Research-Speech & Voice Assessment Services located at VAMC Jamaica Plain Campus

Presolicitation Notice Presolicitation Notice Page 3 of 3 Presolicitation Notice *=Required Field Presolicitation Notice Page 1 of 3 Pre-solicitation Notice of Intent to Sole Source Pre-Solicitation Notice of intent to award a sole source contract. This is not a solicitation. The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to negotiate a sole source contract with:   Jonathan Rowen 129 JENKINS RD BEDFORD, NH 03110-5042 UEI: Z1VBQ9CEXDH8 This is not a solicitation.

The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to negotiate services with Jonathan Rowen assess voice characteristics, resonance, and speech articulation according to protocol specifications established with the funding agency (VA Rehab R&D) for the research project entitled An RCT of a Telemedicine Intervention for Hypokinetic Dysarthria in PD (IRB#1599876). Research-Speech & Voice Assessment Services located at the VAMC Jamaica Plain Campus.

The contractor shall evaluate and determine voice and speech severity ratings of research subjects using an interval scale following VA approved research specifications. These ratings will be done on a variety of voice and speech tasks by research participants, including sustained phonation (isolated sustained vowels), paragraph reading (Rainbow passage), and spontaneous monologue (self-selected topic for 60 to 90 seconds).

Severity ratings will be based on voice characteristics (e.g., loudness, hoarseness), resonance (e.g., hypernasality), and speech articulation (e.g., consonant precision). A severity scale ranging from none (0) severe (5) will be used to rate articulation, voice, and resonance for each of the three tasks.

The contractor shall follow a very precise research protocol including the use and application of a novel interval scale for dysarthria; the order and difference between response options is well understood by the contractor. This research approach is in contrast with the clinical approach, e.g., typically using a free form or nominal scale of measurement. Since the intent is to procure this on a sole source basis, no solicitation will be posted to Contracting Opportunities SAM.gov.

The authority for this action is FAR 6.302.1-1 Only One Responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.  The NAICS 54175. The size standard is 1,000 employees.

The PSC/FSC is AN11.       Interested persons may contact the Contracting Officer by email at keri.reeves@va.gov regarding this procurement. The determination to conduct a competitive procurement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer.  Response must be received by 5/20/2024 NLT 10:00am EST.