NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: The Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 4, 1700 South Lincoln Avenue, Lebanon, PA 17042, intends to award a sole source Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity - Requirements Contract to the University of Pittsburgh for the provisions of RIVR Program support at multiple VA Medical Center (VAMC) within the continental United States. This contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit from only one source under the authority of FAR 6.3, Other Than Full and Open Competition. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 541715 with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTATIONS. Responsible sources may identify their interest by submitting capability information by 3:00 P.M., EST, on Monday, March 30, 2020, in order to establish sources that meet this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Government will not be responsible for any costs associated with the preparation of responses to this notification. All inquiries and submittals must be sent via email to Daniel Johnson, Contract Specialist, at
[email protected]. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification and Approval (J&A) For Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT) Acquisition Plan Action ID:_***REDACTED***_ Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 04, Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: This requirement is for the purchase of specialized services for the Reasearch to Impact for Veteran s program (RIVR). This is a new sole source, Indefinite Delivery contract vehicle that is to be established to acquire services from the University of Pittsburgh for research and development. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency s Needs: The anticipated contract is to acquire specialized research and development engineering and clinical services through the department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology of the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the contract services are required to complete the Center of Innovation for Complex Healthcare project, Data to Improve Veterans Outcomes in spinal cord injury and disorders. The mission of the VA is to discover knowledge and create innovations that advance health care for our Veterans and the nation. VHA is the country s largest integrated health care system and as such, it embraces close ties with academic affiliates by partnering on common research interests to leverage resources and expand the impact of federal research investments to assist our nations Veterans. The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and the University of Pittsburgh are one of the many examples of this strategic affiliate relationship recognized by the Secretary of the VA. As sites are phased into one of the five (5) work phases, the required work orders will be issued that range from ***REDACTED*** to ***REDACTED***. Work that is required will be followed by individual 2237s with appropriate funding in accordance with which stage of work the contract is currently in. This is for ongoing services of previously implemented sites. The Total Estimated Contract Value is ***REDACTED***. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: ( ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per FAR 6.302-1; ( ) (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 (X) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute FAR 6.302-5; This is an Affiliation Agreement between The Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7303 and VAAR 873.104, the Research and Development to support the RIVR program is beyond the means of any small-business concern and is in relation to the research and spinal-cord injuries and diseases. ( ) (6) National Security per FAR 6.302-6; ( ) (7) Public Interest per FAR 6.302-7; Demonstration that the Contractor s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): As stated in the previous parts of this justification, there is an Affiliation Agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. This allows the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System to utilized provided two (2) year grant funding to allow the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to conduct specialized research and development engineering and clinical services for the Research to Impact for Veterans (RIVR) program. No other vendors hold this type of Affiliation Agreement or have performed the services other than the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. These highly specialized services have been performed in the past by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with contract, ***REDACTED***, and is required to continue providing these services for the betterment of RIVR and the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System. This ID-Requirements contract is to fulfill the repetitive needs of these specialized services. If a different vendor were to be awarded, there would be an unacceptable delay to fulfill and improve upon patient care and the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System could experience an increase in costs that far exceeds the provided grant funding for the RIVR program. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: Documentation of the Affiliation Agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has been acquired. Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: The previous contract, ***REDACTED***, had a total contract value of ***REDACTED***, but does not list sites besides the VA Center of Excellence/Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System versus five (5) sites currently being required. This requirement is an additional ***REDACTED*** but shall provide services for identified sites in accordance to the need of the RIVR program. Any travel and lodging that accrues expenses, shall only be allowable in accordance with the per diem stated in the General Services Administration s (GSA) website and only allowable per state/location. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: As stated above, there is an Affiliation Agreement between The Department of Veterans Affairs and its affiliate, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Unicor and AbilityOne were not viewed as they are not viable source and is not capable of meeting the essential need of this procurement. Price shall be determined fair and reasonable based from the provided Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), historical award pricing, and further breakdown of costs that is required for this procurement. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: As stated above, there is an Affiliation Agreement between The Department of Veterans Affairs and its affiliate, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Unicor and AbilityOne was not viewed due to the essence of this procurement. AbilityOne and Unicor are not viable sources that could meet the specialized research and development needs of this requirement. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: ***REDACTED*** 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: Documentation of the Affiliation Agreement has been acquired in support of this justification and specialized research and development services. 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. _____________________________ ________________________ ***REDACTED*** Date Approvals in accordance with the VHAPM Part 806.3 OFOC SOP: Contracting Officer or Designee s Certification (required): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. _____________________________ ________________________ ***REDACTED*** Date One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over SAT but not exceeding $700K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition. _____________________________ ________________________ ***REDACTED*** Date