49100426F0027 LSJ (Signed)_Redacted.pdf

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

OFFICE OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (OCFO)

OFFICE OF ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

GSA ORDERS OR BPAS

FOR 49100426F0027

value).

TIP has a continuing requirement for integrated marketing and communications support for NSF's Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs.

Under the existing task order, EFK provides integrated marketing services that include digital marketing, email marketing, marketing web analytics and user-experience support, video production and editing, and development of outreach materials. The work includes development of graphics, videos, landing pages and other creative materials supporting national marketing campaigns; email engagement and reengagement campaigns; analysis and recommendations based on web analytics;

production of videos directed toward potential applicants and other stakeholders; and development of print and presentation materials supporting NSF outreach activities.

These activities support NSF's efforts to increase awareness of the SBIR/STTR programs, communicate program requirements and opportunities to prospective applicants, and reach qualified small businesses and entrepreneurs. The current order specifically contemplates outreach and marketing activities designed to increase awareness of America's Seed Fund powered by NSF and assist potential applicants in understanding NSF's programs and processes.

The proposed modification will continue these existing labor services for an initial three months, with three one-month options. No additional advertising ODC funding will be provided under the modification.

The estimated maximum value of the proposed modification is inclusive of the initial three-month extension and all three one-month options. The revised maximum value of Task Order 49100426F0027 will be

4. The authority and supporting rationale and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the supply or services.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of GSAR 538.7104-3(b)(1)(iii) because, in the interest of economy and efficiency, the additional work is a logical follow-on to an original Federal Supply Schedule order that was placed in accordance with the applicable competitive ordering procedures.

Task Order 49100426F0027 was awarded to EFK Group LLC as a six-month bridge to maintain continuity of SBIR/STTR integrated marketing support while NSF completed the acquisition process for an agency-wide communications support vehicle. The previous LSJ explained that NSF had initiated efforts to establish that vehicle but that the acquisition had been delayed, including by the October– November 2025 Government shutdown.

Since award of the current bridge order, NSF proceeded with the competitive acquisition of a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) intended to provide the vehicle through which these services would be acquired. The BPA award was subsequently protested. As a result of the protest, NSF has been unable to proceed with the acquisition and award of the follow-on call order for these services on the schedule originally anticipated.

OFFICE OF ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

GSA ORDERS OR BPAS

FOR 49100426F0027

The current EFK bridge order will expire on 09/11/2026, before NSF can reasonably complete the follow-on acquisition and transition.

Resolution of the BPA protest does not itself result in immediate availability of follow-on services.

Following resolution of the protest and any resulting corrective action, NSF must complete the acquisition process for the applicable call order. This process includes development and issuance of the call order requirement, receipt and evaluation of pricing, completion of required funding and acquisition approvals, award of the call order, and any necessary contractor transition.

NSF anticipates that the acquisition and transition activities following availability of the BPA may require approximately 30 to 45 days. The acquisition schedule must also account for the possibility of additional protest-related delay. For acquisition-planning purposes, NSF must allow for the potential approximately 100-day period associated with resolution of an award protest, as well as any corrective action that may result.

Continuation of the EFK services is required during this period. EFK provides specialized outreach and marketing support for NSF's SBIR/STTR programs. The prior LSJ determined that interruption of these services would negatively affect the SBIR/STTR Project Pitch submission process and NSF's ability to perform outreach supporting its congressionally mandated SBIR/STTR programs.

The current order likewise requires continuing digital marketing, email marketing, web analytics, video production, and outreach-material development activities supporting NSF's engagement with prospective applicants and other stakeholders. A lapse in these services would interrupt ongoing marketing and outreach activities and diminish NSF's ability to communicate consistently with the small-business and entrepreneurial communities served by the SBIR/STTR programs.

Conducting a separate competition for another temporary interim requirement would not adequately address the immediate continuity need. Such an approach would require NSF to conduct an additional acquisition and transition the existing work from EFK to a temporary contractor while simultaneously completing the acquisition that will ultimately replace the bridge requirement. NSF would then need to transition the requirement a second time from the temporary contractor to the contractor selected through the competitive follow-on acquisition.

The prior market research for this requirement identified other contractors with potentially relevant capabilities but concluded that, given the limited interim period and compressed transition schedule, conducting a competition and transitioning to another contractor for temporary performance would not be advantageous to the Government.

EFK is currently performing the requirement and has the personnel, knowledge, and familiarity with NSF's SBIR/STTR marketing activities necessary to continue performance without an additional transition period.

Accordingly, NSF proposes to increase the value and extend the period of performance of Task Order 49100426F0027 to acquire up to six additional months of existing labor services. The modification will provide an initial three-month extension followed by three separately exercisable one-month options.

OFFICE OF ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

GSA ORDERS OR BPAS

FOR 49100426F0027

The initial three-month period represents NSF's current estimate of the additional period necessary to maintain continuity while NSF proceeds with the competitive acquisition. The one-month options provide schedule contingency associated with resolution of the BPA protest, potential corrective action, completion of the follow-on call order acquisition, possible subsequent protest activity, and contractor transition.

The options may be exercised individually based on the status of the competitive acquisition. This structure limits both the duration and value of additional sole-source performance to the period actually required. If the competitive follow-on services become available before all three options are required, NSF does not intend to exercise the remaining options.

Based on these circumstances, continuation of the existing services with EFK is necessary to avoid unacceptable delays in fulfilling NSF's requirements while the competitive acquisition and transition process is completed.

5. Determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer that the order represents the best value consistent with GSAR 538.71.

The Contracting Officer will evaluate EFK's proposed pricing for the initial three-month extension and each of the three one-month options prior to execution of the modification.

The existing order provides a directly relevant basis for evaluating the proposed price. The current order includes in FFP Integrated Marketing Services for six months of performance. The additional action will continue substantially the same labor requirement without adding additional advertising ODC funding.

The Contracting Officer will compare EFK's proposed labor pricing for the extension against the historical labor pricing under Task Order 49100426F0027 and will evaluate any changes in labor categories, labor rates, level of effort, or other relevant pricing elements. The Contracting Officer will also confirm that applicable proposed labor categories and rates are consistent with EFK's GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract.

NSF will obtain and evaluate pricing for the entire potential six-month period, including the initial three-month extension and all three one-month options, before executing the modification. Evaluating the maximum potential value at the outset will provide an established basis for determining price reasonableness if one or more options subsequently becomes necessary and will avoid unnecessary delay in establishing pricing during the bridge period.

Based on a completed price analysis, the Contracting Officer will determine whether the proposed price is fair and reasonable and that continuation with EFK represents the best value to the Government considering price, acquisition lead time, transition requirements, administrative costs, and the Government's need to avoid interruption of required services.

6. Description of market research conducted.

Market research was conducted in connection with the acquisition of the existing bridge requirement.

The Program Officer searched GSA eLibrary using NAICS Code 541618 and identified Weston

OFFICE OF ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

GSA ORDERS OR BPAS

FOR 49100426F0027

Group Inc. and NUS Consulting Group as companies with capabilities potentially relevant to the requirement.

The market research concluded that, given the nature of the work, the limited period between expiration of the existing requirement and establishment of NSF's agency-wide communications vehicle, and the compressed schedule available to transition from the incumbent to another contractor for a short period of performance, competing the interim requirement would not be in the Government's best interest.

The underlying requirement has not materially changed. The current proposed modification is again limited to temporary continuation of the existing labor services while NSF completes the competitive acquisition intended to replace the bridge requirement.

In addition, NSF has subsequently pursued competition for the long-term acquisition vehicle. NSF competitively awarded the BPA intended to support these services, but that award was protested. The present need for additional bridge coverage therefore results from the delay associated with the competitive acquisition rather than an abandonment of NSF's planned competitive approach.

The existing market research remains relevant to the proposed extension and was conducted within the preceding 12 months, consistent with the current NSF LSJ template. A review of GSA eLibrary conducted on August 22, 2026, identified no material changes that would alter the conclusions of the prior market research.

Based on the prior market research, the unchanged nature of the requirement, EFK's ongoing performance, and the current status of the competitive BPA acquisition, the Contracting Officer determines that the existing research provides an adequate basis for the proposed limited-source modification.

7. Any other facts supporting the Justification.

The proposed structure of the modification is intended to minimize the duration and value of additional noncompetitive performance while providing sufficient contractual coverage for reasonably foreseeable acquisition delays.

Although this justification supports the acquisition of up to six additional months of labor services, NSF does not intend to commit to six additional months of performance at the outset. The modification will establish an initial three-month extension followed by three separately exercisable one-month options.

This structure permits NSF to reassess the status of the competitive acquisition before exercising each additional option and discontinue the sole-source bridge as soon as the competitive follow-on requirement is available for performance.

OFFICE OF ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

GSA ORDERS OR BPAS

FOR 49100426F0027

The maximum six-month period provides acquisition schedule contingency to address the BPA protest, any resulting corrective action, completion of the follow-on call order acquisition, potential subsequent protest activity, and contractor transition.

The scope of the modification has also been limited to the services necessary to maintain continuity.

No additional advertising ODC funding will be added. The modification will add only the labor necessary to continue the existing integrated marketing support during the bridge period.

Pricing for the entire potential six-month labor period will be obtained and evaluated before execution of the modification. This will provide an established pricing basis for any option that becomes necessary while preserving NSF's ability to discontinue performance as soon as the competitive solution is available.

Accordingly, while this justification supports the full potential value of six additional months of labor services, the structure of the modification limits NSF's commitment and minimizes the amount of additional sole-source performance actually ordered.

8. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

NSF has already taken affirmative steps to overcome the circumstances requiring this limited-source extension.

The existing task order was established as a temporary bridge while NSF pursued an agency-wide communications support vehicle. Since award of the bridge order, NSF proceeded with a competitive BPA acquisition intended to provide the vehicle through which these services would subsequently be acquired. Award of that BPA was protested, delaying NSF's ability to proceed with the follow-on call order acquisition.

Following resolution of the protest and completion of any necessary corrective action, NSF intends to proceed with the competitive acquisition of the follow-on services through the BPA.

NSF will develop and issue the applicable call order requirement, obtain and evaluate contractor submissions and pricing, complete the required acquisition and funding approvals, make the resulting award, and transition performance from the EFK bridge order to the competitively awarded follow-on arrangement.

The proposed modification to Task Order 49100426F0027 is therefore a temporary measure intended to maintain continuity while NSF completes an acquisition strategy that provides for competition.

The initial three-month extension and three one-month options are specifically structured to permit NSF to discontinue the sole-source arrangement as soon as the competitive follow-on acquisition and contractor transition are completed. NSF does not intend to exercise an option period if continued bridge performance is no longer necessary.

NSF does not intend to use this extension as a substitute for completion of the competitive acquisition.

49100426F0027

LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

SIGNATURE PAGE

Technical Representative: I certify that the facts presented in this justification are accurate and

Technical Representative Title/ Requiring Office

Contracting Officer: I hereby certify that the above justification is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer/ Research and Support Contracts Branch (RSCB)

APPROVED:

Deputy Office Head/Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)