The VA VISN 21 intends to negotiate a sole source contract with ECRI. The proposed contract action is for an ECRI Membership - Health Devices Gold. This is requirement is to provide access to the following database and website for an unlimited number of users at the VISN 21 VAMCs: Health Devices System, Healthcare Product Comparison System, Sourcebase, Medical Device Evaluations, Guidance Articles on Medical Technology Issues, Problem Device Reporting, Device Alerts and Recalls, Universal Medical Device Naming System device and manufacturer codes, and Consultation. This sole source action is in accordance with the statutory authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) (1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1. Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES and no solicitation will be issued; however, any firm that believes it can meet these requirements may give written notification to the Contracting Officer for consideration. Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to comply with the requirements. Responses are due by March 6, 2015 at 2:00 PM PST. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Responses must be e-mailed to
[email protected] . No telephone responses will be accepted. No reimbursement for any costs associated with providing capability statements will be provided by the Government. JUSTIFICATION FOR SINGLE SOURCE AWARDS IAW FAR 13.106-1 (OVER MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD($3K) BUT NOT EXCEEDING THE SAT ($150K)) IAW FAR13.104, COs must promote competition to the maximum extent practicable to obtain supplies and services from the source whose offer is the most advantageous to the Government, considering the administrative cost of the purchase. When competition is not practicable, IAW FAR13.106-1(b), COs solicit from a single source for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. COs may solicit from one source if the CO determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization). IAW FAR13.106-3(b)(3),COs are required to include additional statements explaining the absence of competition (see 13.106-1 for brand name purchases) if only one source is solicited and the acquisition does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (does not apply to an acquisition of utility services available from only one source) or supporting the award decision if other than price-related factors were considered in selecting the supplier. This template when completed can be used to document single source awards IAW FAR13.106-3(b)(3). Note: Statements such as "only known source" or "only source which can meet the required delivery date" are inadequate to support a sole source purchase. 1. PURCHASE REQUEST OR REQUISITION NUMBER: 1A. PROJECT/TASK NUMBER N/A 1B. ESTIMATED AMOUNT: 2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED AND THE INTENDED USE: Subscription to the ECRI Institute Health Devices Gold tool. The subscription will be used to access medical equipment evaluations, guidance articles, reports, and patient safety alerts. The PR will include a base year + four years options. 3. UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THAT LIMIT AVAILABILITY TO ONLY ONE SOURCE, WITH THE REASON NO OTHER SUPPLIES OR SERVICES CAN BE USED: Evaluations of medical equipment reliability, safety, cost effectiveness, human factors, and other elements are essential to purchasing and using medical technology safely and effectively. Evaluations are completed by ECRI and independent engineering and clinical professionals and distributed to medical facilities via the Health Devices Gold tool. ECRI also publishes Hazard Reports and User Experience Network articles to identify problems involving medical devices that present a possible source of danger or difficulty but which have not yet been identified by vendors or the FDA as reasons to issue Field Safety Notifications. Additionally, ECRI distributes routine Health Device Alert newsletters, compiling recalls, hazards, product safety alerts, and reported problems involving a broad range of medical devices and supplies. Health Device Alerts augment the facility recalls notification process by providing direct access to a number of recall sources. 4. REASON THAT SUGGESTED SOURCE IS THE ONLY SOURCE, WHICH CAN PROVIDE THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES: No other service is known to provide all required information in one consolidated tool. ECRI Institute is the sole, proprietary provider of the research, and analyses, offered through our membership programs, and hold the copyright to the published materials provided via these programs. 5. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND RESULTS OR STATEMENT WHY IT WAS NOT CONDUCTED: Completed several internet searches for Emergency Care Research Institute or similar product suppliers and manufacturers using Google, VetBiz, DSBS, GSA e-Library, GSA Advantage, FPDS and SAM websites. " Contacted UNICOR (FPI), Ability One and searched their website catalog (http://www.abilityone.com/OA_HTML/ibeCZzpHome.jsp?minisite=10040&respid=22372&grp=IBE_M_OTHER and http://www.unicor.gov/). Market Research determined that the requisition is not available through Ability One and UNICOR. " Searched DSBS and VetBiz websites. The searched revealed that there are small business vendors that have the same NAICS code, but small businesses could not deliver the requisitions because the online subscription is peculiar to one contractor and the manufacturer has a proprietary data right for its products. ECRI is the standard tool utilized by VA Medical Centers Nationally for consolidated recall access, equipment comparisons, and educational tools. No other service is known to provide all required information in one consolidated tool. " The GSA website revealed that the requirement is not on a GSA. " The NAICS code is 519130 and the requirement is below $150K; therefore, it will not be reviewed by SAOW/OSDBU. 6. Contracting Officer's Certification: Purchase is approved in accordance with FAR13.106-1(b). I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Signature: ______________________________ Date:____________________ Name:__________________________________ Title:___________________________________ Facility:_________________________________