SAM #36C24525P0477

Contract Modification: Scientific and Technical Support Services for VA WRIISC (Sole Source to Henry M. Jackson Foundation)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to modify its contract with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) to add an Epidemiologist position supporting the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) in Washington, DC. - Contract modification is for scientific and technical support services, specifically adding an Epidemiologist role - Supports the VA's Health Outcomes Military Exposures (HOME) program and PACT Act implementation - Services include staffing for Health Coach, Associate Scientific Director, Epidemiologist, and Senior Education and Risk Communication Advisor - HJF is the sole source due to its unique qualifications and prior VA experience - Modification covers remaining option years (Option Year 1 through Option Year 4) with no pricing changes - Place of performance is the WRIISC in Washington, DC; contracting office is in Linthicum, MD, with additional VA presence in Perry Point, MD - No products are being procured; this is a services contract for specialized research and technical support - The contract value will increase to accommodate the new position, but pricing structure remains unchanged

Description

This intent to sole source announcement is posted for 15 days in accordance with FAR 5.2 - Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Washington DC Office has an acquisition need for continued services and seeks a sole source acquisition strategy. The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Washington DC Office intends to modify Contract No. 36C24525P0477 to add an additional position and increase the contract value in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source will satisfy the agency requirements.

Background Information/Purpose.

The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (hereafter DC WRIISC ) in Washington, DC is a national post-deployment health resource for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The WRIISC develops and provides post-deployment health expertise to Veterans and their health care providers through clinical programs, education and risk communication, and research.

HOME serves Veterans and their families as the leader and authority on health outcomes of military exposures through science, policy, education, and communication. HOME is a trusted team that Veterans and stakeholders rely on as a definitive source of information on military exposures.

HOME consists of four interrelated programs, one of which is the WRIISC. The WRIISC thus requires the service expertise of a not-for-profit organization that provides scientific support related to military medicine and veteran health in support of this reorganization to leverage expertise acquired in the prior contract and apply it towards the new duties of these new workforce demands. In addition, WRIISC requires that the organization provides support and administrative capabilities to allow WRIISC staff to maintain their scientific and clinical focus to achieve their goals for Veteran healthcare.

The organization must have extensive experience managing clinical research in the military/veteran community with expertise in recruiting and hiring research personnel and knowledge of the Washington DC VA Medical Center. Specifically, the WRIISC is interested in maintaining capabilities in the form of staffing of a Health Coach to assist Veterans with making better health choices through lifestyle changes; an Associate Scientific Director, who will support the Research Director and Director at the WRIISC in scientific planning and research portfolio management; and an Epidemiologist with expertise study design and statistical methods. A Senior Education and Risk Communication Advisor (SERA), a doctorate level medical professional, will contribute strategic expertise in risk communication to enhance HOME outreach.

Unique Qualifications

The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) in Washington, DC is a national program dedicated to Veterans post deployment health concerns and unique health care needs. To meet increasing demands associated with the application of the PACT Act (H.R.3967 117th Congress) and to support leadership reorganization under the VA s Health Outcomes Military Exposures (HOME), WRIISC seeks to modify its existing support arrangement. This modification adds one Epidemiologist position to serve as the lead for VMOAT operations, providing epidemiological oversight of survey instrument design and validation, exposure data governance, multi modal data integration (survey, clinical, biomarker, and administrative), analytic rigor (e.g., allostatic load and exposure mixtures), and regulatory coordination (IRB/HRPP) necessary for national scale. The Epidemiologist will establish a rapid response operational infrastructure for VMOAT, manage QA/UAT cycles to ensure reliable downstream reporting, and translate findings into actionable risk communication and educational outputs for Veterans and providers.

This role preserves continuity with prior work under HJF, enables timely execution of VMOAT within WRIISC s clinical and research mission, and directly advances HOME s goals by providing trusted, science based evidence on military exposures and health outcomes. No inherently governmental functions are assigned; work will be performed as non personal scientific and technical support under Government direction. Opening this contract to full competition or breaking up work among new vendors would introduce substantial delays, increase total costs, and create redundancies that impede progress on active tasks. Given the contract s current momentum and the integrated nature of the SOW, HJF remains the only practical and qualified choice to continue execution without interruption. Awarding to HJF under FAR 13.5 preserves cost, schedule, and mission continuity, allowing VHA to meet essential directives under the PACT Act and HOME while advancing research and operational goals efficiently and on time. Modification information

The Government awarded contract no. 36C24525P0477 and determined fair and reasonable pricing prior to award date of April 30,2025. The Government will modify the contract with the current pricing established in the base contract, and the pricing will be subject to no adjustments. The period of performance shall be for the remaining option year 1 through option 4. Option periods are exercised as needed and are not guaranteed. The Period of Performance reads as follows:

Option Year Period 1: 4/30/2026 3/29/2027
Option Year Period 2: 4/30/2027 3/29/2028
Option Year Period 3: 4/30/2028 3/29/2029
Option Year Period 4: 4/30/2029 3/29/2030

For any additional information or questions, please contact the Contracting Officer: Robert O Keefe Jr. Robert.okeefejr@va.gov

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