SPECIAL NOTICE
Q -- Dermatopathology Consultative Services
- Notice Date
- 3/1/2010
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 621511
— Medical Laboratories
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veterans Affairs;VA Boston Healthcare System;Contracting Officer (90C);940 Belmont Street;Brockton MA 02301
- ZIP Code
- 02301
- Archive Date
- 3/31/2010
- Point of Contact
- Tracey Bissonnette-ArambulaContracting Specialist
- E-Mail Address
-
Contracting Specialist
(tracey.bissonnette-arambula@va.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare System, has a requirement for dermatopathology consultative services. It is the Governments intention to solicit and negotiate only with this source. Please refer to the Sole Source Justification. This is not a solicitation; it is notice of intent to sole source a requirement. Inquires/information received after established deadline of March 8, 2010 12noon EST shall not be considered. The submission of any data for review shall not impede award of this contract as planned. The Government does not intend to pay for information solicited. This synopsis is issued pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION 1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity. VA BOSTON HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Procurement for: Dermatopathology Consultation 2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved. SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT FOR: Caris/Cohen DX 3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value). Please include the IFCAP transaction number, dollar value and a description of the item being sought. IFCAP Transaction # 523-10-2-2765-0046 Dollar value: $110,000 per year Reagent cost: non applicable Item Description: Dermatopathology consultative services. 4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition. FAR 6.302-1, USC 253(c)(1) Only One Responsible Source 5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority sited. Currently, there has been no dermatopathologist in VA Boston and VISN 1 since Jan 2008. Attempts to recruit a dermatopathologist were unsuccessful; therefore we sought consultative services. Consultative services include consultation of selected cases as well as dermatolpatholgy conferences at VA West Roxbury. In consultation with the Chief of Dermatology, Caris/Cohen DX and Boston University Dermatopathology Department(BU) were considered. Caris/Cohen was selected for the following reasons: 1. BU could not meet turn around time (TAT) requirements. Caris/Cohen could meet TAT requirements of 48 hours from receipt of cases. 2.BU required all blocks and slides and could not guarantee return of blocks. This is against VHA handbook 1106.1. Blocks must be kept on-site at VA. Caris-Cohen does not require blocks to be sent. 3.BU staffing changes frequently whereas Caris-Cohen does not. 4.BU planned to assign a fellow rather than a senior staff member to review and lead conferences. Caris-Cohen senior staff review VA cases as well as provide conferences. Expertise of a senior level staff member is required for VA cases per Dr. Konnikov, Chief of Dermatology Service, VA Boston. Dr. Haynes, long time VA dermatologist and senior dermatologist at Brigham & Womens Hospital was satisfied with our previous Consultant in Dermatopathology, before he left. Dr. Haynes said that he was satisfied with an experienced senior dermatopathologist to sign out VA cases. 5.VA Dermatology Staff and VA Pathology Staff are very satisfied with service provided by Caris-Cohen. 6.Caris/Cohen provides courier service free of charge. The courier picks up new cases and returns reviewed cases 2 times per week. All slides and blocks are returned in a timely manner. BU and BWH do not provide courier service. This would be an added expense to the VA to transport specimens. 7.Caris/Cohen has senior and experienced staff, only. Residents and fellows do not perform services. 8.Caris/Cohen provides adjunct services such as special tests when required. 9.Caris/Cohen provides faxed reports to decrease turn around times. 6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a Commerce Business Daily notice was or will be published. Boston Medical Center- see #5, unable to provide services that would meet accreditation needs and was not willing to assign senior staff to VA cases. Brigham and Womens Hospital- In Jan 2008, BACL Lab Chief contacted the Vice-Chair of Dept of Pathology, no response received as to whether they were interested in providing services. VA has experienced difficulty in receiving surgical consults reports for nerve, muscle and kidney biopsies. Dermpath volume is much higher and it would not be practical for VA to follow up on getting reports. Caris Cohen phases reports to decrease turnaround time. 7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. A price analysis will be made prior to award to determine if the price is fair and reasonable. Additionally, price negotiations may be conducted if the CO determines this is necessary. 8. Description of the market survey conducted (i.e., names, of, firms and the date(s) the firms were contacted) and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted. See #5 and #6 9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as an explanation why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available. See #5 and #6 10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. Two dermatopathologists inquired about a part time position as Consultant in Dermatopathology to VA Boston Healthcare System. The potential candidates were, affiliated with Brigham and Womens Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Both candidates were offered the position, but both candidates declined the offer. One declined because of a commitment to devoting more time to his newly awarded research grant and the other declined because the offered compensation was inadequate to replace lost income from private practice. 11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required. This contracting activity will continue to encourage full and open competition whenever possible.
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