Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification for Single Source Awards IAW FAR 13.106-1 For Over Micro-Purchase Threshold but Not Exceeding the SAT ($250K) Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C241-20-AP-2570... DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification for Single Source Awards IAW FAR 13.106-1 For Over Micro-Purchase Threshold but Not Exceeding the SAT ($250K) Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C241-20-AP-2570 Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 1, West Haven VA Medical Center Requisition: 689-20-4-7204-0711 Brief Description of Supplies/ Services required and the intended use/Estimated Amount: The requirement is to provide services in support of VA research for the modification, setup, hosting, production, and management of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) applications for the VA-funded Headache Center of Excellence (HCoE) grant. In this study, participants with chronic headaches will receive interactive voice response (IVR) calls after enrollment into the study. The HCoE study will involve evaluating an IVR/SMS based behavioral treatment for chronic headaches. IVR will be used to deliver the treatment and collect outcome data. The enrollment, randomization, and treatment of participants will occur centrally at VA Connecticut Healthcare System. Said system will be built by the vendor to accommodate this functionality. The estimated amount is $112,000.00 Unique characteristics that limit availability to only one source, with the reason no other supplies or services can be used: We have identified only one company who will be able to provide the services we need within the VA funding allocation for this project: Tech4Research. They are uniquely positioned to facilitate hosting the IVR system for this VA project, since they are able to arrange for a FedRAMP-Compliant GovCloud hosting environment. Tech4Research has also developed a very similar system to the one needed for this project and installed it on their resources, as required for testing of the system during the development phase. In order for the project to stay within its funding time frame there are no other companies that could facilitate hosting this system, considering the start-up time that would be needed to put in place the following capabilities: acquiring the necessary equipment and infrastructure; SIP trunk set-up and system administration (including SSL certificates); installation and configuration of the platform; intimate knowledge of the IVR system, testing the system internally after system installation to identify issues with content, navigation, functionality and performance on that system; and providing monitoring and system support 24/7. Since Tech4Research developed a very similar platform, they already have all these capabilities in place. In addition, within the past 12 months, Tech4Research has completed VA PHI/PII Privacy Training requirements, including GAP Specific (PHI/PII) Privacy Training (20939), as well as VA background check with fingerprinting. Description of market research conducted and results or statement why it was not conducted: Due to the unique requirements which limit this requirement to the suggested vendor, we have identified only one company (Tech4Research) that can provide the needed services within the timeframe required and available budget. Based on historical prices paid for similar research projects hosted at the U-M MACC, we believe that the pricing is not only fair and reasonable, but lower than it would be with another company, especially considering the steep learning curve that would be required of any other company.