Acquisition Alert 2020 08 Final.pdf

ACQUISITION ALERT 2020-08

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Class Justification for

Other Than Full and Open Competition COVID-19 Response

TO:

FROM:

Heads of Contracting Activity

David R. Dasher //s//

Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Acquisitions and Senior Procurement Executive

SUBJECT: HHS Class Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

COVID-19 Response

DATE OF ISSUANCE: March 21, 2020

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately

Purpose: The purpose of this acquisition alert is to provide all Department of Health and

Human Services (HHS) acquisition offices with a class Justification & Approval (J&A) for emergency contract actions. It is essential for HHS acquisition offices to respond to urgent requests for immediate support in response to the expanding outbreak of COVID-19, which was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020 and a national emergency via Presidential

Proclamation on March 13, 2020.

Applicability: The guidance set forth in this Acquisition Alert is applicable to all COVID-19 requirements.

Roles and Responsibilities: It is the HCA’s responsibility to ensure the widest distribution of this notice throughout HHS staff and operating divisions and to update any applicable policies and procedures to reflect this guidance. It is further the HCA’s responsibility to record and track all acquisition actions made under the authority of this class J&A.

Guidance: This is a class Justification & Approval (J&A) in accordance with FAR § 6.303-

1(d) and 6.302-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency, FAR § 8.405-6(a)(1)(A), Limiting

Sources, and FAR § 16.505(b)(2)(i)(A), Exceptions to the Fair Opportunity Process for all contract actions to facilitate the recovery efforts necessary to address the 2019 Novel

Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Requirements that arise and are executed by HHS contracts offices can be processed under the authority of the attached class J&A. A copy of the class J&A must go in the award file for all requirements processed under the authority of this class J&A and each contracting activity must maintain a log of all contract actions awarded under the authority of this class J&A.