Justification and Approval – Q– HOME HEALTH AIDE SERVICES

Notice Type: Justification and Approval

Posted Date: 27-JUL-15

Office Address: Department of Veterans Affairs;VA Maryland Health Care System;Contracting Officer (90C);P.O. Box 1000, Bldg. 101, Room 26;Perry Point MD 21902

Subject: Q-- HOME HEALTH AIDE SERVICES

Classification Code: Q - Medical services

Contact: Joan JonesContract Specialist 410-642-1748 mailto:[email protected] FAR 6.302-1

Description: Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Maryland Health Care System

Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System

The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to negotiate and award a sole source commercial Basic Ordering Agreement for Homemaker/Home Health Aide services with Jerry's Caring Hands, located at 7201 Harford Road, Baltimore Maryland 21234. The purpose of the award is to allow for the placement of Veterans in a facility that is within close proximity to their home or family. The Government intends to negotiate a Basic Ordering Agreement for the period of one base year plus three option years. The proposed contract action is for services which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source in accordance with FAR 6.302.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotes, proposals, or information. Please direct any questions to the Contract Specialist Joan E Jones, email: [email protected]

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

VISN 5

Justification and Approval

For

Other Than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 05, VA Maryland Health Care System (209 W. Fayette Street; Baltimore, MD 21201)

Requisition No.: Paid via 1358

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: Pursuant to Citations 41 U.S.C. 253(c) (1) and 38 USC the VA has a requirement which can only be reasonably met by a single supplier. Services at this time may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract, when it is likely that award to another source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirement and substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

The Government anticipates entering into sole source acquisition negotiations for Assignment and services of eligible Veterans to Jerry's Caring Hands agency located in Nottingham, Maryland. Jerry's Caring Hands is supporting the VAMHCS in meeting its strict requirements for maintaining of eligible Veterans in their homes in the community setting.

The government anticipates award of a Basic Ordering Agreement for a total of sixty-(60) months, a base year with three (3) one-year options.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency's Needs:

Award a sole source contract Jerry's Caring Hands, Nottingham, MD, to provide Home Health Aide Care services to Veterans and eligible beneficiaries in the state of Maryland.

Period of Performance Annual Amount Annual Increase Increase Amount Annual Estimate

Base Period $1,108,800.00 0% $0.00 $1,108,800.00

Option Period 1 $1,108,800.00 1.28% $1,419.26 $1,110,219.26

Option Period 2 $1,110,219.26 1.28% $1,421.08 $1,111,640.34

Option Period 3 $1,111,640.34 1.28% $1,422.89 $1,113,063.23

Grand Est. 4 yrs. $4,443,772.83

COR IGCE: $4,443,772.83

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: FAR 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C. 253(d) (1) (A): Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

(X) (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;

( ) (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): 42 USC --484.32, creates the expectation that qualified Veterans will receive Home Health Aide care in their community. The VA Medical Center (VAMC) provides care to Veterans who meet the requirement for Residential Care (Nursing Home) but desires to reside and be cared for at home in their own community. Jerry's Caring Hands, Inc., understands that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has a policy that Home Health Aide care may be provided by a licensed Home Health Aide agency at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expense.

The primary goal of the Home Health Aide (HHA) Program is to maintain or restore the Veteran to the highest level of health and well-being attainable through assistance with Activities of Daily Living. Home Health Aide Care also includes Respite, Hospice and palliative services for referred Veterans. It is essential that arrangements for care respond to the Veteran's needs at any given point in time. The HHA program is a referral based program that is initiated by the Veteran's primary care physician at the VA Medical Center. HHA provides an alternative to Nursing Home living, allowing the Veteran to remain at home.

The HHA Program is the Maryland Health System's largest non-medical Home Health purchased care program, serving over 700 Veterans. With a huge Veteran demand and lack of funding, a Waiting List of over 300 Veterans has prompted a need for HHA agencies capable of servicing larger amounts of Veterans with quality care.

Jerry's Caring Hands is a premiere Home Health Aide agency who has proven its superb care quality and dependability with our Veterans. Jerry's Caring Hands meets our expectations on the geographic coverage area of Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Eastern Shore. Over the past 5 years Jerry's Caring Hands has continually grown as an agency and in its quality of care, expanding its ability to care for Veterans from the Maryland Health Care System. Through our Yearly and periodic surveys, we found that the Veterans under their care have expressed great satisfaction with the provided care of Jerry's Caring Hands. Veterans and family have become accustomed to the daily routine provided by Jerry's Caring Hands and any change could jeopardize their quality of daily living and overall health. There are also fiscal ramifications that will ensue. These include initial assessment fees ($100.00) for each Veteran and additional time-consuming administrative issues. The primary goal of the VAMC is to maintain or restore the Veterans to the highest level of well-being, while assisting Veterans and their families in the daily tasks of caring for them and keep them at home as opposed to a nursing home. Therefore changing Home Health Aide agencies at this time is not in the best interest to the Veterans and the government.

The Contractor (Jerry's Caring Hands) is to provide Home Health Aide care in accordance with the VHA Home Health Aide Procedures specified in VHA Handbook 1140.6. The agency has to meet all state licensing requirements including the state requirement pertaining to level of non-medical liability insurance.

6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: A notice of Intent to sole source will be published on FedBizOpps.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: Payment to the Home Health Aide agency is based on negotiated rates as they relate to the State Medicaid/LUPA rates which change annually; however, our agreement allows for an annual rate change to reduce administration costs. Prices are considered to be fair and reasonable based on comparison to the established Medicaid/Lupa rates.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted: Research was conducted on a Limited Basis: Market research was performed finding there are several businesses in the same area as Jerry's Caring Hands. However none were capable of caring for Veterans in their area of coverage. Market research for future agreements is dependent on the needs of the patients and resources of the VA Medical Center which is customarily administered by Social Work service.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: Continuing service is critical to Veterans to sustain a quality of life at an acceptable level.

10. Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition:

None

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: No other known Home Health Aide source has expressed capable interest in this action. The procurement action will be posted to the Government Point of Entry (GPE). Any responses will be referred to the Community Care Lead Social Worker to determine if additional sources capable of satisfying the agency's requirements exist.

Link/URL: https://www.fbo.gov/spg/VA/VAMHCS512/VAMHCS512/VA24515R0151/listing.html