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FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF APRIL 19, 2015 FBO #4894
DOCUMENT

U -- Transformational Leadership Training - Justification and Approval (J&A)

Notice Date

4/17/2015
 

Notice Type

Justification and Approval (J&A)
 

NAICS

611310 — Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs;VA CENTRAL WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS HCS;Acquisitions-90;421 North Main Street;Leeds MA 01053-9764
 

ZIP Code

01053-9764
 

Archive Date

5/23/2015
 

Point of Contact

Johanne Menard
 

E-Mail Address

4-4040<br
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Award Number

VA241-15-C-0105
 

Award Date

4/23/2015
 

Description

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition 1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Program Contracting Office 2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: The VISN 1 Education Department seeks to enter into an Agreement for Transformational Leadership Training on a sole source basis to the University of Washington, Foster Business School, Center for Leadership & Strategic Thinking, Box 353226, Seattle, WA 98195-3226. This acquisition will allow the VISN 1 Education Department to establish an agreement to maintain an essential capability for complex application of specific evidenced-based leadership training methods and expertise that cannot be performed solely by VISN 1. The anticipated value of this requirement, to be developed via individual calls, is $257,996. This requirement will be awarded as a new agreement. This will be a one-year contract with fixed price calls. 3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency's Needs: Per Title 10 United States Code 2304 (c) (3) as implemented by FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii), the VISN 1 Education Department facilitates innovative solutions to health care delivery challenges identified by national, network, and facility leadership as well as to propose important opportunities for change and improvement. A key element of this partnership is the involvement of faculty and students from its academic partners who will bring expertise in leadership and supervisor development practices. This is one of 12 academic partnerships with various universities VERC (Veteran's Engineering Resource Center) supports. The universities are needed to engage in highly-specialized projects of benefit to VHA in their areas of expertise; they will work in conjunction with and oversight by VISN 1 Education staff. The Contracting Officer intends to award with a NTE of $257,996 with a period of performance 1 June, 2015 - 31 May 2016. There is one (1) call for FY15, however additional calls maybe placed in FY16 under this agreement. 4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: ( ) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per FAR 6.302-1; ( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per FAR 6.302-2; (XX ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per FAR 6.302-3; ( ) (4) International Agreement per FAR 6.302-4 ( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute FAR 6.302-5; ( ) (6) National Security per FAR 6.302-6; ( ) (7) Public Interest per FAR 6.302-7; 5. Demonstration that the Contractor's Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): Accordingly, The University of Washington is an academic partner that specifically has capability to provide evidenced based leadership development expertise. The Foster School of Business Center for Leadership and Strategic Thinking at the University of Washington studies complex systems in industry and manufacturing settings, healthcare environments and society in general. The University has led a wide spectrum of projects with multiple U.S. hospital systems, at their site, that focus on applied Leadership research projects that can be broadly classified under (a) Transformational Leadership, (b) productivity assessment and capacity planning, (c) strategic planning and future-state analysis, and (d) building authentic leadership in complex and adaptive environments. Examples of their research include significant amount of work in improving large dynamic organizations using effective supervisor and leader development. These efforts have been supported through partnerships with multiple organizations. The Foster School of Business must be used as the sole source for VISN 1 Leadership Education for the following important reasons: a. Standardized Approach and Recognized Instructor: VISN 1 has worked hard to establish training around a single leadership philosophy that utilizes an evidenced- based approach. Only The Foster School of Business provides the recognized expert in Transformational Leadership education (Dr. Bruce Avolio). His specific instruction is evidenced-based and is a very specific approach to Leadership Instruction that is unattainable through any other vendors. b. Content Validity: VISN 1 currently uses the Avolio approach in all other leadership instruction. To develop a Leadership Training System, it is absolutely critical that VISN 1 maintain overall content validity. There is no other way to maintain overall Content Validity without using Dr. Avolio from the Foster School of Business. While other vendors can offer generic leadership training and some even offer training on what they call "Transformational Leadership" only The Foster School of Business provides the subject matter expert and ability to provide VISN 1 a standardized approach, recognized instructor, while maintaining content validity throughout. The importance of utilizing The Foster School of Business cannot be overstated. Any other provider would be a waste of government funds for what VISN 1 is attempting to provide its employees in the way of Leadership Training 6. Description of Efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-5(a) (2) (i) Full and Open Competition need not be provided for when a statute expressly authorizes or requires that the acquisition be made to maintain an essential capability for complex application of specific methods and expertise. This is a sole source requirement. 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: The award will have commercial rates for various labor categories. Each task will require the contractor to submit a cost proposal for the labor category proposed which will be evaluated and compared with previous contracts that are similar in scope, against information in the Department of Labor Statistics, www.salary.com, and any other available information that may be applicable for cost realism purposes. It is expected that the proposed labor rate will be rate inclusive of General and Administrative and indirect costs. The Government will evaluate the contractor's proposal and determine fair and reasonable pricing at the time of award. 8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: No market research was conducted for this acquisition. VISN 1 has developed a unique and mutual relationship with the university in the leadership and supervisor development field. The VISN Education Department has a mission requirement through a Strategic Initiative to develop supervisor ability using the evidenced-based approach from the University of Washington, Foster School of Business. 9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:. The work to be performed as part of this project is not suitable for full and open competition due to the unique capabilities that the university currently offers the VHA on other projects, and the need for future continuity of service. This arrangement is mutually beneficial and highly cost effective in regard to the use of facilities and resources. The University of Washington has developed subject matter experts in leadership development related to workflow and process re-design; productivity assessment and capacity planning; strategic planning; and future-state analysis that would provide invaluable unique expertise to projects we develop. The requirement cannot be modified to enhance competition, as it is determined as a result of an Institutional review board approved protocol and are in line with the project as approved by the VISN 1 Executive Leadership Board. 10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: There are no other sources but the proposed. 11. A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required: Given the unique nature of this requirement and the collaborative nature of research work, services must continue to be met through sole source provisions of FAR Subpart 6.302-3 (a) (ii), 6.302-3 (V) (ii) (2) (ii), and 6.302-5. 12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the requirement outlined in this justification is a Bona Fide Need of the Department of Veterans Affairs and that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/37142905c9fe85d9e6cd1e89525cc38f)
 

Document(s)

Justification and Approval (J&A)
 

File Name: VA241-15-C-0105 VA241-15-C-0105.docx (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=1990651&FileName=VA241-15-C-0105-000.docx)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=1990651&FileName=VA241-15-C-0105-000.docx

 

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

Record

SN03703249-W 20150419/150417234818-37142905c9fe85d9e6cd1e89525cc38f (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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