VISN17 IDIQ Eyeglass Services (NTX, CTX, STX, VCB) - Emergency

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION





1. Contracting Activity: The agency responsible for this acquisition is: The Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 17, 2002 Scott Blvd., Temple, TX 76504. The Contracting Officer for this procurement is Lindsey Hooge. The Department of Veteran Affairs proposes to enter into a contract on the basis of other than full and open competition for Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 17, North Texas Health Care System, Central Texas Health Care System, South Texas Health Care System and Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System.



2. Nature and/or Description of Action Being Processed: This is a request for other than full and open competition. The proposed action is for emergency continuation of VISN 17 Eyeglass IDIQ Contract for North Texas Health Care System, Central Texas Health Care System, South Texas Health Care System and Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System. The Prosthetics Sensory Aid Program (PSAS) for VISN 17 has a continuing need to furnish eye exams and eyeglasses to those Veterans that require them and are eligible for assistance. Network Contracting Office (NCO) 17 intends to negotiate and award a bridge contract on a sole source basis to the incumbent contract holder PDS Consultants, 22 Rainbow Trail, Sparta, NJ 07871.



3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency s Needs: The VISN 17 Prosthetics Sensory Aid Program (PSAS) has a request for emergency VISN 17 Eyeglass IDIQ Contract for North Texas Health Care System, Central Texas Health Care System, South Texas Health Care System and Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System. The Prosthetics Sensory Aid Program (PSAS) for VISN 17 has a continuing need to furnish eye exams and eyeglasses to those Veterans that require them and are eligible for assistance. The Contract was executed on August 10, 2017, under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 Unusual and Compelling Urgency. The period of performance was 08/10/2017 02/09/2018. The total value of the action is $700,000.00.



4. Statutory Authority Premitting Other than Full and Open Competition: 41 USC §253(c) (1), as implemented by FAR 6.302.1



( ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy

Agency Requirements per FAR 6.302-1;

(X) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per FAR 6.302-2;

( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability

or Expert Services per FAR 6.302-3;

( ) (4) International Agreement per FAR 6.302-4

( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute FAR 6.302-5;

( ) (6) National Security per FAR 6.302-6;

( ) (7) Public Interest per FAR 6.302-7;



5. Demonstration that the Contractor s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): PDS Consultants has been providing VISN 17 Eyeglass IDIQ Contract for North Texas Health Care System, Central Texas Health Care System, South Texas Health Care System and Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System under VA257-16-C-0127, which was originally awarded on July 29, 2016. The Prosthetics Sensory Aid Program (PSAS) for VISN 17 has a continuing need to furnish eye exams and eyeglasses to those Veterans that require them and are eligible for assistance. As such, PDS Consultants is already onsite, with stock and employees that have received their background investigations and have access to VA Systems in order to provide eyeglasses to Veterans. PDS Consultants, has the required technicians and the necessary eyeglasses and lenses required to complete this requirement and continue services to Veterans.



6. Description of Efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: Due to the urgency of this requirement, a synopsis was not posted to FedBizOpps.gov. FAR 5.202 (a) (2) allows exceptions to the requirement of publicizing proposed contract actions due to unusual and compelling urgency circumstances.



7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: In accordance with FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(v) the Contracting Officer shall determine pricing fair and reasonable based on a comparison to the Independent Government estimate. The requirements of FAR 15.406-2, Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data are not applicable to this acquisition.



8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: The services are commercial and sold within the market. Market research was conducted by the using service to determine which contractor was best suited to meet the agency s needs. PDS Consultants has been providing these services on-site at VA Facilities since July 2016. The purpose of this emergency contract is to allow time for a new solicitation to be posted for a competitive procurement without a lapse in this integral service to Veterans. PDS Consultants has the necessary staff already on-site, with PIC cards and access to VA systems (as required) to perform these services. Due to the emergency nature of this requirement, the service is only available via the open market.



9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: Not Applicable.



10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: There are no other sources but the proposed.



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: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the marketplace that would enable future actions to be competed.