Award of HRSA Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) Verification and Validation (V&V) Services

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded a non-competitive contract to ASSYST, Inc, located in Sterling, Virginia on September 13, 2021. The purpose is a one-year continuation of incumbent contractor for Verification and Validation Services (V&V) for HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) System. Services include EHBs V&V institutional knowledge and technical expertise to maintain HRSA's highest levels of software development quality and lower overall risk. ASSYST, Inc., has provided EHBs V&V services for the past four years under a competitively awarded contract. An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays (FAR8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A)). Given the expeditious rate that the EHBs system has evolved due to unprecedented technology advancements and business process streamline initiatives (i.e. COVID-19, Provider Relief Fund (PRF), and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)) over the past year, continuous improvements to the technology are required to comply with legislative mandates, address stakeholder needs and deliver business value. Many of these improvements require quick-turnaround activities to meet key U.S. Government priorities, and which necessitate a rapid response due to the public health emergencies. Transitioning to a new contractor for the Verification and Validation (V&V) support services during this critical time would jeopardize the many initiatives in progress and endanger HRSA's ability to seamlessly identify and implement Software/Application Testing V&V support services that fully leverage current technologies and result in more efficient and timely EHBs development business activities. The current vendor is in the process of developing test automation scripts for various EHBs critical modules; enhancing the overall test automation framework to comply with HRSA Standards; developing brand new data driven testing strategies; and conducting functional verification of current and future EHBs system enhancements prior to production deployment. A change in contractor at this critical time will result in delays to complete these activities. Specifically, HRSA cannot afford to have a lapse in service or interruption in any of the services being provided over the next year as there has been a lot of EHBs system development, modernization and enhancements (DME) since March 2020 to address the public health emergencies DME and implementation requirements. Due to the urgent need, we did not conduct market research; however, the current contract was competitively awarded as a small business set aside under the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule ordering procedures. The award is a logical follow-on that the incumbent can quickly complete. Future work will be a small business set aside. The agency intends to award a small business set aside Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) via GSA to address this need in the future.