A04 Attachment 5 FAR 13 under SAT Limited Sources ASTA.pdf

AOP No. 5, J&A-Other Than Full & Open Competition- Attachment 5 (Feb. 26, 2020)

Limited Source/Brand Name Justification United States Department of Agriculture

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting office.

United States Department of Agriculture, Departmental Administration, Office of Contracting and Procurement, Procurement Operations Division, 301 S. Howes Street, Suite 321, Fort Collins, CO 80521.

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

NTPMD is requesting a firm-fixed-price contract with the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) for an educational video series on precision breeding innovation (PBI) for targeted regulatory and trade audiences in Taiwan.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

Since tools and technologies like PBI emerged, ASTA has worked toward alignment across countries to ensure access to critical tools and technologies for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers through regulatory alignment and trade facilitating policies. This alignment is important because the U.S. seed industry is global in nature, and seed and seed products are continuously moving across borders. The alignment is also key to minimizing disruptions in commodity and specialty product trade, such as for blueberries that perish more rapidly when compared to stored or siloed products like grains and oilseeds.

USDA is a U.S. policy leader in this area, with the Secretary of Agriculture issuing a key policy statement on PBI in March 2018. Latin America is also a global leader in publishing risk-appropriate and science-based regulatory and trade policy for products of PBI. Europe remains a key detractor with non-science-based and precautionary policy, and Europe continues to seek to influence countries that have not finalized their PBI policies. The United States, with USDA as a lead, has increased efforts to influence PBI policy in Asia, particularly North and East Asian countries deciding between a more U.S.

and Latin American approach versus a European approach.

Taiwan is a key country in terms of policy leadership in the region, and it wants to be seen as advocating for a science-based regulatory approach. Taiwan’s academic community is a critical point of influence for policy development because the Government of Taiwan is known to consider academic perspectives in developing regulatory policy. This is because the Government of Taiwan focuses on public science communication.

In 2018 and 2020, ASTA, in coordination with FAS/Taipei, organized and participated in multiple workshops and meetings on PBI. ASTA also has participated and advised on the agendas for the PBI portions of APEC High Level Policy Dialogue in Biotechnology – one of the international fora that the economy of Taiwan participates in. ASTA also has a substantial track record of conducting educational outreach in countries that shape Taiwan’s decision-making, including Japan, Korea, and China. In short, ASTA has established itself as an authority on PBI, as well as regulatory and trade policy in the region and within Taiwan.

In the wake of widespread programming disruptions due to COVID-19, ASTA has also demonstrated a unique proficiency in adopting online platforms and updating its messaging to deliver educational programming through a combination of pre-recorded video segments and real-time, virtual interaction online. For example, in July 2020, ASTA published a short video examining the potential of PBI to address contemporary threats to food and agriculture with support from another industry association.

The educational video, not unlike the one proposed for this contractual activity, was highly informative from a technical standpoint but also grounded in accessible, real-world examples of local impacts. In June 2020, ASTA partnered with local Chinese affiliates to convene a PBI webinar that featured pre-recorded presentations from several high-profile experts, followed by a live question-and-answer session

– highly similar to the one proposed for this contractual activity.

ASTA’s years of educational and policy outreach in Asia, specifically Taiwan, have distinguished it as the only qualified vendor for this contractual activity. ASTA has demonstrated the ability to identify and collaborate with global experts and identify and deploy the appropriate technical solutions to package the resulting video product in an effective manner for Taiwan audiences. This contracting opportunity also leaves open the possibility of adapting the product ASTA delivers for other countries and languages, offering cost savings while further advancing critical FAS policy goals and objectives..

4. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

NTPMD will continue to monitor various market information to include FedBizOpps, GSA Advantage, etc., to determine whether any other source(s) can meet a future requirement prior to any subsequent acquisition.

5. Estimated price, including all options, if applicable.

The estimated value is $50,000.00.

6. Recommended source(s).

American Seed Trade Association

Certifications

Supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel and which form the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Nathaniel Olson International Trade Specialist

The information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), I hereby determine the circumstances described above deem only one source, or limited sources, reasonably available and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated in this document.

James B. Edington Contracting Officer