A02 - FAR 13 MFR FPB 9-18-20fpb_Redacted.pdf

Control No.

Contractor: University of Montana

Program/Equipment: Evaluation of an Environmental Management Training Tool (EMTT) to Establish

Physiological Pacing Strategies in Extreme Environments

Version – September 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR PART 6 JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Program/Equipment: Evaluation of an Environmental Management Training Tool (EMTT) to Establish Physiological Pacing Strategies in Extreme Environments

Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR Part 6.302-1 -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

Amount:

Prepared by: DSN:

Contracting Officer Representative Date:

Email:

Contracting Officer: DSN:

Contracting Officer Date:

Email:

Technical:

Division Chief Email:

DSN:

Date:

Requirements:

Division Chief Email:

DSN:

Date:

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Program Manager:

Typed Name:

Legal Counsel:

Typed Name:

Signature:

Program/Equipment: Evaluation of an Environmental

Management Training Tool (EMTT) to Establish Physiological Pacing Strategies in Extreme Environments

FAR Part 6 Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: The contracting activity responsible for this action is the U.S.

Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702.

2. Description of Action: The of USARIEM requests a firm-fixed-price new contract with University of Montana Center for Work (Montana WPEM) located at 32 Campus Drive, McGill Hall – HHP, Missoula, MT 59812. The Government projects award for September 2020 and fiscal year 2020, funds type 2019 Army Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds will be used.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: In order to accelerate the development of the Integration of an Environmental Management Training Tool (EMTT) to establish

, USARIEM seeks a Contractor to . Contractor will provide to support development, demonstration, and guidance from an EMTT on . To achieve this, USARIEM requires laboratory and field studies to be designed and conducted that e

Period of Performance: 21 September 2020 to 20 September 2022 – Value: $

4. Authority Cited:

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

(a) As described at FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), when the supplies or services required by the agency are available one from one responsible source, or DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other types of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for.

USARIEM requires research to demonstrate the performance effects and training capability of real-time pacing guidance from an EMTT on thermal-work strain and fatigue.

To achieve this, USARIEM requires laboratory and field studies to be conducted that would examine automated pacing performance across fitness levels, heat stress, and terrain. Unique facilities required for this research are environmental test chambers capable of maintaining a variety of steady state environmental conditions (air temperature, humidity, wind speed). Treadmills, physiological sensors, and data collection devices must be appropriate for research on exercising humans. Additionally, Contractor must be capable of making physiological measurements in field settings using wireless multi-channel physiological monitoring systems. The University of Montana’s Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism (WPEM) is uniquely qualified to

Contractor: University of Montana

Program/Equipment: Evaluation of an Environmental Management Training Tool (EMTT) to Establish meet these requirements. The University of Montana WPEM, has developed the capability to move these precise laboratory measures to a field setting. University of Montana WPEM has

Using this tool mitigates risk of . The University of Montana is also uniquely located with suitable local varied terrain and . With these capabilities the University of Montana WPEM meets USARIEM requirements for

(b) Alternatives: The Government looked at two alternatives, suspended operations or in-house personnel/expertise and neither are options for meeting the requirement. The MOMRP needs the research to be conducted in a timely manner to meet programmed schedule and costs. Therefore, suspended operations is not a possibility.

Skilled technicians qualified to conduct exercise physiology studies, thermal and other physiological sensors, data acquisition systems, and climate control chambers are required for this research. The University of Montana has access to a large student body with a wide range of levels

Moreover, they can perform the work within the timeline to meet the program schedule. USARIEM is poorly suited for the work – particularly now when COVID restricts access to study participants (outside our Human Research Volunteer population) and restrains off-post travel. The only known source to meet the requirement is the University of Montana

WPEM.

(c) The original research proposal was reviewed under the grant process. More time would not allow field research capabilities as demonstrated by WPEM to be brought on-line.

Not approving this J&A would lead to a significant delay in providing real-time physiological feedback technology to the Soldier. This technology trains individuals to respond correctly to their own physiology to optimally pace themselves on rigorous training runs and marches. It allows missions to be successfully completed while minimizing risk of exertional heat illness (EHI). Severe EHI can result in lost duty time and/or death.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Contracting Officer published the notices required by FAR 5.201. A Request for Information (RFI) was posted on “Contracting Opportunities” on www.beta.SAM.gov on 11 June 2020. There were two responses from Geneva Foundation and Problem Solutions to this RFI by the time it expired on 18 June 2020.

The following information was provided by the requiring activity based on the two responses received:

a. Effective Competition: Because this is a sole source action, effective competition is not applicable.

b. Subcontracting Competition: There are no subcontracting possibilities with this requirement.

7. Actions to Increase Competition:

Competition of the requirement is not possible due to the fact that the University of Montana’s lab and field capabilities meet the requirements of this research and hold proprietary rights in their developed heat strain indicator using skin temperature and heart rate to mitigate risk. These facts enable the timely completion of these studies to match technology transition agreement timelines. For any subsequent acquisition in the topic area, USARIEM will research to see if any new sources with the proprietary technology and facilities are available for open competition.

http://www.beta.sam.gov/

Contractor: University of Montana

Program/Equipment: Evaluation of an Environmental

8. Market Research: The USARIEM conducted market research looking at mandatory sources and General Services Administration (GSA). An internet search of SAM using the NAICS code and keywords of the program resulted in no additional viable sources aligning to the requirement. In accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 205.205-71, DFARS 206.302-1(d), and DFARS Procedures, Guidance and Information (PGI) 206.302-1(d), a request for information was posted to beta.SAM on 11 June 2020 for seven days and two responses were received but did not demonstrate the capability of meeting the Governments requirements. The Government’s notice of intent was posted on betaSAM.gov on 30 June 2020 for 45 calendar days with no responses received.

9. Interested Sources: A RFI was issued on betaSAM.gov 11 June 2020 for seven days. Two responses to the RFI were received from industry, See Paragraph 6 for the synopsis information. To date, no other sources have written to express interest in the acquisition.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History

(1) Contract numbers and dates of the last several contracts for these same requirements. Not Applicable

(2) The competitive status of these actions. Not Applicable

(3) Authority previously cited if less than full and open competition was used. Not Applicable

(4) If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, a summary of the contents of paragraph 7 of the justification for that procurement and an explanation of the results. Not Applicable

(5) If any prior contract for this requirement was accomplished using full and open competition, include a detailed explanation of the changed circumstances causing this action to now limit the sources. Not Applicable

(6) An explanation of any unusual patterns that may be revealed by the history, e.g., several consecutive, urgent buys. Not Applicable

(7) If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, briefly describe the circumstances justifying the procurement and whether there have been any significant changes. Not Applicable

Contractor: University of Montana

Program/Equipment: Evaluation of an Environmental

11. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Title: Division Chief Signature:

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Date:

Title: Division Chief Signature:

1137527088

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

This determination will be made using the following: ☐ cost analysis ☒ price analysis ☐ should cost ☐ IGCE ☐ audit ☐ other

As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data:

☒ will be required.

☐ will not be required and the following exception applies (FAR 15.403):

☐ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on adequate price competition.

☐ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on prices set by law or regulation.

☐ A commercial item is being acquired.

☐ A waiver has been granted by the head of the contracting activity (HCA) in accordance with DFARS PGI 215.403-1.

☐ The contract action is a modification to a contract or subcontract for commercial item(s).

☐ The estimated cost of the contract action is less than the threshold for certified cost or pricing data.

Title: Contracting Officer Signature:

14. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Title: Contracti Signature:

Control No. JA-20-07-00139

Control No. JA-20-07-00139

Management Training Tool (EMTT) to Establish Physiological Pacing Strategies in Extreme Environments

Approval Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of research in support of Evaluation of an Environmental Management Training Tool (EMTT) to Establish Physiological Pacing Strategies in Extreme Environments for the estimated amount of on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C.2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements , subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Command Advocate for Competition Signature: