A--Subscription to ECRI Emergency Care Research Institute

Letter of Intent to Sole Source to ECRI Institute. The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare System intends to purchase a one year VISN membership to the Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) the following subscription from ECRI Institute : SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE PERIOD OF 10/1/09 - 9/30/10 "SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILIY OF FY'10 FUNDS" SUBSCRIPTION BENEFITS INCLUDE ON-LINE ACCESS TO THE NEW HEALTH DEVICES (HD) MEMBERS WEBSITE INCLUDING WEEKLY ALERTS AND MONTHLY JOURNALS. **PRICES VARY ACCORDING TO FACILITY BEDSIZE 1) MANCHESTER- (INTERNATIONAL SOURCEBASE & HD-ONLINE) $4,685.00 2) MANCHESTER -2010 HELATH DEVICES SOURCEBOOK $475.00 3) PROVIDENCE-(INTERNATIONAL SOURCEBASE & HD-ONLINE) $4,685.00 4) TOGUS (INTERNATIONAL SOURCEBASE & HD-ONLINE) $4,685.00 5) WEST HAVEN (INTERNATIONAL SOURCEBASE & HD-ONLINE) $4,685.00 6) BHS (HD GOLD) $6,420.00 7) BHS -2009 HEALTH DEVICES SOURCEBOOK $475.00 (8) WHITE RIVER JUNCTION (HD-ONLINE) $4,025.00 (9) WRJ-2010 HEALTH DEVICES SOUREBOOK $475.00 ECRI. is a small business, NAICS 334510. Inquires/information received after established deadline of 3pm EST on September 18, 2009 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 Medical Center, Clinical Engineering, BHS, Manchester, NH, Providence, MA, Togus, ME., West Haven, CT. and WRJ, VT. 2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved. Sole Source procurement of the following: one year VISN membership to the Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) 3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value). 523-10-1-4500-0002, $30,640.00 for a VISN membership purchase including weekly Health Device alerts and monthly journals. 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. ECRI is the sole distributor for this product. They alone have expertise to certify and maintain this product. 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. 7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. The VA has been purchasing this subscription for several years and ECRI is the only source for such health device alerts and source books. If each site purchased this membership alone the purchase price would be $33,527.00. By combining the above sites, vendor is offering a substantial cost savings to the VA. 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. Because ECRI is the only provider of these services and subscription not other surveys were conducted. It is the intent of the VA to verify this sole source with a publication on FBO of an intent to sole source. 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. ECRI is the only source for such health device alerts and source books. If each site purchased this membership alone the purchase price would be $33,527.00. By combining the above sites, vendor is offering a substantial cost savings to the VA. 10. A listing of the sources, if any, 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 any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required Since there appears to be no other vendor capable of providing the proprietary subscription services, a posting will be made to FBO prior to the Sole Source award. However, the Contracting department will continue to encourage full and open competition whenever possible. Any concerns with this sole source should be directed to James Kneeland @ contact@example.gov