Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source Award

The South Dakota Army National Guard has issued a Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source Award for virtual mental health crisis services valued at $43,000. This notice, published on August 14, 2025, informs the contracting community that the agency intends to award a firm fixed-price contract to Avel eCare of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, without competitive bidding. The procurement falls under NAICS code 621999 (All Other Miscellaneous Ambulatory Health Care Services) and PSC code Q519 (Behavioral and Mental Health). The agency is utilizing the authority under FAR subpart 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) for purchases not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, which permits sole source awards when only one source is reasonably available due to specific circumstances.

The purpose of this sole source award is to continue the existing pilot program called Advanced Crisis Care Essential to Service Member Support (ACCESS) within the South Dakota National Guard by maintaining the same vendor for consistency. The contract requires the vendor to provide 24/7 telemedicine access to licensed mental health professionals for South Dakota Army National Guard soldiers experiencing mental health crises, with providers licensed in the soldier's state of location and affiliated with Joint Commission accredited care systems. This is explicitly not a request for competitive quotes, and contractors cannot submit proposals for this opportunity. The justification for sole sourcing indicates that market research revealed other potential vendors lacked the necessary current licenses or 24/7 care capabilities required for this specialized service. The contract represents a follow-on award funded by Operations and Maintenance Army funds to ensure continuity of critical mental health support services.