Description
The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare System, intends to negotiate a commercial (FAR Part 12) sole source contract with Applied Science Laboratories under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. Please refer to the Sole Source Justification. This is not a solicitation; it is notice of intent to sole source a requirement.Inquiries/information received after the established deadline shall not be considered. The submission of any data for review shall not impede award of this contract as planned. The Government does not intend to pay for information solicited. This synopsis is issued pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION *1. Identification of the service/department and the transaction/requisition #: Research Program trans # 523-08-4-9184-0644 *2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved: Purchase of upgrades and enhancements to the Geriatric Neuropsychology Labs ASL eyetracking system *3. Description of the supplies/services required to meet the agencys needs (including the estimated value): In order to perform more complex studies with our existing ASL eyetracker, we require several enhancements. The items we would like to purchase include an upgraded control unit, a head mounted display and miniature optics. Estimated Value: $51,022.10 4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition: FAR Part 6.302-1, Only one responsible source. *5. Demonstration that the proposed contractors unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited: Our lab has been using ASL eyetracking software and hardware for the past ten years. Many of our protocols have been designed specifically to integrate with the ASL system. The hardware purchase proposed would enhance the current system thus avoiding the prohibitive cost of an entirely new system. The new hardware would be easily integrated into the current system. We have also designed analytic routines and customized experiments that interface with proprietary functions of the ASL system. It would require considerable software development to use a different system. The costs of this development would easily approach the 30-50K mark. Additionally, data would not be directly comparable with previous studies. New studies build on data collected from previous studies. To employ a new system would require us to repeat many studies simply to establish the reliability and comparability of the data collected. The combination of integrated eyetracking optics in a Head Mounted Display (HMD) will provide precise data presentation and acquisition unmatched control over environmental factors in all behavioral experiments. Participants will be completely immersed in a visual world where the experimenter can control the minutest parameters. Previously, attempts at control of the participants visual environment have been daunting; relying on expensive customized testing spaces. No matter the budget, these spaces never provide the desired flexibility and accuracy that may be achieved with the requested equipment *6. Describe the efforts that have been made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a Commerce Business Daily notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 (copy attached) and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies: The following vendors (include phone number and contact name) were contacted; however were unable to provide these services: This device is necessary for our specific research project, and propriety, patented technology by the device manufacturer, Applied Science Laboratories is the ONLY source of this product for this research project. 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable: Determination was conducted and the anticipated cost to the government is fair and reasonable based on commercial price at $57,585.00 and discounted price for government is 51,250.65 this is 11% off H-VRS-nvis list price. *8. Description of the market survey that was conducted (i.e. names of firms and the date(s) the firms were contacted) and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted: A market survey was not conducted due to the fact that this is the only system currently available on the market capable of being used for our specific needs. These details of these unique features are described under section 3 and 5 above. *9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as an explanation as to why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statement of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for competition have not been developed or are not available. The purchase requested is an upgrade to our existing system. We will save on the approximately 30K in hardware costs by upgrading as opposed to purchasing a new system. Existing experimental protocols could be invalidated by the move to a new system. We do not have the funds to purchase a new system. ASL is the only vendor that can provide upgrades to their own equipment. *10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed an interest in the acquisition: None only one source *11. A statement of the actions, if any, that the department/service may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies/services is required in the future: Contracting Activity will continue to encourage brand name or equivalent specifications.