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FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF JANUARY 29, 2017 FBO #5546
DOCUMENT

U -- Notice of Intent to Exercise 52.217-8 Option with Justification - Attachment

Notice Date

1/27/2017
 

Notice Type

Attachment
 

NAICS

611710 — Educational Support Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veteran Affairs;SAO East;PCAE STL Contracting Officer;11152 South Towne Square;Saint Louis MO 63123
 

ZIP Code

63123
 

Archive Date

2/26/2017
 

Point of Contact

Linda Eley
 

E-Mail Address

894-6427<br
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

Page 2 of 4 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification and Approval (J&A) For Other Than Full and Open Competition (>$150K) Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Program Contract Activity St. Louis, and Caregiver Support Program 10P4. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: This is a modification to an existing contract VA777-13-C-0001, to extend the period of performance on a sole source basis for Caregiver Educational Support services currently provided under VA777-13-C-0001. The purpose of this J&A is to obtain approval to execute an extension of services provided under FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services (Nov 1999), for continued services of the current Easter Seals contract to administer mandated training to Caregivers in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). The clause was included in the contract at the time of award. We anticipate the rates under FAR 52.217-8 period of performance to be the same as the rate negotiated for Option period 3 of the contract. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency s Needs: The current contract ends 5 January 2017 and pre-planning began 8 months ago, with approximately 30 days left before the expiration of the current contract, there is insufficient time to solicit, evaluate and award this program requirement. In addition, there is no time to transition performance to a new contractor, if required. Unfortunately, this has taken longer than the Government anticipated and therefore, there is a need for the incumbent contractor to provide services ensuring that a lapse in mandated training does not occur while a new contract is processed. The Caregiver Support Program requires the provision of caregiver training for applicants to the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) as established by P.L. 111-163, Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. Successful completion of this training is required for the Caregiver to participate in PCAFC. Caregiver training is to be provided in English and Spanish. Caregivers are to be able to choose between two training formats provided in both languages: workbook with CD/DVD and Relaxation exercise CD or online with CD/DVD and Relaxation exercise CD. Print and Ship 1,000 Workbooks and CD/DVDs National Family Caregiver Training Program A print Caregiver training curriculum workbook and CD/DVD shall be available in English and Spanish and provided upon the preference of the Caregiver. The Workbook is to be mailed within 2 business days of referral. Workbooks shall be sent via 2 Day delivery with tracking. Web Based Instruction is to be developed in compliance with VA Handbook 6102 and Section 508 requirements for access for persons with disabilities. Instruction is to be provided in English and Spanish for 3,000 Caregivers. The content of the web course will be the same content as in the print workbook developed for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. Access to the web course shall be provided within 2 business days of receipt of the referral from the CSC. Upon completion of the online course, the Caregiver shall be provided with a CD/DVD of the course for reference. Customer Satisfaction - The Contractor shall utilize an approved Government Caregiver Feedback survey tool to provide metrics on Caregiver satisfaction and the effectiveness of the curriculum monthly during the base year. Weekly Progress Reports providing the following information: Contractor Performance Summary Report Participant Satisfaction Survey Report Statistics Log, to include the following information for the National Family Caregiver Training Program: Total Number of Referrals (including a breakdown of Referrals by individual CSC and their VAMC location) Number of Caregivers who have begun, but have yet to complete training, broken down by: Workbook/CD/DVD Web-Based Number of Caregivers who have completed training, broken down by: Workbook/CD/DVD Web-Based Number of Caregivers who have completed training in Spanish, broken down by: Workbook/CD/DVD Web-Based Maintain a toll-free telephone line for Caregiver training questions with English/Spanish language capability open Mon-Fri 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Maintain a system of Caregiver training records including referral dates, dates training was initiated and completed. Maintain a secure fax line to receive referrals from 300+ Caregiver Support Coordinators (CSCs) in VAMCs across the country. Duplicate and mail to 4,000 Caregivers, a Relaxation Exercise CD Administer and score 4,000 final self-assessments and issue certificates of completion to all Caregivers successfully completing caregiver training. Contractor will contact CSC when the Caregiver scores less than 15/20 on the final self-assessment and consult with CSC re next steps. Administer an OMB approved Caregiver Feedback Survey in English and Spanish, analyze results and submit a report every six months. The total estimated value of the extension is $1,043,900 firm fixed price. This covers approximately 2400 Caregivers to receive the services noted above in section three (3). In accordance with FAR 52.217-8, the current fixed rates are to be used in the extension of this contract. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: This justification is prepared under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-2(a)(2), Unusual and Compelling Urgency that the Government would be seriously injured unless the number of sources solicited is limited to those specified. Demonstration that the Contractor s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): In accordance with FAR 6.302-2(a)(2), request this J&A be approved under unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured unless the agency is permitted to limit the number of sources from which it solicits bids or proposals, full and open competition need not be provided for. VHA has a need to extend existing critical services under contract VA777-13-C-0001. It is likely that an award to any other contractor will result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency s requirement in accordance with P.L. 111-163 Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. As a result of unanticipated delays, a new contractor will not be able to become familiar with the Core Curriculum training given the required start date of 6 January 2017. Core Curriculum is a mandated training that each Caregiver must complete prior to being approved for PCAFC and begin receiving services under this program. The follow on contract will allow the new contractor time to familiarize themselves with the unique needs of the mandated training prior to contract commencement. Mandated training is vital to the success of PCAFC as described in section three (3) above. The current contractor, Easter Seals, has been the sole source since inception of PCAFC (2011). Easter Seals is currently the only contractor that will be able to have resources available and ready by 6 January 2017. As a result Easter Seals, incumbent, will already be familiarized with the contract and its service needs. Awarding to any other contractor without adequate time to familiarize themselves could result in serious delays and failure of the program. Furthermore, it is not feasible that all the procurement evaluations and reviews required to award a follow-on contract to a new contractor could be completed by the Government prior to 6 January 2017 in order to execute a new contract. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: The new requirement will be issued by NCO 5 and it will be publicized pursuant to FAR Part 5. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: This cost is deemed to be fair and reasonable based on negotiated cost of the current contract. The previous award was competitively solicited and then negotiated to be a fair and reasonable price. There are no significant market condition changes that would expect increased or decreased pricing as a result of this extension. Furthermore, as stated in section three (3) of this J&A document, the 52.217-8 option rates are the same rates as the option period three (3) rates of the current Core Curriculum contract. The option period three (3) rates were found to be fair and reasonable by the Contracting Officer at the time of contract award. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Market Research was not conducted for the proposed extension; however, extensive market research was conducted for the new re-compete procurement from Network Contract Office (NCO) 5. It is anticipated that it will be set-aside for Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB). Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: Caregiver training is required by PL 111-163 and must be successfully completed before the Caregiver can be approved to receive the stipend and other support services offered in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. The existing contract for this service is set to expire on 5 January 2017. It is imperative an extension be granted as soon as possible in order to ensure that we are in compliance with Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (Public Law 111-163). The education services and financial support to our Family Caregivers cannot be disrupted.
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/dbc3ad846807b7ff8188b9ee92b5c304)
 

Document(s)

Attachment
 

File Name: VA777-13-C-0001 P00009 VA777-13-C-0001 P00009_1.docx (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=3238501&FileName=VA777-13-C-0001-P00009000.docx)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=3238501&FileName=VA777-13-C-0001-P00009000.docx

 

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

Record

SN04383321-W 20170129/170127234033-dbc3ad846807b7ff8188b9ee92b5c304 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

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

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