Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF AUGUST 16, 2015 FBO #5014
DOCUMENT

Q -- VISN 1 Reference Labs - Attachment

Notice Date

8/14/2015
 

Notice Type

Attachment
 

NAICS

621111 — Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs;VA Boston Healthcare System;Contracting Officer (90C);940 Belmont Street;Brockton MA 02301
 

ZIP Code

02301
 

Archive Date

9/15/2015
 

Point of Contact

Heather L Simpson
 

E-Mail Address

4-2599<br
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Award Number

V797P-7105A
 

Award Date

8/1/2015
 

Description

LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION ORDER >$150,000 FAR PART 8.405-6 This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program. The material or service listed in par. 3 below is sole source, therefore, consideration of the number of contractors required by FAR Subpart 8.4 - Federal Supply Schedules, is precluded for the reasons indicated below. Restricted to the following source: Contractor: Quest Diagnostics, Inc. Contractor Address: Three Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940-1027 1 The requested material or service represents the minimum requirements of the Government. (1) AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:Department of Veterans Affairs NCO 1 Consolidated Contracting Activity 940 Belmont Street________________ Brockton, MA 02301 VISN:1 (2) NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF ACTION BEING APPROVED: Quest Diagnostics currently holds an FSS contract for all testing required by NCO 1 covering 27 sites (Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics). FSS contract V797P-7105A. SIN 621 II Medical Laboratory Testing and Analysis Services. VISN 1 laboratory service implemented connectivity between Quest Diagnostics and the VA VISTA Laboratory Information System (LIS) at all sites to reduce manual testing errors. Setup for this connectivity required hundreds of hours of dedicated time of lab staff at each site in VISN 1. Each test must be configured for information and test result transfer from Quest to each VISN 1 site. It takes approximately 8 man-hours to configure 100 tests. There were 1,500 different Quest tests sent in FY 14. Set up for this connectivity is not interchangeable between medical reference lab vendors. Quest owns the interface capabilities and another vendor would have to recreate an interface for testing. In addition to the connectivity issue, any change in reference lab would require test file changes in the VISTA system. This longer term solution is currently being reviewed at the Regional level. The VA also purchased a joint directory of services web based application to blend the VA test list with tests that are sent directly to Quest. The clinical staff are able to reference one test directory to have up to date specimen collection, reference ranges and clinical usage information. Considerable time was expended to configure this directory of services. This is not interchangeable between medical reference lab vendors. The fact that Quest offers all required testing, has patient service centers less than 10 miles from all CBOC locations for VA patient access and the proprietary connectivity with VA's VISTA system a limited source justification is being completed under FAR Part 8.405-6. (3)(a)A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY'S NEED: The services will include: a) Interface with VA's VistA System. Best practice is to eliminate manual entry of results and employ an electronic result entry process. The interface with Quest has reduced risk of manual entry errors in VISN 1; b)IntraVISN transportation of clinical laboratory specimens originating from the VA medical center and satellite outpatient clinic laboratories destined to VA West Roxbury or VA West Haven; c) Performance of analytical testing; d)Reporting of analytical test results; e)Consultative services; f)Patient Service Centers within the New England area for phlebotomy services; g) Joint Directory of Laboratory Services (JDOS) which provides a single lab manual for testing within VISN 1 as well as testing sent to Quest. This streamlines the process to look up specimen requirements, reference ranges and clinical usage information. The government owns the connectivity and the web-based directory. (b)ESTIMATED DOLLAR VALUE: $600,000 (c)REQUIRED DELIVERY DATE: 08/01/2015 - 09/30/2015 (4)IDENTIFICATION OF THE JUSTIFICATION RATIONALE (SEE FAR 8.405-6), AND IF APPLICABLE, A DEMONSTRATION OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR'S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED SUPPLY OR SERVICE. 1Specific characteristics of the material or service that limit the availability to a sole source (unique features, function of the item, etc.). Describe in detail why only this suggested source can furnish the requirements to the exclusion of other sources. a)The Laboratory Information system (LIS). The LIS system is in place at all VISN 1 sites. The system has been integrated in the VA's VISTA system. LIS results in cost savings to the government due to reduced shipping costs and manpower hours with quicker medical testing results and greater privacy for veterans. Dismantling the LIS system, collaboration between the VA and Quest Diagnostic, would result in much higher costs as another vendor could not use the same system since it is proprietary and another vendor would have to install their own proprietary system. In addition, the VA has no guarantee that another vendor could or would install a similar system. If another vendor attempted an installation of the LIS type system, the VA might have to assume more of the associated costs for a LIS type installation. Quest Diagnostics has provided the hardware and some manpower to implement the LIS without extra charge to the government. Without the LIS system the process would revert back to more deliveries and mailings; increasing the cost to the Government. b) JDOS application as noted in 3a to streamline look up process for test requirements. c)Phlebotomy Draw Stations or patient service centers in convenient locations throughout NE (or specific locations as needed) that collect specimens and then transport them to the host VANEHS facility for testing. This benefits our CBOC's that do not have on-site phlebotomy service and also allows for test results to be entered in the patient record. d)Provides a centralized resolution center to report and address/resolve issues in a timely manner. e)Electronic monthly utilization reports by VISN 1 site and total for VISN 1. 1The material/service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit and function) with existing systems presently installed/performing. Describe the equipment/function you have now and how the new item/service must coordinate, connect, or interface with the existing system. VISN 1 has implemented LIS* connectivity between Quest Diagnostics and the VA Vista Laboratory Information System at VA Boston, Bedford, VA Connecticut, VA White River Junction (VT) and VA Manchester (NH). Set up for this connectivity required hundreds of hours of dedicated time of 1 or more lab staff at EACH SITE. Set up cannot be transferred from one site to another. The other three sites in VISN 1 are in various stages of implementation, Set up for this connectivity is not interchangeable between medical reference lab vendors. In addition to the connectivity issue, any change in reference lab would require test file changes in the VISTA system. This would also be a time consuming task to undertake. It is not in the best interests of VISN 1 to expend additional manpower to change medical reference lab vendors at this time. This process has defined several different types of cost per reportable test requirements and service requirements that can be standardized and still meet the approvals and regulatory requirements of the Veterans Administration, College of American Pathologists (CAP) and Joint Commission (JC). The individual services have been identified with several different vendors with specific technical capabilities and/or coordination requirements specified by VISN 1 laboratory protocols. This coordination process has provided the laboratory service with the best client service and shortest turnaround time for providing patient results. *LIS - Laboratory information System - Patient results are automatically transferred from Quest to VA Vista System. This eliminates manual entry of patient results and vendor reference ranges. Manual entry errors are a high risk area in the laboratory. Best practice is to eliminate manual entry of results and employ an electronic result entry process. The interface with Quest has reduced risk of manual entry errors in VISN 1. Set up for connectivity and the JDOS application cannot be transferred from one site to another. Set up for this connectivity and JDOS application is not interchangeable between medical reference lab vendors (5) DESCRIBE WHY YOU BELIEVE THE ORDER REPRESENTS THE BEST VALUE CONSISTENT WITH FAR 8.4 TO AID THE CONTRACTING OFFICER IN MAKING THIS BEST VALUE DETERMINATION: The prices offered represent the best value to the Department of Veterans Affairs consistent with FAR 8,404(d), because an additional discount to the FSS price list is given by Quest Diagnostics based on estimated volume for testing services. It would not be cost effective to change the primary medical reference lab testing vendor, giving the amount of manpower required to change test files and set up the LIS interface. The purpose of the LIS interface is for the electronic transfer of test results from the Quest Diagnostics information system to the VA information system. This process reduces/eliminates manual entry error. This is a great patient safety concern. In addition Quest Patient Service Centers are located within short distance of many of the CBOC's in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. This is very convenient for our veterans not to travel great distances for this service and ensures better patient compliance. If this service was interrupted it would be detrimental to our Veterans. (6) DESCRIBE THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AMONG SCHEDULE HOLDERS AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED: Market research was conducted among the Federal Supply Schedule holders capable of providing medical reference lab testing services for the consolidated laboratory by the program manager. The other reference laboratories in the FSS category do not offer advantages in testing, services or economy that Quest Diagnostic provides. They do not offer all of the testing required on their FSS contract. There are five FSS schedule holders under SIN 621-II Medical Laboratory Testing and Analysis Services: ARUP, LabCorp, Quest, Sonora and Specialty Laboratories. Sonora and ARUP have no patient service centers in New England. Specialty Laboratories is a subsidiary of Quest. LabCorp does not have patient service centers within 10 miles of 3 of the 8 CBOC's that require these services. Quest has patient service centers in the same building or within 4 miles of the CBOC's that require phlebotomy services. (7) ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE JUSTIFICATION: VA CBOC locations for all VISN 1 laboratories and Quest's Patient Service Centers locations are less than 10 miles from each other, ensuring patient compliance with testing needs. (8) A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS THAT LED TO THE RESTRICTED CONSIDERATION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES IS MADE: The agency has already surveyed the marketplace and will be holding bi-annual industry days to ensure if there are other interested vendors, this information will be posted on www.FBO.gov. Due to the dollar value of this FSS Task Order award, industry will be notified within 30 days of this award. While Quest holds this proprietary connectivity to VISTA, the VA wants to ensure other vendors are given the opportunity to create their own interface to VISTA to ensure competition in the future.
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/3d774d20b7cfad592a5349712895536c)
 

Document(s)

Attachment
 

File Name: V797P-7105A VA241-15-F-1652 V797P-7105A VA241-15-F-1652.docx (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=2252327&FileName=V797P-7105A-005.docx)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=2252327&FileName=V797P-7105A-005.docx

 

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

Record

SN03840563-W 20150816/150815000442-3d774d20b7cfad592a5349712895536c (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

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

---

| FSG Index  |  This Issue's Index  |  Today's FBO Daily Index Page |