JA_RDI_Final_Post.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Acquisition Title: Emergency Response Support Services

Agency: ASPR

Acquisition Year (FY): 2025

Author and Title: Christopher Le

2. Description of Action:

Nature: New Requirement Follow-on Requirement

Modification to Existing Purchase Order/Contract Number:

Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price Time & Materials Cost

Other:

Funds: OMA Other Funds:

Name of Proposed Contractor(s): Rapid Deployment Inc.

Street Address: 1521 Azalea Rd

City, State, Zip: Mobile, AL 36693-5219

3. Description of Services or Supplies:

Basis for Approval (FAR 6.303-1(d)): Individual Basis Class Basis

The total estimated value of the proposed action, including all options is $ $44,966,129.99

The Government has an urgent need to solicit and award a service contract to provide wraparound services to support disaster survivor evacuees. The services would be utilized within the United States and its territories and internationally on an as needed basis to the required locations. Awarding a pre-positioned contract vehicle is urgent to support the ASPR's requirement to respond to emergencies as they occur . The period of performance for this Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is from date of award with a twelve (12) month period.

4. Authority and Rationale: Identify the statutory authority, FAR title and FAR citation permitting other than full and open competition. It may be one of the following most commonly used citations by the operating divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), but other exceptions may apply per FAR Subpart 6.3.

Actions other than simplified acquisition procedures (select only one and provide an explanation):

FAR 6.302-1: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, 41 U.S.C.

3304(a)(1)

FAR 6.302-2: Unusual and compelling urgency, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2)

ASPR/OR has an existing contract (75A50120D00001) to provide Emergency Response Support Services in the event of a public health and medical incident or disaster. In December 2019, a single award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) was awarded with a 12-month Base Period and four (4) 12-month Option Periods. The total contract ceiling, for all option periods is

$834,587,961.00 with funding obligated at the task order level. ASPR Logistics has extensively leveraged the Emergency Response Support Services contract to expeditiously procure services which include but not limited to: material handling equipment, power generators, HVACs, transportation, billeting for responders, meal services, medical supplies, waste removal, retrograde operations, and other logistics services required for the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to establish field hospital in support of survivors during numerous disaster responses. During the final option period, numerous internal stakeholder inquires were received regarding feasibility of leveraging the emergency response support services contract for similar requirements.

As hurricane season begins June 1, 2025, it is imperative that a contract award is in place to ensure continuity of emergency response support services and drastically decrease the risk of a significant break in service. This urgent action is required for ASPR to be prepared when the President declares a major disaster declaration in the United States for any of its states, tribal entities, or territories, the Federal Government to include Emergency Support Function #8 (ESF-8) can be activated to provide supplemental public health and medical assistance. This may include support of high acuity patient care operations that could exceed 1,000 patients for each site and could include multiple concurrent sites of operation directed by HHS. ASPR has been designated as the lead for an ESF-8 response to a public health and medical incident or disaster. A lapse in providing these critical support services could result in mission failure due to ASPR's inability to respond immediately to major disaster declarations, assist local health authorities support displaced or local populations, and assess and monitor ongoing health and human services needs of affected individuals and "at risk" populations. More importantly, a lapse of these critical and timely services could result in severe public hardships, including loss of life.

FAR 6.302-5: Authorized or Required by Statute, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(5)

Other (See FAR Subpart 6.3 for additional authority)

Provide a full explanation to justify use of the exception.

5. Agency Actions to Take or Remove Barriers That Led to Other Than Full and Open Competition (If applicable):

Describe the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration prior to any subsequent acquisition for the supplies of services is made. If no such actions have been taken, explain why.

Efforts to remove barriers to competition have been made through effective market research as the procurement landscape has witnessed changes in suppliers, trends, and technologies. This background will inform the follow-on acquisition, aiming to optimize efficiency, competition, and responsiveness in meeting ASPR's critical disaster response needs. A competitive follow-on contract is being developed, and milestones for the acquisition process are being structured to minimize the interim period. Progress has already been made in the development of the follow-on package. However, awarding a new contract through full competition within the necessary time frame is not feasible without jeopardizing essential government operations. As such, this bridge contract is necessary to maintain continuity of services while a competitive procurement process is completed. The contract period shall not exceed one (1) year.

6. Bridge Contracts:

A one year bridge contract is necessary to ensure the continuity of critical emergency response support services while a new contract is being procured. A one year period of performance will allow ASPR the ability to effectively and efficiently manage the 2025 hurricane season, which occurs from June 1, 2025 to November 30, 2025, and refine requirements and to allow for maximum competition for the follow-on contract.

Award to anyone other than the incumbent contractor, for this brief interim period, would increase start-up and transition costs, times and risks. As a significant part of the period of performance occurs during the 2025 hurricane season, retention of the incumbent lowers the risks of errors and continues established momentum. For these reasons, this requirement will be awarded on a non-competitive basis to Rapid Deployment, Inc. (RDI), the incumbent contractor, for emergency and other relief services, while the competitive, follow-on contract is being procured. RDI provides services for ASPR’s requirement of emergency response support services to assist the Federal employees with expertise in disaster response and recovery at a local or national level. A competitive follow-on contract is being developed, and milestones for the acquisition process are being structured to minimize the interim period. Progress has already been made in the development of the follow-on package. However, awarding a new contract through full competition within the necessary time frame is not feasible without jeopardizing essential government operations. The contract period of performance shall not exceed one (1) year.

7. Actions to Increase Competition:

To ensure full and open competition for the follow-on contract, the following steps will be taken:

1. Publicizing the requirement: a notice will be published per FAR Subpart 5.2, allowing all interested vendors an opportunity to submit proposals.

2. Market outreach: Key industry sources will be contacted to determine interest and capacity. Any responses received will be reviewed for consideration.

3. Minimizing barriers to entry: The solicitation will be structured to maximize competition while maintaining essential performance standards.

4. Advance planning: efforts are underway to streamline the acquisition timeline and avoid future bridge contracts, ensuring that a full and open competition is achievable within the required timeframe.

Proactive measures will be implemented to facilitate competition for future acquisitions.

8. Market Research:

To identify all qualified sources, market research efforts include:

1. Review of historical data: Existing contracts and past procurements for similar services have been analyzed to identify potential vendors.

2. Industry engagement: Outreach to vendors with relevant experience in emergency response support services has been conducted to gauge interest and availability.

3. Commercial market analysis: Available sources, including government-wide acquisition contracts and pre-existing vendor lists, have been reviewed to identified potential providers.

4. Solicitation of vendor interest: A request for information (RFI) or sources sought notice may be issued to assess market capacity and competition for the follow-on contract.

9. Procurement History:

Purchase order or contract number: 75A50120D00001

Was action competed? Yes No

If action was not competed, state the cited authority, summarize rationale, and describe the actions that were supposed to be taken to increase competition and the results thereof:

10. Additional Information to support the justification:

11. Technical / Requirements Certification: By my signature below, I certify that the supporting data included in this J&A is accurate and complete.

Program Manager

Name: Christopher Le

Position Title: Senior Program Manager

Email address: Christopher.Le@hhs.gov

Phone: 202-989-5567

Program Manager Supervisor (or one level above Program Manager)

Name: Avi Stein

Position Title: Director - Mission Support Program

Email address: Avi.Stein@hhs.gov

Signature:

Date:

12. Fair and Reasonable Price/Cost Determination: As Contracting Officer, by my signature below, I hereby determine that the anticipated price/cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

A fair and reasonable price will be established in accordance with the policies and methods as required under FAR 15.403-4(a)(1).

Name: Ashlie Evans Phone: 202-731-8436

Signature: Date: Jun 5, 2025

13. Contracting Officer's Approval (Required for proposed contract not to exceed $700,000 (value calculated including all options)): I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I approve this justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and supplies herin describe have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Name: Ashlie Evans Phone: 202-731-8436

Signature: Date: Jun 5, 2025

14. Legal Review:

15. OPDIV Competition Advocate Approval (Required for proposed contract over $700,000 but not exceeding $13.5 million value calculated including all options)):

I have reviewed this justification and find that it adequately supports other than full and open competition.

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

16. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization:

I have reviewed this justification and find that it adequately supports other than full and open competition.

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

Avi J. Stein -S17 Digitally signed by Avi J. Stein -S17 Date: 2025.06.05 13:57:22 -04'00'

Ashlie N. Evans -S Digitally signed by Ashlie N. Evans -S

Ashlie N. Evans -S Digitally signed by Ashlie N. Evans -S

Makoto P. Braxton -S Digitally signed by Makoto P.

Braxton -S Date: 2025.06.06 12:06:11 -04'00'

17. OPDIV HCA Approval (Required for proposed contract over $13.5 million but not exceeding $68 million value calculated including all options)):

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

18. Department Competition Advocate:

Concur: Non-Concur:

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date:

Makoto P. Braxton -S Digitally signed by Makoto P.

Braxton -S Date: 2025.06.06 12:06:29 -04'00'

(The below approval paragraph is required if the cumulative contract value, including all options, exceeds $68 million.)

19. HHS Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) Approval:

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve other than full and open competition for the above stated procurement, subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

State supplies/services being procured:

The Government has an urgent need to solicit and award a service contract to provide wraparound services to support disaster survivor evacuees. The services would be utilized within the United States and its territories and internationally on an as needed basis to the required locations. Awarding a pre-positioned contract vehicle is urgent to support the ASPR's requirement to respond to emergencies as they occur . The period of performance for this Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is from date of award with a twelve (12) month period.

State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304:

Name: Phone:

Signature: Date: