Description
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification and Approval For 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) and FAR 6.302-1. 1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Service Area East, Procurement Contracting Activity in St. Louis Contracting POC: ____________________, Contracting Officer 11152 South Towne Square St. Louis, MO 63123 2. Nature of Action Being Approved: It is requested that a Justification and Approval for a sole source requirement be issued to Joint Commission Resources Inc. The proposed contract cost is estimated to be $66,534.08 and will be issued as a firm fixed price contract. The Veteran's Health Administration requires a monthly Joint Commission Resources Inc newsletter (The Joint Commission Perspectives) that the Joint Commission Resources Inc. solely creates and is the sole owner/corporate distributor of this newsletter. In coordination and under the direction of the Director, Accreditation, Office of Quality and Performance while in support of VA's Joint Commission Continuous Readiness Program, Employee Education System (EES) requires 'The Joint Commission Perspectives' newsletter as a tool to improve knowledge and understanding of the Joint Commission for all VHA staff nationally to aid the VHA hospital enterprise-wide successfully complete the Joint Commission Survey. Every applicable VHA facility goal being to improve VA's Joint Commission Survey scores in conjunction with improving patient care to the Veterans they treat and care for. This newsletter is a key component to make these vital goals within the VHA. Award Year Estimate: $12,284.00 Option Year 1 Estimate: $12,775.36 Option Year 2 Estimate: $13,286.37 Option Year 3 Estimate: $13,817.82 Option Year 4 Estimate: $14,370.53 Total Estimate = $66,534.08 3. Description of Service and Supplies: This purchase is for the annual site license/subscription to the Joint Commission Inc.'s 'The Joint Commission Perspectives' newsletter. The contractor, Joint Commission Resources, Inc., (JCRINC) will provide a monthly PDF files to the Office of Quality and Performance (OQP) webmaster and the EES Project Manager for posting on the OQP website for one year. The Newsletter description is as follows: 'The Joint Commission Perspectives' Newsletter: The Joint Commission Perspectives is the only official source of credible, timely, and complete information about Joint Commission standards changes, the new accreditation process, sentinel events, and much more. Perspectives is The Joint Commission's official newsletter. Perspectives is released every month to bring healthcare organizations updates to standards, The Joint Commission survey process, and policies. 4. Statutory Authority: FAR 6.302.1 only one responsible source and no other supplies or service satisfy agency requirement 5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: The only vendor able to sell and/or meet the VHA requirements is Joint Commission Resources Inc. Joint Commission Resources Inc. is the authority as it pertains to The Joint Commission (TJC). The Joint Commission Resources Inc provides education and information in a collaborative community of healthcare organizations, facilitating efforts to create better healthcare practices through Joint Commission preparedness and patient care practices and protocols. The vendor's products and newsletters directly supports the VHA's guiding principle of providing the best care for it veterans anywhere. VHA facilities are mandated to maintain the Joint Commission accreditation by the United States Congress. The Joint Commission standards, programs and educational materials are copyrighted by the Joint Commission. Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCRINC) is the only official joint commission vendor and The Joint Commission Perspectives on Patient Safety Electronic Newsletter is an official, copyrighted publication. 6. Description of Market Research: Extensive market research was conducted online and it was determined that there are no other companies that are able to offer the corporate rights/access to the Joint Commission Resources 'Perspectives' newsletter. Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCRINC) is the only official joint commission vendor and The Joint Commission Perspectives newsletter is an official, copyrighted publication. IAW FAR 6.306, this justification will be synopsized 14 days of contract award. 7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable: The price quoted herein is a significant discount over JCR's standard published prices. For example a three year site license for a single health care facility is $2,537. The equivalent three year price quoted herein covers all of the 137 VA facilities for a price of $37,969. The link illustrates JCR's commercial prices. http://www.jcrinc.com/The-Joint-Commission-Perspectives/About/ 8. Other Supporting Data: None 9. Other Interested Sources: None 10. Future barriers to competition: None 11. 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. _____________________________ ____________________ Name Date Joshua Smith; Project Manager Long Beach EERC Approvals in accordance with FAR 6.304 a. Contracting Officer's Certification: I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. _____________________________ ____________________ Name: Linda Eley Date Title: Contracting Officer b. Deputy Program Contracts Manager: I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. _________________________ ____________________ Date Name: Cassandra Dowdell Title: DPCM