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FBO DAILY ISSUE OF OCTOBER 01, 2012 FBO #3964
DOCUMENT

D -- Automated Communication System - Attachment

Notice Date

9/29/2012
 

Notice Type

Attachment
 

NAICS

541512 — Computer Systems Design Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs;Office of Acquisition Operations;Technology Acquisition Center - Austin;1701 Directors Blvd, Suite 600;Austin TX 78744
 

ZIP Code

78744
 

Solicitation Number

VA118A12Q0186
 

Archive Date

10/27/2012
 

Point of Contact

Kari L Cozzens
 

E-Mail Address

1-4413<br
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Award Number

GS-35F-0821M VA118A-12-F-0182
 

Award Date

9/27/2012
 

Awardee

MUMPS AUDIOFAX INC;744 W. LANCASTER AVE., STE 250;WAYNE;PA;190872551
 

Award Amount

6,312,072.00
 

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 - Austin 1701 Directors Boulevard, Suite 600 Austin, Texas 78744 2.Description of Action: The proposed action is for a one-year firm-fixed price Task Order (TO) with a one-year option period, issued under General Service Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contract Number GS-35F-0821M, to MUMPS AudioFax, Inc., doing business as Audiocare Systems (AudioFax), for renewal of 2,040 term software licenses, software and hardware maintenance, and optional hardware and software upgrades for the AudioCare System. 3.Description of the Supplies or Services: The AudioCare System is operational at 148 VA Healthcare facilities within 22 Veterans Integrated Service Networks. The system allows Veterans to supply and receive medical information from a Healthcare facility via a toll free number and internet sites. Specifically, the AudioCare System, comprised of AudioCare software and hardware, performs the following functions: prescription inquiry and refill order processing; prescription specific medication information for patients; prescription renewal requests and pick-up reminders; appointment scheduling and reminders; preventive health messages; customized patient surveys; secure physician/patient communications, such as for lab results, pre-examination questionnaires, immunization information, and screening reminders; staff emergency notifications, and; patient-initiated balance inquiries. The TO will include term licenses, hardware and software maintenance, including help desk services and on-site support when necessary, and a one year option period for licenses and maintenance. Finally, the TO will include optional line items for hardware and software upgrades so that the AudioCare System will be compatible with future Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) system changes. Specifically, the upgrade will consist of replacing AudioCare hardware that has reached end of life, and upgrading AudioCare software to the Cache version 2010, which is required for mirroring the VistA system. The upgrades are included as optional line items because each AudioCare hardware and software system will require upgrades at different times throughout the period of performance when the hardware has reached end of life or when the VistA system is upgraded to Cache version 2010. 4.Statutory Authority: The statutory authority permitting this action is Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B), Only one source is capable providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. 5.Reason for Authority Cited: AudioFax is the only known source capable of providing an automated communication system compatible with the existing VA infrastructure. Specifically, the AudioCare System, provided by AudioFax, operates with VA's VistA system, a database written in Massachusetts Utility Multi-Programming System (MUMPS) language that holds VA patient scheduling and other information. In order for Veterans to receive patient medical information, the automated communication system must be compatible with VistA and the MUMPS language. AudioFax is the only known source that can provide automated communication software, hardware, and maintenance compatible with VistA. AudioCare uses InterSystems Caché database software to interface with VA VistA database information. Based on market research performed, no other commercially available solution provides an interface solution to the VA VistA database. Finally, only the software and hardware provided by AudioFax can meet all of VA's functional requirements, which include a complete automated communications system consisting of pharmacy, scheduling, clinical, and financial functions required by VA. 6.Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Government conducted market research, details of which are in the market research section of this document. None of these efforts yielded additional sources capable of meeting all of the Government's requirements. There is no competition anticipated for this action. Furthermore, in accordance with FAR 5.3, VA will synopsize the contract award on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) page. In addition, VA will make this Justification and Approval publicly available on the FBO page. 7.Actions to Increase Competition: The Government is currently developing business requirements for a new automated communication system that would ultimately replace the current AudioCare System. As a result, VA expects to conduct a full and open competition based on the new business requirements and implement a new automated communication system by October 2014. 8.Market Research: The Government's technical experts conducted extensive market research from February to March 2012 to identify potential sources capable of providing an automated communication service with the ability to interface with VA's VistA database, including issuance of a Request for Information (RFI). The technical experts conducted two types of web-based searches. The first search was using key words of "MUMPS Software," "VA VistA," and a description of the aforementioned required products and services. These searches produced a number of companies that provided either MUMPS training, database retrieving, or MUMPS programming. The query did not produce any vendors who could provide an audio product for use in a MUMPS environment. The second search was on automated communication systems in a healthcare environment. The search did not produce a system that could meet all VA functional requirements. VA technical experts also searched the FBO page to find past and current solicitations issued by other Federal Agencies for similar products and services. The search demonstrated that no other system is available that can meet VA's needs. The search revealed Tricare, the care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System, administers an enterprise contract with AudioFax for AudioCare products. An RFI (VA118A-12-I-0071) was posted February 24, 2012 on the FBO page identifying VA automated communication system functional requirements to ascertain the ability of any other system that could meet VA's needs. VA received one response from Siemens Enterprise Communications (Siemens), a large business. Siemens submitted information regarding its Genesis system, a full suite of automated communication modules. However, the system is not compatible with VistA, and VA would require a new interface in order for the Genesis system to obtain Veteran medical information from VistA and a new application to perform all of the required communication functions. An interface would require development, customization, testing, deployment, and training, which could result in an interruption of services to Veterans receiving medical information from a Healthcare facility. This would be detrimental to VA's mission. The Government's technical experts contacted Siemens on May 29, 2012, and advised it of the Government's assessment that it could not meet VA's needs. No objections were received. Although there are other solutions being used in VA such as Streem-Cleo Communication and Xerox Patient Appointment Reminder Postcard, the Patient Appointment Reminders functionality is only one of five main modules required for this effort, and therefore does not meet all of VA's requirements. 9.Other Facts: None
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/3bd90ee12dd9ae279e53c34e4ae13a1b)
 

Document(s)

Attachment
 

File Name: GS-35F-0821M VA118A-12-F-0182 GS-35F-0821M VA118A-12-F-0182_1.docx (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=489465&FileName=GS-35F-0821M-002.docx)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=489465&FileName=GS-35F-0821M-002.docx

 

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

Record

SN02904688-W 20121001/120929233701-3bd90ee12dd9ae279e53c34e4ae13a1b (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

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

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