VA263-12-AP-0788 - Postage - USPS - C20318

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval

For

Other Than Full and Open Competition

as required by FAR 6.302-1, 6.303/304, and 13.501(a)(ii



1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 23, MVAHCS Medical Center, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, M.N. 55417, Network 23 Contracting Office (NCO 23), 708 South Third Street, Suite 200E, Minneapolis, MN 55415; 618-12-2-109-1396



2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: Justification and approval for other than full and open competition for purchasing United States Postage to mail pharmacy requests to patients. The government estimated cost of this proposal is $100,000.00 at the time of award.



3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency's Needs: Purchase postage for outpatient mailing.



4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: 41 USC §253(g), as implemented by FAR 6.302. Far 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Demonstration that the Contractor's Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): a. Only One Responsible Source (FAR 6.302-1) Accordingly, the United States Postal Service is the only firm capable of providing the supplies and services described in Section III above without the Veteran's Health Administration experiencing substantial duplication of cost that could not be expected to be recovered through competition.



6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: Citing the authority of 10 USC 2304(c)(1), and FAR 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." Since it is this survey of the market place that confirms our assumptions regarding the capability of industry to meet our needs, accordingly, market research was conducted by Special Notice of the proposed acquisition on FedBizOpps.



7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: Price is set by the United States Postal Service. This is considered fair and reasonable.



8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: As described in Section VI above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, was conducted by Special Notice of the proposed acquisition, advising industry of the pending acquisition and soliciting inquiries from interested parties.



9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: N/A



10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: None



11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required: None, because the United States Postal Service is the only source for the services and supplies required.



12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the requirement outlined in this justification is a Bona Fide Need of the Department of Veterans Affairs and 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.





_____________________________ ________________________

Deborah Root Date

Pharmacy Technician

MVAHCS



13. Approvals in accordance with FAR 6.304

a. Contracting Officer's Certification: (required) I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.





_____________________________ ________________________

Karen A. Cox Date

CONTRACTING OFFICER

Network 23 Contracting Office (NCO 23)





_____________________________ ________________________

Michael L. Owen Date

Facility Contracting Manager

Network 23 Contracting Office (NCO 23)