Q--Teleradiology VISN 12

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition 1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Great Lakes Acquisition Center, 5000 W. National Avenue, Bldg. 5, Milwaukee, WI 53295. 2. Nature/Description of Action being Approved: Justification for other than full and open competition for Teleradiology Services on a sole source basis to CAMRIS International, Inc., a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). 3. Description of the Services Required: This contract is for the purchase of Teleradiology Services, to be provided by CAMRIS International, Inc., a SDVOSB, for the period April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Contractor is required to provide all space, supplies, equipment, and labor, to include board certified radiologists, necessary to provide remote after-hours and back-up professional radiology services for six facilities within VISN 12. Services are required 24/7, 365 days per year. STAT and Routine interpretations are required by the contractor of Plain Films, Computed Tomography (CT), Ultrasound (US), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies. 4. Statutory Authority Permitting other than Full and Open Competition: This service is being procured through sole-source authority at FAR 6.302-5, under Public Law 109-461, U.S.C. Section 8127 (c) wherein, Contracting Officers may use other than competitive procedures (including sole source contract awards) for contracts to a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), whereas the anticipated price will exceed the Simplified Acquisition Procedures Threshold, but not exceed $5,000,000. 5. Contractor's Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisitions: CAMRIS International, Inc. is the only company that can meet our current time requirement for the commencement of services in support of care to our veterans. If CAMRIS is not awarded the contract, there will be a lapse in services to patients at six VA facilities within VISN 12. The current contract, awarded to CAMRIS International, Inc., took approximately two years for the contractor to be able to provide uninterrupted Teleradiology services. A majority of this time delay was due to information technology and information security requirements and approvals. Research has shown that it will take at least 6 months for any company other than CAMRIS International, Inc. to receive approval and access into the VA computer systems. In addition, the credentialing and privileging process for new radiologists to the VA system would take at least 90 days to complete. VISN 12 is familiar with the radiologists provided by CAMRIS and has a process in place for streamlining the process for re-credentialing of CAMRIS' radiologists at all six facilities. By using the current contractor, there will be no set-up fees or monthly service charges. The cost to the government would only be for requested services. Most importantly, there will be no interruption of services provided to America's veterans. 6. Efforts to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practical: Intent to sole source notice will be posted to FBO for informational purposes only. 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable Price: Price reasonableness will be determined based on current contract pricing and current pricing of other VA contracts for Teleradiology Services. 8. Market Research Conducted: A search of the VET-Biz Information pages (VIP) listed 18 SDVOSB firms for Teleradiology, only which four have been CVE verified. CVE verification will be a pre-requisite to sole-source awards after January 1, 2012. CAMRIS International has already been CVE verified. 9. Any other facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: None. 10. Actions agency may take to remove or overcome barriers to competition before any subsequent actions for the services required: Market research will again be conducted. If any future requirement is procured by the GLAC, a SDVOSB competitive solicitation process will most likely be utilized. 11. Other Sources Expressing an Interest in Writing: None. 12. Contracting Officer's Certification: I hereby determine that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. BECKY CINCOTTA Contracting Officer