AN14. The authority for this action is FAR 6.302.5-1, Authorized or Required by Statute per 41 USC §3304(a)(5).

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.