Description
In accordance with FAR 5.207 (b) (15) (i) and (ii), (i) Except when using the sole source authority at 6.302-1, all responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. (ii) When using the sole source authority at 6.302-1, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. Under the Authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), and FAR 6.302-1, the VISN 19 Rocky Mountain Consolidated Contracting Center, Denver, CO, proposes to enter into a non-competitive commercial items contract with the Carepoint Health Care Consultants at 1621 Pickett Court in Erie, Colorado 80516-7532. The Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS), Research Services at the Department of Veteran Affairs, in Denver Colorado has a requirement for a statistician for their CART (Cardiology Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking System) Program. The Contractor's unique characteristics include a statistician with at a master-level and required to work with longitudinal databases applications to ensure both quality improvement/quality assurance and research levels. The CART Program requires analysis experience and knowledge in the following areas: multi-level modeling, discrete time-event hazard model, continuous time-event hazard model, and cox-regression modeling. Additionally, some of the CART program variables typically contain high missing rates which an individual with sufficient working knowledge of imputation and multiple methods, propensity scores and propensity matching and instrumental variables. Additional experience in the following statistical packages is required: SAS, STATA, S-Plus, R, WinBUGS (baysian), SQL, cross-disciplinary teams-government, academic, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within the due date for receipt of proposals will be considered by the Government. A Determination by the Government not to compete with 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. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VISN 19 ROCKY MOUNTAIN NETWORK CONTRACTING CENTER 4100 E. MISSISSIPPI AVENUE, SUITE 610 GLENDALE, CO 80246 JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL TO PROCURE USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION Upon the basis of the following justification, the use of other than full and open competition for the proposed contractual action is hereby approved pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. JUSTIFICATION 1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity. The Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1055 Clermont Street, Denver, CO 80220 Rocky Mountain Consolidated Contracting Center, VISN 19, 4100 East Mississippi Ave, Glendale, CO 80246 2. Nature/description of action. This activity proposes to solicit sole source with CarePoint Health Care Consultants to provide data analysis for the National VA's Cardiovascular Assessment, Reporting and Tracking (CART) Program at the Eastern Colorado Health Care System. 3. Description of Supplies/Services. Provide a statistician to support the National VA's Cardiovascular Assessment, Reporting and Tracking program directed by Dr. John Rumsfeld. The Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1055 Clermont Street Denver, CO 80220 Quote: Estimated Price = $25,000 ($50/hr) 4. Identification of Statutory Authority. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1. 5. Demonstration of Contractor's Unique Qualifications. The National VA's Cardiovascular Assessment, Reporting and Tracking (CART) system is a software application for standardized report generation, national data repository, and national quality improvement program for VA cardiac catheterization labs. The application is integrated within the VA's EHR, enabling providers to document care as part of routine clinical work. The application combines discrete data entry (based on ACC data standards) with narrative text for customization. To minimize data entry, CART-CL automatically incorporates data from the EHR (history, medications, vitals, labs). CART-CL tracks all Catheterization Lab procedures to accomplish workload capture/coding (i.e. automated CPT/ICD-9 coding). Therefore, this program requires a master's level statistician with expertise to work with longitudinal databases apps to ensure both quality improvement and quality assurance for CART-CL. CarePoint Health Care Consultants can provide a statistician with a Master's degree in Statistics, experience with multi-level modeling, discrete time event hazard modeling, continuous time event hazard modeling, and cox regression modeling which is required knowledge for our CART analyses. Since this is a national program, it requires expertise to identify variables with high missing rates and capture data for multiple imputation methods, propensity scores and propensity matching instrument variables. They can also provide qualified and experienced personnel in statistical analysis with cross-disciplinary teams between government and academics. 6. Description of Efforts to Ensure Soliciting of as Many Sources as Possible. Market research through Ability One and Unicor did not yield statistician's resources. Therefore, the acquisition will be posted on the FedBizOpps web site with the intent to sole-source the service. Questions concerning the procurement's qualification as sole-source procurement can be raised by the public at that time. 7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost. The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable based on the sole-source availability. It is imperative that the statistician have experience with the required previously listed statistical applications and modeling and analytical methods. Otherwise, the additional learning curve cost would be prohibitive. The rate of $50/hr is considered a fair and reasonable cost for the proposed services based on similar positions at the VA and gsa schedules for SIN 312-51 at 54.93/hr to $73.73/hr. 8. Description of Market Survey. The $50 rate is the equivalent contract rate since no benefits are provided with contractors. 9. Any Other Supporting Data. There are no other factors supporting the use of other than full and open competition. 10. Listing of Interested Sources. CarePoint Health Care Consultants 1621 Pickett Court Erie, Colorado 80516-7532 11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition. As this is not a recurring acquisition, there are no actions that may be taken to overcome barriers to acquisition. TECHNICAL AND REQUIREMENTS PERSONNEL CERTIFICATIONS (FAR 6.303-2(b): I certify that this justification with supporting data is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. Technical Personnel Certification: _________________________ (303) 370-7570 _______ John S. Rumsfeld, MD, PhD Phone Date National CART Director Requirements personnel Certification: _________________________ (303) 399-8020, x3846 ______ Pamela Rice, AO Research Service Phone Date CONTRACTING OFFICER I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. __________________________ _______ NAME Date