Ground Ambulance Services | PoP: 3/01/2024 - 2/28/2025 |

Effective Date: 02/01/2022 Page 1 of 9 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.5 Acquisition Plan Action ID:

36C261-24-AP-0204 Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Regional Procurement Office West, Network Contracting Office 21 on behalf of VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS) Veteran Integrated Service Network 21. Purchase Request# 593-24-1-216-0003 Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: This procurement is for Ground Ambulance Services in accordance with FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items and specifically FAR 13.501 Special Documentation Requirements, where acquisitions conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6, but still require a justification using the format of FAR 6.303-2.

The action is being review and approved will be a new firm fixed price sole source contract to Guardian Elite Medical Services, LLC., a small disadvantage business concern. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency s Needs: The Southern Nevada Healthcare System VA Medical Center (hereafter Southern Nevada Healthcare System), its associated Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and affiliated healthcare clinics require contracted non-emergency ambulance transportation services.

The contractor shall provide all vehicles, personnel, management, supplies, equipment, and necessary reporting for the provision of Stretcher Transports, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), Critical Care Transport (CCT) services. The contactor shall make these ambulance services available to the VA as needed, 24 hours a day, seven days a week (24/7), including weekends and holidays. The period of performance for this requirement is 2/01/2024 1/31/2025.

Estimated Contract value is $488, 476.93 Statutory Authority Permitting Restricted Competition: FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The statutory authority for applying the Simplified Procedures for Commercial Items of FAR 13.5 is 41 U.S.C. § 1901 and is implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) for restricting competition on this procurement.  Competition is restricted on this procurement for the reason below:

       (x ) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements        ( ) Unusual and Compelling Urgency        ( )  Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services        ( ) International Agreement        ( ) Authorized or Required by Statute        ( ) National Security        ( ) Public Interest Demonstration that the Contractor s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority): VA Southern Nevada Healthcare system intends to sole source ground ambulance services to Guardian Elite Medical Services, LLC., a small disadvantage business concern, in effort to align with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Health Administration (VHA) Veterans Transportation Services (VTS) directive 1695 (amended November 22,2022) to ensure that all VA medical facilities develop and implement safe VHA patient transportation management programs.

Guardian Elite Medical Services, LLC., a small disadvantage business, is capable of providing the required services, as they currently offer these services commercially.Following normal contracting procedures would cause unacceptable delays in fulfilling this requirement. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: On October 31 November 06, 2023 RFQ 1665393 was posted to GSA ebuy and to the open market(RFI 36C26124Q0100) on SAM.gov.

The solicitation included the performance work statement and instructions for submitting capablitity statements and relevant information by the closing date. Guardian Elite Medical Services, LLC., a small disadvantage business concern, was the only response received. VIP Search under NAICS: 621910 returned 16 SDVOSBs, and sources sought emailed with performance work statement attached, on November 08 15, 2023 received zero responses.

Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: Contract 36C26120D0093-36C26123F0326 awarded to AIRMED RESPONSE, LLC for ambulance services, period of performance 8/01/2023 7/31/2024 for $455,655.20. This procurement cost $448,476.93 is $7,178.27 or 2% less. Based on comparison to similar services within the same locality, the price is determined fair and reasonable.

Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: As described in Section 6 above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, was conducted by synopsis of the proposed acquisition, advising industry of the pending acquisition and soliciting inquiries from interested parties. On October 31 November 06, 2023 RFQ 1665393 was posted to GSA ebuy and to the open market(RFI 36C26124Q0100) on SAM.gov.

The solicitation included the performance work statement and instructions for submitting capablitity statements and relevant information by the closing date. Guardian Elite Medical Services, LLC., a small disadvantage business concern, was the only response received. VIP Search under NAICS: 621910 returned 16 SDVOSBs, and sources sought emailed with performance work statement attached, on November 08 15, 2023 received zero responses.

Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: N/A Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: Guardian Elite Medical Services, LLC 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: VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System and Network Contracting Office will continue to monitor the market for changes tha would allow competition.

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.

James Andrews III Date Chief, Business Administration Services VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System Approvals in accordance with the VHAPM Part 806.3 OFOC SOP: Contracting Officer or Designee s Certification (required): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Pablo S. Cunanan Date Contracting Officer Network Contracting office(NCO)21 One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over SAT but not exceeding $750K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.

Jason T. Hill Date Branch Chief, Services II Network Contracting Office (NCO)21