70RSAT23A00000001 Peer Review and Merit Support Services_Redacted.pdf

Limited-Sources Justification (LSJ)

For orders or BPAs exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

LSJ Template > SAT Rev. 6.2021 3- 1 - LSJ No: FY23-013

LSJ No.: FY23-013

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program, 41 U.S.C. 152(3), Competitive Procedures, and 40 U.S.C. 501, Services for Executive Agencies.

1. Agency and Contracting Activity. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Office of University Programs (OUP) proposes to award a Time and Materials (T&M), Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) against the General Service Administration (GSA) schedule pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6(a), Limiting Sources.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

(A) Nature of Action: DHS S&T OUP intends to procure on a limited sourcebasis peer review, administrative, management, and logistics support to facilitate the following types of activities:

Center of Excellence (COE) selection/re-competition peer reviews, site reviews, and mid-term reviews;

Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) peer reviews;

Education Program peer reviews;

Annual Program Review Summit Topical Grant Competitions (e.g., explosives, border, security, bio-surveillance;

Periodic (biennial or triennial) reviews of all OUP program, goals and accomplishments; and Ad-hoc research workshops, research needs assessments, and reviews on specific cross-cutting subjects.

(b) Name and address of the contractor.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities Inc. (ORAU) P.O. Box 117 Oak Ridge, TX 37831-0117

(c) Contract Type.

T&M BPA against the GSA schedule

(d) Background informationa about the requirement.

DHS is committed to using the most effective technologies and scientific talent to safeguard the U.S. DHS S&T has been charged with marshalling the U.S. science and engineering community to provide federal, state, and local officials with cutting-edge tools and information to protect the homeland. S&T uses all available sources to acquire science and engineering talent and tools, including universities, federal laboratories, OPOAM 3008.405-6(a)(2) Template - Limited-Sources Justification (LSJ)

LSJ Template > SAT Rev. 6.2021 3- 2 -private-sector companies, nonprofit organizations, and international partnerships.

DHS S&T has four (4) functional areas that will require the services provided under this proposed contract: COE program, Education programs, MSI programs, and other Focused Research Area programs.

Centers of Excellence The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as amended) directs DHS S&T to designate one or more university-based centers for homeland security, and to establish a coordinated, university-based system to enhance the Nation's security. OUP established, and now manages, a coordinated network of trans-disciplinary university-based COEs to develop homeland security-related scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical (HS- STEM) research and education. OUP brings together experts from intersecting fields of study to develop essential research, technologies, and education initiatives that will prevent and defend the country from terrorism and reduce damage from natural hazards.

Education Programs Working with leading universities, DHS S&T develops curricula, faculty, students, and well-trained professionals to provide the next generation of homeland security science and engineering leaders. The current education programs include Career Development Grants to institutions with existing HS-STEM programs, scholarships, and fellowships to individuals studying in HS-STEM fields, summer internships for undergraduates interested in HS-STEM experience or careers, and fellowships for graduate education for existing DHS employees.

Minority Serving Institutions Programs S&T’s Minority-Serving Institutions Programs include the DHS Scientific Leadership Awards (SLA) for Associates, Bachelors, and Graduate degree granting institutions focusing on active integration of MSIs with the COEs.

Focused Research Area Programs OUP anticipates conducting focused research area reviews to evaluate programs within a specific mission space of the COEs, Education or MSI programs. At that time additional funding and deliverables will be specified.

3. Description of Supplies/Services. Describe the supplies or services to be acquired. Provide the estimated total value (including options, if any).

(a) The requirement is to provide peer and merit review services for S&T, OUP for two (2) years at an estimated amount of . ORAU will provide university-based COE, Educational Programs, and MSI Programs Peer and Merit Reviews. The contractor will support multiple types of peer and merit review activities. The primary aims are as follows: 1) ensure DHS S&T awards the most qualified proposals for grants and cooperative agreements; 2) ensure DHS supports research in the highest priority DHS

LSJ Template > SAT Rev. 6.2021 3- 4 -

4. Authority and supporting rationale.

8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C) In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-on to an original Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures.

ORAU, Inc. has a customized peer and merit review process ensuring DHS S&T is positioned to make informed and defensible decisions about its research funding for both new and on-going research. PeerNet, ORAU’s proprietary web-based peer review system, has been the cornerstone of the DHS S&T peer and merit review process for over 19 years.

ORAU, Inc. maintains a proprietary database and network of 24,000+ SMEs experienced in scientific/engineering peer and merit review and augments access to external/subscription SME databases containing over three (3) million profiles. ORAU is the only identified source that can provide these services.

5. Determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the anticipated order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

The contracting officer has determined that issuing the proposed T&M BPA for peer and merit review services represents the best value and will result in the lowest overall cost, considering price and administrative costs, to meet the Government’s needs. This order will be placed in accordance with FAR 8.404, “Use of Federal Supply Schedules.” The GSA has already negotiated fair and reasonable pricing rates. Discounts to these GSA schedule rates will be requested.

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results, or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted with GSA several schedule holders; however, none of the other vendors available demonstrated the capability to meet the requirements to offer a DHS approved web-based portal and software programs for electronic (non face-to-face) reviews and scoring of input from multiple reviewers, and/or the companies did not have a large database of SMEs from a wide variety of scientific and engineering disciplines available to readily perform peer and merit review services. Only ORAU is capable of meeting all the requirements of this procurement.

7. Any other facts supporting the limited-sources justification.

Market research identified eight (8) peer review service providers. However, it is the understanding that seven (7) of the eight (8) companies do not have an existing DHS approved web-based portal and software programs for electronic (non face-to-face) reviews and scoring of input from multiple reviewers; and/or the companies do not have a large

LSJ Template > SAT Rev. 6.2021 3- 5 -database of SMEs from a wide variety of scientific and engineering disciplines available to readily perform peer and merit review services.

8. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to restricted consideration (i.e., limited-sources) before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made. Include a statement of actions taken or that will be taken to increase competition for future acquisitions of the same item/service (e.g., the government intends to revise overly restrictive technical specifications, acquire data rights, or pursue some other means to increase future competition).

S&T OUP will continue to periodically conduct market research to identify additional potential peer and merit service providers for the services. Additionally, the Government will take into consideration changes in market conditions from the time of award, such as additional peer and merit service providers and other Government agencies who may be able to provide the requisite expertise, skill, knowledge, and services DHS requires on an annual basis.

9. DHS intends to post this requirement on System for Award Management (SAM.gov) pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(a)(2)(i).

10. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification.

Pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(x), I certify that this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which form a basis for the Limited-Sources Justification, are accurate and complete.

Technical Representative/COR Date

11. Contracting Officer Certification and/or Approval *

Pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(ix), I certify that the Limited-Sources Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Contracting Officer Date