R--Special Employer Incentive Contract Between the Department of Veteran Affairs and Paragon Systems, Inc.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification and Approval For Other than Full and Open Competition OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED OR REQUIRED BY STATUTE Upon the basis of the following Justification and Approval, the proposed contract described below may be established through other than full and open competition pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(5) as implemented by FAR 6.302-5 - Authorized or Required by Statute. This sole source procurement action is authorized under the provisions of P. L. 112-56, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended, 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 4211(1), 38 U.S.C. 4212. 1. The National Capital Region Benefits Office, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Division (VR&E), is responsible for the contracting action as described herein. 2. This procurement is for a new VR&E Special Employer Incentive (SEI) contract. The SEI program is a private-sector initiative that connects job-seeking Veterans with employers for training while on the job. The VA agrees to reimburse Paragon Systems, Inc. up to 50 percent of the wages paid to the VR&E Veteran working for Paragon Systems Inc. during this specified time period for instructions, instructional aids, training materials and supplies provided to the Veteran, minor modification of equipment to the special limitation of the Veteran, and significant loss of productivity of the employer caused by using the Veteran as opposed to a nondisabled employee. The contract number is 3. The SEI program provides Veterans who face extraordinary obstacles to obtaining employment with additional assistance in finding employment in the private sector. Some Veterans may not be able to locate suitable employment or On-The-Job (OJT) Training opportunities in their local commuting areas; other Veterans may face additional challenges due to their disabilities. The goal of the program is to place Veterans who are generally qualified for employment but may lack some specific training or work experience. The advantage to private-sector employers is that Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) Services will reimburse a portion of the expenses incurred as a result of either providing direct employment or OJT opportunities to Veterans. VR&E staff will not make payments to government employers, including federal, state, or local agencies, as a part of this initiative. 4. This contract will be awarded on a sole-source basis per FAR 6.302-5 - Authorized or Required by Statute. The contract will be firm fixed price. The Veteran will have a period of performance of six months. The Government's estimated cost of the procurement is not to exceed $15,600.00. 5. This Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition will be made publicly available within 14 days after contract award at FedBizOpps.Gov as per FAR 6.305 (Availability of the Justification). 6. 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." /S/ _____________________________ 01/09/2014 Chantile Stovall Date VR&E Officer National Capital Region Benefits Office 7. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination - "I hereby determine that the anticipated costs for this Special Employment Incentive contract action are fair and reasonable based upon wages listed within Department of Labor Wage Determination 2005-2545, Revision 16 dated 06/13/2013 for the following occupations: Armed Security Officer. Approvals in accordance with FAR 6.304 Contracting Officer's Certification: I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. /S/ _____________________________ 01/09/2014 Eural A. Bennett Contracting Officer Date VBA Central Contracting Team