The Department of Veterans Affairs VA Connecticut Health CareSystem (VACHCS) intends to negotiate a commercial (FAR Part 12) solesource contract with Joint commission Resources under the authority ofFAR 6.302-1. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions andclauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC)FAC 2005-26. Only one responsible source and no other supplies orservices will satisfy agency requirements. A justification for otherthan full and open competition is being prepared in support of thisacquisition. Items being procured must be the same as or equal to:Provide a total of five days (during the month of January 2009) tofollow up on the assessment of survey readiness based on compliance withthe Joint Commission Hospital and Behavioral Health programsAccreditation Standards, related survey and scoring issues that waspreviously conducted by JCR in October 2008. The on-site evaluation forthe hospital on Joint Commission preparedness should include a team oftwo nurses and a physician for three days, and an engineer for lifesafety inspection for two days. Consultants will follow up on previousfindings and review pertinent healthcare system documents (healthcaresystem policies, committee meeting minutes, environment of care manualand any other relevant hospital documents) and provide a summary offindings. The on-site evaluation for the behavioral health residentialprogram on Joint Commission preparedness should include two days offollow up review. Consultants will review pertinent behavioralhealthcare system documents and provide a summary of findings. Theevaluation will include the VHA staff identifying priority areas ofconcern with respect to the Joint Commission standards for both thehospital and behavioral health programs. The consultant evaluation willencompass patient tracer activities with administrative and clinicalareas, system tracers, exit briefing and a written Joint CommissionSurvey Readiness report. The consultants will complete a writtenassessment of compliance with the Joint Commission standards that willinclude identified standards that are non-compliant. The consultantwill work with the VHA staff in assisting in developing achievablecorrective actions. As the Joint Commission survey process isunannounced, the situation may present that the consultation dates maypost-date, conflict or be in progress during the unannounced JointCommission survey. If those conditions present, the hospital may electto stop or cancel the consultation, request the consultant to continuethe scheduled consult or assist the organization with survey findings orother activities. JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLE SOURCE : Joint CommissionResources (JCR), a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission, isa dedicated expert resource for health care organizations worldwide,providing consulting services, educational services, and publications toassist in improving quality and patient safety and to help in meetingthe accreditation standards of The Joint Commission. JCR has helpedorganizations maintain compliance with Joint Commission standards formore than 20 years helping more than 700 organizations across thecountry. JCR has long standing consulting relationships within the VHAsystem. JCR has worked in many VHA facilities and VISNs throughout thenetwork with assessing organizational survey readiness for hospital,behavioral long term care and home care programs. They are veryfamiliar with the VHA healthcare system. JCR will customize anaccreditation preparation consulting service to meet VACT Health CareSystem's needs for survey readiness. JCR consultants are standardstrained and many have on-site survey experience. No comparable systemis currently available as a package assembling comparable capabilitiesfrom individual components would be costly to validate. THIS NOTICE ISNOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. All proposals received by 4:00P.M. eastern Time, Oct 24TH, 2008, will be considered by the Government.A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contractbased on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of theGovernment. Information received will be considered solely for thepurpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.Inquiries will only be accepted in writing by e-mail(
[email protected]) or Mail VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950Campbell Ave. West Haven, CT 06516, Mail Code 90C--------------------------------------------------------------