D--Covers the extension of services for VISN 3’s Verizon Local Exchange Services until TAC-13-04952 Region 4 Consolidated LEC Services is awarded in FY 13

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL DOCUMENT FOR A LIMITED SOURCE AWARD 1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Acquisition and Operations Technology Acquisition Center 260 Industrial Way West Eatontown, New Jersey 07724 2. Description of Action: This proposed sole source action is for a Firm-Fixed Price contract through December 31, 2012 for local exchange carrier (LEC) services, henceforth referred to as telephone services, currently installed and used by the VA New York/New Jersey Veterans Healthcare Network including all community based outpatient clinic (CBOC's) and support facilities in Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 3, which is part of Region 4. This action will contain three, one-month options to be exercised at the Government's discretion to continue providing seamless coverage in the event the regional contract award is further delayed. The proposed source is Verizon Federal Inc., 22001 Loudon County Parkway, Ashburn, VA 20147. 3. Description of Supplies or Services: The purpose of this proposed action is to provide a bridge between the current contract providing VISN 3 telephone services and the follow on effort which is being solicited on FedBizOpps (FBO) under full and open competition. The telephone services Contractor must provide transmission facilities, equipment, materials, maintenance, test equipment, and design layout needed to perform and provide local access and transport services and functions for the New York/New Jersey VISN 3 Network. This includes any special items, equipment, wiring or infrastructure to ensure the Contractor's solution is compatible with the Government's infrastructure. The Contractor is responsible for troubleshooting and maintaining the operation of the circuit up to its termination point. Access to the local exchange shall include: operator assistance, directory assistance (DA), and emergency 911/E911 services and functions. 4. Statutory Authority: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 8.405-6(a)(2). 5. Reason for Authority Cited: Telephone services to VISN 03 are currently provided by Verizon. In May of 2012, VA identified the need to regionalize phone services for economies and efficiencies to reduce recurring costs. A decision was made to solicit the requirement for all of Region 4 (to include VISN 3) on FBO under full and open competition with a forecast award date of 10/01/2012. As requirements for the regional contract were developed to further promote competition, delays occurred which have pushed the first possible cutover date for the VISN 3 phones out three months to 01/01/2013. VA needs to ensure phone service to all facilities including CBOC's and support facilities in VISN 3 is uninterrupted. Local telephone exchange service is vital for VISN 3 to allow communications which enhance patient care as well as to facilitate emergency responses. These facilities throughout VA New York/New Jersey provide direct patient care and cannot lose telecommunication services. Any lapse in service will have a profoundly negative effect on VISN 3's telecommunication lifeline. Transition from the existing provider to another vendor would take time and could not be complete by the need date; therefore a sole source bridge contract is required. 6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: VA technical experts surveyed the marketplace and found that competition for this bridge effort is not practical with the regional competition underway and under the current time constraints related to the expiration of the existing contract. The regional requirement will be competed on FBO under full and open competition. 7. Actions to Increase Competition: At the present time, Technology Acquisition Center Austin is working on a solicitation for a competitive regional phone services contract that will encompass not only VISN 3, but all of VA Region 4's phone requirements to allow full and open competition on FBO; however the anticipated award date is not until 01/01/2013. All future requirements will be transferred to this regional contract upon its award. The proposed action will be synopsized on FBO. 8. Market Research: Market research indicated that the existing services are available from Verizon Federal Inc. 9. Other Facts: This effort is purely a bridge contract to ensure no break in critical phone service to VISN 03 between the expiration of the current contract and the award of the fully competed regional contract.