ARVO JOFOC - Signed.pdf

Justification and Approval for Sole Source (J&A) (Template)

Justification and Approval for Sole Source

“Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104”

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

a. Federal agency and contracting activity. HHS/NIH/NEI

b. Sponsoring organization. National Eye Institute / National Institute of Health

c. Project Officer information.

• Project Officer name: Travis Speck / Shauna Schwartz

• Mailing address: 31 Center Drive BLDG 31 RM 6A52, Bethesda, MD 20892

• E-mail address: travis.speck@nih.gov , shauna.schwartz@nih.gov

• Telephone number. 301.402.0790 (Travis), 301.827.4027 (Shauna)

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

a. Acquisition purpose and objectives. The purpose of this acquisition is to consolidate the individual registration fees/costs into one bulk registration fee for OFM approved employees to attend the annual Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) event, which will be held in Baltimore, Maryland from May 3 – May 7, 2020. The consolidation of the registration fees, due to the large number of attendees from NEI and close proximity of the conference, is a more effective and efficient method to pay for the multiple registration fees and ensures that all attendees will have their registrations paid for.

3. Project background.

The annual ARVO Annual Meeting is the premier meeting for ophthalmologists, clinicians and scientists working in the areas of eye and vision research. The meeting attracts over 11,000 vision science basic and clinical researchers from around the globe. Part of the mission of the NEI is to lead and conduct research that focuses on reducing visual impairments and blindness and produces sight-saving treatments. This research helps to advance the knowledge of how the mailto:travis.speck@nih.gov mailto:shauna.schwartz@nih.gov visual system works in health and disease. By promoting research and the acquisition and dissemination of scientific knowledge, ARVO enables NEI scientists to learn about cutting-edge research from experts, forge collaborations with peers, and explore new tools and technologies to diagnose, treat or prevent eye conditions that will benefit their research. The NEI plays a key role in this conference and attendance helps support dissemination of research findings.

NEI attendees not only learn about the latest developments, research techniques and advances in ophthalmic research by attending didactive presentations and training sessions, but they also present NEI sponsored research to peers and attend networking meetings which may result in future collaborations. In addition, some of the education courses held prior to the conference offer continuing education credits and certifications for the research scientists and clinicians. Due to the relevance of the topic and material covered in this meeting and its direct correlation to the work and mission of NEI, this is one of the NIH's largest attended meetings. All NEI attendees and presenters benefit from this important annual meeting that promotes vision research and the acquisition and dissemination of scientific knowledge and the expansion of its support within vision communities and public/private organizations throughout the world.

4. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

a. Project title. ARVO Registration Fees to the main conference, as well as educational and pre-conference events.

b. Project description. Registration fees for selected pool of OFM approved attendees/presenters to attend an annual conference (ARVO) to be held in Baltimore, MD. During FY20.

• Requirement type.

Research & development (R&D) R & D support services Support services (non-R&D) Supplies/equipment Information technology (IT) Construction Architect-engineer (A & E) services Design-build x Other (specify): Meeting / Education Registration

• Type of action.

x New requirement Follow-on Other (specify): ______________________

• Proposed contract/order type.

x Firm-fixed-price

Other fixed-price (specify, e.g., fixed-price award-fee, fixed-price incentive-fee): __________

Cost-plus-fixed-fee Other cost reimbursement (specify, e.g., cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee): ___________ Time and materials Indefinite delivery (specify whether indefinite quantity, definite quantity, or requirements): ___________ Other (specify): ___________ Completion Form Term form

• Acquisition identification number. N/A

c. Total estimated dollar value and performance/delivery period.

Requirement is broken down into 3 registration formats:

May 3 – May 7, 2020

• Main Registration Fees with approximated cost of $105,096 with 177 registrants.

• Pre-Conference Registration Fees with approximated cost of $2,061 for 9 attendees.

• Educational Course Registration Fees with approximately 50 attendees at an approximated cost of $14,450

5. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

x This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 United

States Code (U.S.C.) 253(c)(_1_) as set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302- _1_.

6. Demonstration that the proposed contractor(s) unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

a. Name and address of the proposed contractor(s).

ARVO – Association for Research in Vision and Opthalmology

DUNS 189135056

CAGE Code 3P8L9 1801 Rockville Pike Ste 400 Rockville MD 20852-5622 United States

b. Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s). ARVO is the only organization that provides the registration to its annual conference event. This is a sole-source request that no other organization can provide.

7. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Indicate whether a FedBizOpps notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies. A Notice of Intent was posted providing information regarding this acquisition and give the public opportunity to respond with capability statements.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable. The attendee’s participation in the ARVO conference will be based on their status as a member on non-member. Additional discount will be provided by ARVO for multi registration. The participation costs are fair and reasonable compared to prior year conferences and similar ones.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted and this conference is the largest one provided to the vision and ophthalmology community. There are other conferences given yearly, but this conference is unique to the mission of the National Eye Institute.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

(ARVO) is the only one providing unique registration access for the attendees to attend their conference that is held annually.

10. Listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. No other sources have expressed an interest, in writing, in the proposed acquisition. No other sources are available.

11. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the required supplies or services. N/A

12. Program office certification.

This is to certify that the portions of this justification that have been developed by the undersigned program office personnel, including supporting information and/or data verifying the Government’s minimum needs, schedule requirements and other rationale for other than full and open competition, are accurate and complete.

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Project Officer Travis Speck

Project Officer’s

Immediate Supervisor

Melanie Reagan

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Head of the Sponsoring

Program Office

Brian Trent

13. Contracting Officer Certification.

This is to certify that the justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information and/or data provided to support the rationale and recommendation for approval is accurate and complete.

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Contracting Officer

Anne Mineweaser

14. Chief of the Contracting Office and Head of the Contracting Activity signature(s).

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Chief of the Contracting

Office

Head of the Contracting

Activity

15. Competition Advocate signature.

Competition Advocate

16. HHS Senior Procurement Executive signature.

HHS Senior Procurement

Executive