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FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF JULY 03, 2013 FBO #4239
DOCUMENT

D -- Innovation #669 - Home-Based Telemental Health #3 – iPads and Broadband Service - Justification and Approval (J&A)

Notice Date

7/1/2013
 

Notice Type

Justification and Approval (J&A)
 

NAICS

541519 — Other Computer Related Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs;Technology Acquisition Center;260 Industrial Way West;Eatontown NJ 07724
 

ZIP Code

07724
 

Solicitation Number

VA11813Q0281
 

Archive Date

7/13/2013
 

Point of Contact

Peter Lewandowski
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Award Number

GS-35F-0119P VA118-13-F-0247
 

Award Date

6/28/2013
 

Description

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR A LIMITED SOURCE AWARD UNDER A FEDERAL SUPPLY SCHEDULE 1. Contracting Activity:Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Acquisition Operations Technology Acquisition Center 260 Industrial Way West Eatontown, New Jersey 07724 2. Description of Action: The proposed action is for a firm-fixed price (FFP) order issued against the General Services Administration (GSA) Information Technology (IT) Schedule 70 for the brand name purchase of Apple iPads and one year of Verizon mobile broadband plans in support of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Innovation #669 Home-Based Telemental Health (HBTMH). 3. Description of the Supplies or Services: The proposed action is to provide 250 Apple iPads and a total of 300 Verizon mobile broadband plans (250 for the Apple iPads and 50 for existing netbooks) in support of VHA Innovation #669. This innovation project seeks to expand an existing Portland VA Medical Center (VAMC) HBTMH Pilot to all Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 20 sites and collect data on outcomes for one year. This expansion would not only include seeing Veterans throughout VISN 20, but would also include an expansion and trial of different technologies (hardware, software, method of connection) used to reach these Veterans. VA wants to test different hardware devices (iPads, netbooks, Veteran's personal computers (PC) with webcam) to measure connection reliability, compatibility with different Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 certified videoconferencing software suites, the Veterans'/provider's preference as far as the device itself, etc. The total estimated price of this proposed action is... 4. Authority: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B), Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. 5. Rationale Supporting Use of Authority Cited Above: Based on extensive market research, as described in paragraph 8 of this document, it was determined that Apple's mobile operating system for iPads and Verizon's Broadband Service are the only items that fully meet the Government's requirements. The proposed Apple mobile operating system and iPad have been identified as a primary mobile platform and device for this innovation for the following reason(s): recent market research indicates that Apple's mobile operating system and iPad are the only mobile platform/device compatible with VHA's Telehealth Videoconferening Platform, Cisco Movi/Jabber. The Android mobile operating system and Android-based devices of all brands and types and Microsoft Windows 8 Surface tablets are not compatible with Cisco Movi/Jabber. Cisco Movi/Jabber is not compatible with these operating systems and devices because Cisco has yet to develop a Movi/Jabber application that works with these products. As recently as March 2013, a VHA innovation project at VA Palo Alto Health Care System attempted to use Android-based tablets to connect with traumatic brain injury patients via Cisco Movi/Jabber. Since Cisco has not developed a Movi/Jabber application that works with Android, the Government was forced to issue a contract modification to switch to Apple iPad tablets in order to continue work on the project. Since a major objective of this innovation is to compare and contrast the performance of different FIPS 140-2 certified video conferencing software suites with VHA's current Telehealth Videoconferencing Platform, it is imperative that any mobile operating system and device purchased be compatible with Cisco Movi/Jabber. This will ensure the integrity of any head-to-head assessment between videoconferencing products on mobile devices. Additionally, Microsoft Windows 8 Surface tablets do not currently offer mobile broadband coverage with any wireless carriers. This is another reason this product is not viable for this innovation. Additionally, it is necessary for VA to utilize a mobile broadband plan that provides for the widest coverage area at the fastest data transfer speeds in order to reach Veterans throughout VISN 20 (Pacific Northwest and Alaska) and allows VA to fully validate and verify the operability, usability, safety, and quality of the software and methods of connection proposed for trial as part of this innovation. When attempting to determine the best mobile broadband carrier to support this innovation, VA's technical expert investigated the three major broadband service carriers: Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. VA's market research of these carriers sought to address coverage and speed of data transfer as it relates to the highest standard of service currently available to consumers (4G LTE). 4G LTE is necessary to support the bandwidth requirement of the different videoconferencing software suites being assessed as part of this innovation. As far as coverage, VA's technical experts compared the 4G LTE coverage of each of the three major carriers in all the states targeted by this innovation (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska). The results of this comparison found that Verizon provided 4G LTE coverage in 27 markets in these states, followed by AT&T with coverage in 11 markets, and Sprint failed to provide 4G LTE coverage in any of the states. Additionally, VA found that Verizon has a Rural America initiative to expand 4G LTE coverage to rural areas throughout the United States. Of particular interest to this innovation is the fact that Verizon will be rolling out its 4G LTE to Alaska in May 2013. Independent research concludes that this will make Verizon's 4G LTE the largest and fastest service provider in Alaska once announced. As far as speed of data transfer, VA compared the data transfer speed (15 Mbps or more) of each of the three major carriers. The results of VA's comparison found that Verizon delivered data transfer speeds of 15 Mbps or more 37.9% of the time, followed by AT&T with 13% of the time, and Sprint failed to deliver data transfer speeds of 15 Mbps or more at all. Solid performance in both of these categories is crucial to the success of this innovation. As such, the proposed Verizon mobile broadband plan has been identified as the only acceptable plan for VISN 20. 6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Market research was conducted, details of which are in the market research section of this document. This effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government's requirements. Limited competition is anticipated for this acquisition. The ordering activity will post the justification along with the Request for Quotation to e-Buy in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(3). 7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the market place that would enable future actions to be competed. 8. Market Research: In May 2013, the Government's technical experts conducted market research by reviewing the compatibility of the existing Cisco Movi/Jabber VHA Telehealth Videoconferencing Platform with all mobile operating systems and devices currently on the market (Apple, Android, and Windows). Based on the results of this market research, the technical experts determined that the Apple iPad mobile operating system is the only operating system that is compatible with VHA's existing Telehealth Videoconferencing Platform. Additionally, the Government's technical experts conducted market research for mobile broadband plans within the VISN 20 market to determine which carriers could provide coverage in that geographical location as well as provide the data transfer speed that will meet the Government's requirements. The technical experts compared the coverage areas of different carriers as well as the data transfer speed and determined that AT&T and Sprint could not meet the Government's coverage and speed requirements and only Verizon could meet the requirement. Verizon provides the largest 4G LTE coverage area and fastest data transfer speed, particularly in the locations being targeted by this innovation. 9. Other Facts: None. 10. Technical and Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Kristopher TeagueDate: ______________________ Innovation CoordinatorSignature: __________________ 11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. Although prices under GSA IT Schedule 70 have already been deemed fair and reasonable, the Government will also use the Independent Government Cost Estimate and price analysis will be used to substantiate a fair and reasonable price. David NostrantDate: _____________________ Procuring Contracting OfficerSignature: __________________ 12. Procuring Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. As this contract action does not exceed $650,000, the certification below required by FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(C)(1) serves as approval. David NostrantDate: ______________________ Procuring Contracting OfficerSignature: __________________
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/23327aa78ac4c1c7cbb63737eb4bc1bd)
 

Document(s)

Justification and Approval (J&A)
 

File Name: GS-35F-0119P VA118-13-F-0247 GS-35F-0119P VA118-13-F-0247_1.docx (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=845347&FileName=GS-35F-0119P-006.docx)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=845347&FileName=GS-35F-0119P-006.docx

 

Note: If links are broken, refer to Point of Contact above or contact the FBO Help Desk at 877-472-3779.
 

Record

SN03105119-W 20130703/130701235409-23327aa78ac4c1c7cbb63737eb4bc1bd (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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