Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF AUGUST 11, 2011 FBO #3547
DOCUMENT

70 -- Laureate platform. - Attachment

Notice Date

8/9/2011
 

Notice Type

Attachment
 

NAICS

423490 — Other Professional Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs;GLAC (69D);5000 W. National Ave;Milwaukee WI 53295-0005
 

ZIP Code

53295-0005
 

Solicitation Number

VA69D11RQ1534
 

Response Due

8/15/2011
 

Archive Date

8/24/2011
 

Point of Contact

Antonio Reyes
 

E-Mail Address

2-5416<br
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition 1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, Great Lakes Acquisition Center, 115 South 84th Street, Milwaukee WI 53214-1476. Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition for PR# 695-11-3-020-0186. 2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Processed: Laureate Platform by Cyber Class This is the only all-in-one touch platform computer based CPU. It is configured to accommodate those with even the most severe disabilities through use of keyboard, mouse, touch, voice command, or even sightless navigation. The Laureate Platform is a full HD monitor touchpad style fully capable computer that has cable-ready TV tuner, DVD RRW, 2.0 HD audio, and webcam/patient monitoring. It is touchpad based keyboard as well as regular wireless keyboard. It is Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Windows based utilizing the HP Touchsmart computer. The computer comes with Dragon Speech recognition software for voice command. Since this is basic PC-Windows based system, any programs available for computers can be installed and any hardware can be upgraded. The screen is also glass and can utilize any type of cleaning chemicals. Since this is PC, it can be utilized in any type of lighting, indoors or outdoors. The Laureate doubles as an instructional platform with E-Lectern. The E-Lectern utilizes a state-of-the-art wireless air communications device which instantaneously provides an optional host projector with a mimicked HD-quality image. Laureate system can be utilized as personal PC for the SCI patients after its use as a classroom PC. Cyber Class provides extended two-year unlimited warranty and access to the company's in-house IT Support. Finally Cyber Class staff will provide comprehensive training on site. The Laureate system is also hospital grade certified. Research on this type of system did not provide any system that is truely compatible. 3. Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency's Needs: VA, as a definite part of its mission, needs to be able to do the following: Currently, SCI Vocational Rehabilitation does not have any program or instructional system to assist SCI veterans. The Laureate system is utilized to accomplish vocational as well as avocational training to the SCI veterans that currently do not have any system unless significant modification can be applied to a basic computer. Even with the assistive devices, the patients do not have capability of utilizing the potentials of a PC without it being a touchpad based with full PC capability. General computers or laptops cannot accomplish what the Laureate system can do. All features on the Laureate system is user friendly and provide individual usage potential as well as student/teacher style set up. Studies have shown that active SCI patients participate in vocational and avocational pursuit thereby decreasing hospital admissions and staying healthy. Also, Laureate system will be utilized by the SCI Education Nurse to provide teaching for the SCI patients as well as SCI staff on all computer based training. If VA did not obtain this particular product, VA would not be able to: provide vocational and avocational training the most disabled veterans, SCI veterans. More disabled the veteran, more assistive devices and higher technological equipment are needed to bring them back into being a positive member of the society. Patient education, vocation or avocational, as well as education of staff are definitely a part of VA's mission. There is no other touchpad based PC that can accommodate both staff and significantly disabled population like the SCI veterans that can go from classroom setting to personal PC setting. 4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition: (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): The other products that were investigated are mainly teacher/student based models and do not have the capability to be utilized as an individual PC easily in patient rooms or other settings. Neither one have the flexibility of computer, internet access, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, touchpad keyboard, TV, DVD, and compatibility of variety of softwares without adding a PC. Neither one of them have Dragon Software for voice interaction preinstalled. 6. Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as deemed practicable: Two other potential products were researched but they have significant shortfalls for the needs of the VA Medical Center and the SCI. 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: Based on the quote submitted by CyberClass the VA was given a 16.5% discount from the commercial list price. 8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results: Two other companies have products that are similar but have significant shortfall. 1. Satalight by InfoCor (www.mysatalight.com) is projector based smartboard like system that creates the touchpad. This 2 system can interact with a PC but that would require purchase of a separate system to be linked to it. This product is bulky and needs a projector to operate. Projector has limited hours of use as well as significant difficulty in bright classrooms. It is also need to add voice command program to be purchased and installed. Manipulating the board requires upper body mobility which many SCI veterans do not have. It is not truly feasible as a personal PC which SCI patients will use after the classroom setting. Total cost for six system is $58,994.00. 2. Second product is TapIt by SmartEd System (www.teachsmart.org). This is also touchpad technology but is more of a teaching/student based platform with large screen and not a PC based system. A PC needs to be purchased separately and connected to get the full use of the PC. It also need to add voice command program to be purchased and installed. It is not truly feasible as a personal PC which the SCI patients will use after classroom setting. Total cost for six system is $61,874.78. 9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition: Vocational rehabilitation for SCI veterans have significant limitation unless technology and assistive devices are heavily utilized. Multiple different types of technology, programs and assistive devices need to be purchased and utilized to accomplish the same goal as the Laureate's all-in-one touch based PC system. For SCI veterans, simplicity rather than multiplicity is beneficial and eventually useful. 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: For future acquisitions the VA can research to see if there have been any technological advancements in this particular field and what companies can provide them. 12. 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. (This signature is the requestor's supervisor, fund control point official, chief of service, someone with responsibility and accountability) _____________________________ ____4-7-2011________________ Name: Kenneth LeeDate Title: SCI Division Manager Facility: VA Medical Center Approvals in accordance with FAR 6.304 a.Contracting Officer's Certification (required): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. _____________________________ ________________________ Name: Antonio ReyesDate Title: Contract Specialist Facility: GLAC b.VISN/PCA QA (Required $3K and above): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. _____________________________ ________________________ NameDate Title Facility ? c.NCM/PCM (Required $3K and above): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition. _____________________________ ________________________ NameDate Network Contract Manager VISN/PCA X
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/VA/VAGLHS/VAGLHCS/VA69D11RQ1534/listing.html)
 

Document(s)

Attachment
 

File Name: VA-69D-11-RQ-1534 VA-69D-11-RQ-1534.doc (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=229559&FileName=VA-69D-11-RQ-1534-000.doc)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=229559&FileName=VA-69D-11-RQ-1534-000.doc

 

Note: If links are broken, refer to Point of Contact above or contact the FBO Help Desk at 877-472-3779.
 

Record

SN02527728-W 20110811/110810000115-ee64b3e9c3dfad2b6fd88db4ee30ffe3 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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