VA-DOD Warrior Care Coordination Task Force

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION



1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity:



Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), Fredericksburg, VA, on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of the Secretary.



2. Nature and/or Description of Action:



The proposed sole-source action is for an estimated period of performance of not to exceed (NTE) sixty months. A Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a current estimated maximum ceiling value of $3.25 Million for procurement of strategic planning and operational support services for the VA-DoD Interagency Care and Coordination Committee (IC3). This effort is proposed to be awarded to Atlas Research, LLC, 1776 I Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006.



3. Description of Supplies or Services:



IC3 is a new office which will serve as the central entity to monitor all VA/DoD care coordination and case management activities in support of wounded, injured, ill Service members / Veterans and their caregivers/families. IC3 will publish and maintain a comprehensive implementation plan and interagency guidance that will guide the Departments on all aspects of the program. The IC3 will generate report requirements and submit reports on the process, structure and outcomes of the implementation plan as well as the status of care coordination and case management to include lead coordinator and comprehensive plan across the Departments. The IC3 participates in, contributes to, and when applicable, provides coordination for all new joint DoD/VA taskings to existing and new work groups.



The IC3 contractor will guide and assist the IC3 and also the various subordinate Work Groups to accomplish their work - to include transition from Task Force to Committee, to assist in developing the DoD/VA Joint Strategic Plan; monitor and report progress; and facilitate the administrative functions of the Committee. The IC3 contractor will serve as the IC3's lead for all reporting activities, will liaison between the IC3 and IC3 subordinate working groups Health Executive Council Work Groups and other groups as they are formed to maintain awareness of joint efforts, provide guidance on Council requests, and ensure coordination among the groups. The IC3 contractor will provide administrative and operational support to the DoD/VA Health Executive Council.



4. Statutory Authority:



The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. § 253(c)(5) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-5 entitled, "Authorized or required by statute". The applicable statute is Public Law 109-461: "Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006," (specifically, the "Veterans First Contracting Program" outlined in 38 USC § 8127(c)).



5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above:



In accordance with Public Law 109-461, codified at 38 USC § 8127, in order to increase contracting opportunities for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans with service-connected disabilities, contracting officers of the VA are given specific statutory authority to award a contract to a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans using procedures other than competitive procedures (i.e. a "sole source" contract). The contracting officer may do so if "(1) such concern is determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance of such contract opportunity; (2) the anticipated award price of the contract (including options) will exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (as defined in section 4 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403)) but will not exceed $5,000,000; and (3) in the estimation of the contracting officer, the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States". 38 USC § 8127(c)(1)-(3).



6. Efforts to Obtain/Increase Competition:



An effort to sole-source to Atlas Research was publicized on FBO 6 September 2012.

Consistent with the guidelines of the Veterans First Contracting Program, the proposed action described herein has been synopsized on the Government Point of Entry (GPE), Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps or FBO) in accordance with FAR Part 5. In accordance with FAR Subpart 5.207(c)(16)(i), the VA included in this Notice of Proposed Contract Action a statement that "[i]n accordance with FAR 5.207(c)(16)(i) all responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency."



IAW VAAR § 819.7007 Sole source awards to service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns (b), "The contracting officer's determination whether to make a sole source award is a business decision wholly within the discretion of the contracting officer. A determination that only one SDVOSB concern is available to meet the requirement is not required."



7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Pricing:



No award shall be made until the Contracting Officer determines the cost to the Government to be fair and reasonable. This determination will be based on a comparison of current contract pricing, past proposal submissions (if available), other information made available, and an Independent Government Cost Estimate, etc.







8. Market Research:



It was determined overall the NAICS code for this requirement is 561499 (All Other Business Support Services). As part of Market Research we requested a Qualification Statement from Atlas Research supporting the DoD/VA Interagency Care and Coordination Committee. The provided information indicated successful performance in the following areas:



" Report Writing

" Strategic Meeting Facilitation

" Working Group and Logistical Support

" Studies and Analyses

" Plan Development and Implementation

" Metric Development and Monitoring

" Strategic Communications

" Cross-Agency/Program Business Process Integration



This indicates that Atlas has the ability to successfully support the requirement at-hand and is a responsible source with respect to performance of such contract opportunity, as required by 38 USC § 8127(c)(1).

Based on a search of the VetBiz.gov database, the VA has confirmed that Atlas Research, LLC is a verified service-disabled Veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB).



9. Other Facts: None



10. Listing of Interested Sources:



" Atlas Research, LLC, 1776 I Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006

" Caduceus Healthcare Inc, 225 Peachtree Street, 5th Floor, Suite #585 Atlanta, GA

" Harrland Healthcare Consulting, L.L.C., 5330 Griggs Rd Ste A113 Houston, TX 77021-3755

" High Impact Consulting LLC, 1009 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 283055315

" Potomac Healthcare Solutions, LLC, 1549 Old Bridge Rd. STE 201, Woodbridge VA 22192

" Strategic Business Systems, Inc., 3000 Gulf To Bay Blvd Ste 600 Clearwater, FL 33759-4304

" Z-Tech Solutions, LLC, 20813 Cross Timber Dr Ashburn, VA 20147-4496



11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition:



Future acquisitions for this requirement will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Toward the expiration of this contract, consideration will be given as to whether the future acquisition should be competitive.

12. Certifications:



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.





Date: _09/17/2012___ Signature: //signed//____________ __________

Mary Carstensen

Senior Advisor to the Secretary



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 FAR Subpart 15.4 (Contract Pricing).



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





Date: _09/17/2012___ Signature: //signed//_________________________

Patrick D. McKeown

Contracting Officer

Strategic Acquisition Center



Legal Sufficiency Certification: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition and deem it legally sufficient.





Date: _09/17/2012____ Signature: //signed//__________________________

Bridget E. Grant

Office of General Counsel



Competition Advocate and/or HCA: In my role as Executive Director of the Office of Acquisition Operations, Competition Advocate, and Head of Contracting Authority; and based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve this acquisition on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the statutory authority cited in paragraph 4 above, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the property and services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.







Date: _09/19/2012____ Signature: //signed//_______________________

Iris B. Cooper

Executive Director/Competition Advocate

Office of Acquisition Operations

NOTICE OF PROPOSED CONTRACT ACTION: This notice is provided for information purposes only. In accordance with the Veterans First Contracting Program and the Authority under 38 USC 8127-8128 (Sections 502 and 503 of Public Law (P.L.) 109-461), FAR Part 6.302-5(b)(6), and VAAR 819.7007, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), 10300 Spotsylvania Ave Suite 400, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 intends to solicit and award a sole-source contract to a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) for strategic planning services. The current anticipated period of performance for the awarded contract is September 28, 2012 through September 27, 2013. Options and/or extensions are TBD at this time.



This Notice of Intent is not a solicitation nor is request for competitive offers, quotations, or proposals. This notice does not constitute a commitment or an obligation by the Government. No solicitation package is available. In accordance with FAR 5.207(c)(16)(i) all responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.



The Government intends to negotiate a sole-source Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contract with Atlas Research, LLC, 1776 I Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006.