36C26320D0013-018.docx

Contract Opportunity Justification and Approval Notice

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* = Required Field Contract Opportunity Justification and Approval Notice Q State Hygienic Base + 4OY

01JAN20-31DEC24

55101 36C26319Q1016 36C26320N0341 N 621511 Department of Veterans Affairs

NETWORK 23 CONTRACTING OFFICE

316 Robert Street N. STE. 506 St. Paul MN 55101 Chara Collins Contracting officer 651-293-3054 Chara.Collins@va.gov

FAR1

36C26320D0013 151,264.08 12-17-2019

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, THE

105 JESSUP HALL

IOWA CITY

IA

52242 Chara.Collins@va.gov Chara.Collins@va.gov

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification for Single Source Awards IAW FAR 13.106-1 For Over Micro-Purchase Threshold but Not Exceeding the SAT ($250K)

Acquisition Plan Action ID:_ 36C263-19-AP-3843

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 23, Iowa City VAHCS (ICVAHCS), Iowa City, IA 52246. Justification for other than Full and Open Competition. Purchase request 636-20-2- 4027-0002.

1. Brief Description of Supplies/ Services required and the intended use/Estimated Amount: This request is for local laboratory infectious disease and environmental specimen testing performed using specific testing algorithms and meeting epidemiological requirements. The contractor will notify the proper State and Federal agencies of reportable disease and environmental conditions. Contractor must be able to begin processing on testing within one hour when requested by ICVAHCS. Additionally, contractor must have Biosafety Level 3 (BSL 3) clearance in order to process potential Select Agents. The only vendor capable of meeting all of the PWS requirements is the State Hygienic laboratory at the University of Iowa. The total estimated value of the contract for one year is $26,954.06. The total contract including base year with four option years is $134,770.30. The period of performance is 01/01/2020 to 12/31/2020 with four option years.

2. Unique characteristics that limit availability to only one source, with the reason no other supplies or services can be used: This contract is for infectious disease testing performed using specific testing algorithms and meeting epidemiological requirements. It involves testing requirements which are unavailable from other reference testing facilities, including contract facilities. Specifically, this contract requires capability to perform testing, identification, and documentation for Select Agents. Select Agents are identified by the CDC as agents that pose the potential to pose a severe threat to both human and animal health, plant health, or to animal and plant products. This included agents capable of causing a serious pandemic-level health crisis such as a virulent flu strain or agents used in acts of bioterrorism such as anthrax.

The State Hygienic Laboratory is the only BSL 3 cleared laboratory in eastern Iowa. Due to the national security and public health concerns inherent in pandemic-level events and acts of bioterrorism, this contract must be sole sourced to the State Hygienic Lab as it is the only facility in the region capable of handling Select Agents, and any delay in processing Select Agents poses a serious risk to national security and public safety. This contract is also for testing on fragile, time- sensitive specimens which must be delivered to the contractor’s laboratory within an hour for stability reasons.

2. Description of market research conducted and results or statement why it was not conducted: VIP and Small Business Dynamic searches were conducted to search for candidate labs. The VIP search located 17 vendors that provide the required NAICS but none operated in Iowa. The Small Business Dynamic Search located no small businesses capable of performing even the portion of the contract that doesn’t involve Select Agents within the one hour delivery area. The nearest possible laboratory that could handle the portions of the contract that do not involve Select Agents is located just under an hour’s drive away in Cedar Rapids; however, when factoring coordinating courier pick up and delivery a reliable one hour window cannot be assured. Additionally, due to the Select Agent requirement any contract with a laboratory in Cedar Rapids would have to reroute any potential Select Agent back to the State Hygienic Laboratory, costing valuable time during a possible national security or pandemic event. Market research determined that the only other location that has a BSL 3 certified laboratory is in Ames, Iowa, on the other side of the State.

3. Contracting Officer's Certification: Purchase is approved in accordance with FAR13.106-1(b). I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Matthew B.

Digitally signed by Matthew B. Dale 1601089 Dale 1601089 Date: 2019.09.11 16:23:46 -05'00' )Prepared by:

Matthew Dale Contract Specialist

Approved by:

Chara L. Collins Digitally signed by Chara L.

663925 Collins 663925 Date: 2019.09.11 16:49:20 -05'00' Chara Collins Contracting Officer