47 JOFOC for AOCC Covid 19 Test Kits and Testing Redacted.pdf

NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF SECURE TRANSPORTATION

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

COVID-19 COLLECTION KITS AND POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION TESTING

FOR OST AGENT OPERATION CENTRAL COMMAND

AMARILLO, TEXAS

SOLICITATION NUMBER 21NA001050

August 25, 2021

AOCC COVID-19 TEST KITS

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Note2: All APG/PPL PCR test results shall be made available to AOCC within 24 hours of receipt at APG/PPL’s testing laboratory via courier. See Footnote 1 below.

IV. AUTHORITY

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 USC §3304(a)(1), as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 entitled “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements”.

V. APPLICATION OF AUTHORITY

OST requires a full-service C-19TS program as part of its surveillance program to ensure the continued medical/health readiness of the essential employees conducting critical national security missions. The surveillance testing utilizes PCR testing due to their reliability, cost, and availability. AOCC requires mandatory testing of its essential mission employees at any given time. As a result, this testing frequency, including any ad-hoc testing on a case-to-case basis, provides AOCC with a robust capability to effectively and proactively monitor the health of its Federal Agent and Contractor support workforce 24/7/365 and thereby maintaining the health and mission readiness of all AOCC Federal Agents, candidates, and other critical AOCC Federal and Contractor employees. Thus, an effective and robust full-service testing program is vital to containing the spread of any asymptomatic outbreak of the virus so that OST remains fully operational to complete its national security mission.

At this time, APG/PPL is the only contractor located in the Amarillo, TX who can provide OST AOCC with a full-service C-19TS program through a monthly delivery of its Covid-19 Collection Kits while ensuring timely pick-up and drop-off courier service anytime between Monday-Friday between 7:30 am to 5:00 pm between the city of Amarillo and the Pantex Plant.

More significantly, APG/PPL is the only contractor at this time who can meet these requirements and deliver a PCR test turnaround time of less than 24 hours once the Covid-19 specimens are received at APG/PPL’s laboratory within the local Amarillo, TX area.

Another unique feature associated with the APG/PPL C-19TS is that there may be situations where AOCC is not able to collect all samples for pick-up on a certain day because the Federal Agents and/or OST Federal/Contractor workforce are unavailable due to training, mission, or other reasons. Because APG/PPL offers immediate or scheduled courier pickup times throughout the day with a simple phone call, it is possible for AOCC to submit two or more specimen collections on any given day and still be able to receive test results within 24 hours.

This is only made possible with APG/PPL’s immediate or scheduled pick-up and drop-off courier service to and from the Pantex Plant Site.

Therefore, at this time, no other contractor/vendor can provide the full-service C-19TS program discussed above.

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VI. EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SOURCES

In accordance with FAR §5.201, a Notice of Intent (NOI)/Sole Source Synopsis (SSS) will be posted through FedBizzOpps and/or FedConnect to notify the public of the Government’s intent to award this action by means of other than full and open competition. As discussed in greater detail in Section VIII Market Research, based on the extensive market research that the Government has conducted, the Government does not anticipate additional sources other than APG/PPL will meet its requirements. However, the Government will continue to identify additional sources as information becomes available.

The Government’s market research revealed that although the majority of GSA vendors have the capability to deliver the monthly Covid-19 Collection Kits, these GSA vendors do not offer multiple same-day courier pick-up and drop-off service from the Pantex Plant Site Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 5:00 pm Central Standard Time. In fact, the majority of GSA vendors require the customer to send the Covid-19 specimens via FedEx Standard Overnight or USPS Overnight Shipping labels. Although PCR test results are ready within 24 hours after receipt at the laboratory destination, the shipping option does not guarantee that OST/AOCC will receive PCR test results which are critical for mission sustainment and mission planning within 24 hours of the laboratory’s receipt of the Covid-19 specimens. Although some vendors allow for an expedited shipping service, the costs to ship under these conditions significantly increase the cost of the Covid-19 PCR tests and while the shipping services are expedited, there is no guarantee that the PCR test results will be delivered within 24 hours after AOCC drops off the shipment for expedited delivery.

In addition, the Government’s market research revealed a number of commercial vendors who offer “same-day” rapid PCR tests at a much higher unit cost between $130 to $250. However, these “same-day” rapid PCR tests require the individual to schedule an appointment in Amarillo.

While other commercial vendors offer “curbside” options for expediency and efficiency, this option requires AOCC personnel to travel to and from the Pantex Plant Site on a weekly basis to get their PCR tests. In addition, the costs of such rapid PCR tests greatly exceeded the per unit cost of the APG/PPL Covid-19 Collection Kit and laboratory testing service.

Therefore, at this time, none of the commercial vendors researched in the Amarillo and surrounding area offer the full-service and convenience/efficiency of the C-19TS program offered by APG/PPL.

VII. DETERMINATION OF REASONABLENESS OF COST OR PRICE

The Contracting Officer (CO) has determined that the unit price for each APG/PPL Covid-19 Collection Kit is fair and reasonable. The CO makes this determination and finding based on the

6 | P a g e extensive market research that was conducted under Section VI and also by utilizing various methods to include a price analysis incorporating a technical analysis and an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE). Accordingly, it is the determination of the CO that the costs of the full-service APG/PPL Covid-19 Collection Kit and laboratory testing as described are below the current market prices for such PCR tests for the Pantex Plant Site and local Amarillo area. However, as new information becomes available, the CO will continue to assess the cost/price reasonableness of the APG/PPL C-19TS program based on ongoing market research.

VIII. MARKET RESEARCH

Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR §10.001(a) (2). The Specialty Acquisition Branch (APM-124) posted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to award a sole source contract to Amarillo Pathology Group/ Physicians Preferred Laboratory (APG/PPL) on SAM.gov on July 19, 2021 which closed on July 29, 2021. Nine companies responded to the Notice of Intent.

These capabilities statements were sent to the customer to determine technical capability (See attached Capability Statement Evaluation roll-up). All companies were deemed unacceptable for various reasons including the time to receive results and lack of a courier service to collect samples.

At this time, OST/AOCC personnel reviewed a number of companies to determine whether their Covid-19 testing program meets OST’s requirements. OST SMEs have determined that no other C-19TS program will meet OST’s needs as described in Section III/IV.

IX. OTHER FACTS

None.

X. INTERESTED SOURCES

APG/PPL is the only vendor located in Amarillo, TX that can provide the Covid-19 Collection Kit and pick-up/drop-off service at APG/PPL’s laboratory that can also guarantee a turnaround time of less than 24 hours for PCR test results.

XI. STEPS TO FOSTER COMPETITION

These products are readily available from authorized distributors thus no further action can be taken to increase competition.

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XII. CERTIFICATIONS

Acquisition Initiator/Technical Representative:

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification and which form a basis for this justification, are complete and accurate.

Signature

Contracting Officer:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature

Bobby Sanchez Digitally signed by Bobby Sanchez Date: 2021 08.26 08 51 52 -05'00'

Jeff Sena Digitally signed by Jeff Sena Date: 2021 08.31 15 29:57 -06'00'