89233124RNA000215 BUILDER JOFOC (Approved) 03-18-24.pdf

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Solicitation 89233124RNA000215

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (NNSA)

BUILDER Infrastructure Management - Cost Data Support

Solicitation No. 89233124RNA000215

March 13, 2024

I. AGENCY IDENTITY AND CONTRACTING OFFICE

The Infrastructure Operations & Maintenance Division (NA-914) of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) plans to contract with “The Gordian Group, Inc.,” by means of other than full and open competition. The contracting office is the NNSA Non-M&O Contracting Operations Division, Headquarters Services Acquisition Branch (NA-PAS-314).

II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED

This document sets forth the justification and approval of the exception to full-and-open competition allowed under the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) of 1984, as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1 – Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. This new contract action is for a sole source firm-fixed price contract with a one-year base period and four, one-year option periods to “The Gordian Group, Inc.” (hereinafter “Gordian”), to provide quality infrastructure cost data support of the NNSA’s BUILDER program.

III. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES AND/OR SERVICES

The NNSA is deploying a suite of holistic, data-driven, risk-informed tools and metrics to better assess risks, prioritize investments, and cost effectively modernize its aging infrastructure.

Central to this new, Science-Based Infrastructure Stewardship approach is the BUILDER Sustainment Management System (SMS). BUILDER is a software program that helps the NNSA proactively respond to emerging infrastructure needs by recommending building component repairs and replacements at the most opportune time thus ensuring the greatest return on investment. It provides the NNSA with a single, rules-based approach to assess infrastructure and to inform infrastructure renewal decisions based on current and predicted system conditions, functionality, mission priorities, and acceptable risk tolerance levels.

In order to support these requirements, the contractor must be capable of providing the NNSA with accurate/current asset replacement cost data to include delivering monthly BUILDER catalog and bimonthly Replacement Plant Values (RPV) model updates and developing/maintaining the Cost Engine software. Among other deliverables, the cost data contractor must be able to provide the following essential capabilities:

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1. The capability to provide nationally recognized cost data and reference books that the Contractor has copyrighted, published, and periodically updated for buildings and linear systems (i.e., common site utility systems, roads, fences, and etc.) construction and sustainment cost information that can be formatted to align with BUILDER- UNIFORMAT II structure that can be readily provided to US Army Corps of Engineers – Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USACE – CERL) under a current Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA);

2. The capability to develop new and updating existing federal infrastructure building and DOE—specific structure models that allow for calculation of an asset’s replacement plant value (RPV) with combining the granular inventory data within BUILDER into the models to provide a more accurate model and ultimate calculation of an RPV; and

3. The capability to create and maintain a software that interfaces between databases via an application programming interface (API) including BUILDER.

The NNSA requires the Contractor to provide agency-specific asset replacement cost data that is compatible with BUILDER and to provide companion software that can calculate accurate RPV's using live BUILDER data.

The estimated value of this acquisition is $ 5,712,043.2 over the entire, potential period of performance (inclusive of options).

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

The NNSA has a need for accurate, consistent, and timely cost data to effectively implement BUILDER, which includes use of a developed Cost Engine to generate RPVs. NNSA’s market research (see § VIII) identified that only one source, Gordian, is capable of providing the agency-specific cost data and Cost Engine in the timeframe required by NNSA. Gordian's Cost Engine solution is still the only available software solution in the marketplace for calculating RPV's using BUILDER data. It has taken Gordian six years to develop the Cost Engine ensuring compatibility with both BUILDER and NNSA's highly unique infrastructure data. NNSA’s efforts to identify additional sources (see, § VI) and market research (see, § VIII) did not reveal any other sources that could meet all of NNSA’s immediate needs.

VI. EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SOURCES

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NNSA has attempted to identify additional sources through multiple avenues, including: verbally surveying vendors during the 2023 BUILDER Summit (which included 30 large businesses, 18 small businesses, 2 educational institutions, and 21 Government entities); searching the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) for small businesses; and, in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.201, reviewing submissions provided by interested parties in response to a notice of proposed contract action (Reference Number 89233124RNA000215). Though NNSA identified numerous sources that perform work related to the BUILDER program, none were identified as being capable of meeting NNSA’s immediate requirements.

VII. DETERMINATION OF REASONABLENESS OF COST OR PRICE

It is the determination of the Contracting Officer that the anticipated costs will be fair and reasonable based on a price/cost analysis performed utilizing an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).

VIII. MARKET RESEARCH

As identified in § VI, NNSA undertook multiple approaches to determine the capabilities available in the marketplace, including: informally surveying potential vendors; DSBS and other informal searches; and reviewing submissions from vendors received in response to NNSA’s notice of proposed contract action. The results of all market research efforts identified that only Gordian was capable of meeting NNSA’s immediate requirements.

IX. OTHER FACTS

N/A

X. INTERESTED SOURCES

Two specific sources responded to the notice of proposed contract action expressing interest in the requirement. However, neither vendor was determined to be capable of meeting NNSA’s immediate needs.

XI. STEPS TO FOSTER COMPETITION

NNSA will continually monitor the marketplace to determine whether other vendors become capable of meeting NNSA’s requirements.

[Signature Page Follows]

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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.

___________________________ _03/18/2024__ Signature Date

Contracting Officer:

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

Competition Advocate:

I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Since this JOFOC does not exceed $15M, this review serves as approval.

03/18/2024