B04 Determination and Findngs-Consolidation redacted_Redacted.pdf

CUI

Determination and Findings Authority to use Consolidation of Contract Requirements

Business Operations Support Services (BOSS)

FINDINGS

1. Contracting Activity: The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity

(USAMRAA)

2. Description of the Action Being Approved: The purpose of this requirement is to provide business operations support services (BOSS) through financial management and analysis, business management and analysis, senior information management and information assurance, and administrative services to support the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The requirement consists of a 100% recompete of the previous BOSS contract, W81XWH16D0013, awarded for $20,838,082.00 and currently valued at $9,154,797 in task orders. The recompete includes key tasks from the Program Administration and Technical Support Services (PATSS) contract, W81XWH17D0003, awarded for $32,036,008.88 and currently valued at $14,481,818. The identified key tasks, logistical support and data management with reconciliation support, are approximately 20% of the PATSS contract.

The estimated cost of the BOSS recompete with the inclusion of the PATSS tasks is

. The proposed period of performance for the requirement is 14 June 2022 to 13 June 2023 for the base year, 14 June 2023 to13 June 2024 for Option Period 1, 14 June 2024 to 13 June 2025 for Option Period 2, 14 June 2025 to 13 June 2026 for Option Period 3, 14 June 2026 to13 June 2027 for Option Period 4, and 14 June 2027 to 13 December 2027 for the 52.217-8 Option

3. Regulation: FAR 7.107-2 discusses consolidation. In accordance with FAR 7.107-2(a), a Determination and Findings must be executed prior to conducting an acquisition that is a consolidation of requirements with an estimated total dollar value exceeding $2 million.

Controlled by:

Controlled by:

CUI Category:

Limited Dissemination Control:

POC:

4. Supporting Rationale:

a. Market research has been conducted;

The current BOSS contract, W81XWH16D0013, was originally procured through a competitive, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside that had eleven (11) Offerors and resulted in a single award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) award. After reviewing sources, speaking to industry, and reviewing Government-wide databases, a Request for Information (RFI) announcement was posted to the Government point of entry (beta.SAM.gov) on 13 October 2020 with a response date of 28 October 2020. Of the Forty-five (45) capability statements received, fourteen (14) were from SDVOSBs. Based on the response from the RFI, the market research determined that the most suitable approach to acquiring the business operations support services was through a competitive, 100% SDVOSB set-aside.

Sufficient information was received through the RFI and other methods to establish that a sufficient number of small businesses can satisfy this requirement (over the simplified acquisition threshold) at a fair market value. As a result, this requirement is being set-aside 100% for SDVOSB businesses. The Contracting Officer coordinated this determination with the Small Business Specialist (SBS) via a DD Form 2579 on 3 January 2022, to ensure that a small business set aside is still an appropriate means to procure these services that are above the simplified acquisition threshold. The SBS approved the DD Form 2579 and full set-aside to SDVOSB businesses on 3 January 2022. For these reasons, the Contracting Officer has determined that the existing market research is in accordance with FAR 10.002(b)(1) to set-aside the solicitation for

SDVOSB.

b. Any alternative contracting approaches that would involve a lesser degree of consolidation have been identified;

A portion of PATSS tasks were included in the requirement as a result of Category Management initiatives that were implemented to eliminate redundancies, increase efficiencies, and enhance mission effectiveness. A PATSS task order was identified as a Tier 0 contract (spend not aligned to Category Management Principles) at the time the Acquisition Strategy was developed. Although the task order is now a Tier 2, efforts were made to strategically align technical efforts from the PATSS contract into more meaningful contracting vehicles due to the Tier 0 designation at the time. Of particular concern was the scientific elements that were not conducive to the logistical support and data management with reconciliation support tasks within the PATSS contract.

Under the BOSS contract, the logistical support and data management with reconciliation support tasks would be supported by Information Assurance/Information Management to ensure that all data is gathered, managed, and reconciled in terms of quality control, formatting, importing and exporting, and disseminated in compliance with Department of Defense (DoD) regulations through key tasks within the existing contract and the recompete contract.

Other alternatives have not been identified.

c. The determination is coordinated with the agency’s Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization or the Office of Small Business Programs;

The Small Business Professional from the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) has reviewed this determination.

d. Any negative impact by the acquisition strategy on contracting with small business concerns has been identified;

Previously, the PATSS contract was set-aside as a Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) and the BOSS contract was set-aside as a SDVOSB. In response to a RFI issued in 2015, for the prior PATSS recompete a total of 14 responses were received; 6 of which were WOSB and 4 were SDVOSB. The RFI issued for this requirement resulted in 45 responses from small business concerns; 5 of which were WOSB and 14 were SDVOSB. The customer, CDMRP, and Contracting Officer reviewed the responses and capability statements from all 45 companies. Out of the 14 responses from SDVOSB, 10 were capable of meeting the requirement. It was determined that more competition would be achieved and the most suitable approach to acquiring the business operations support services is via a competitive, SDVOSB set-aside. FAR part 19 does not establish a priority of small business concerns with the exception of the 8(a) requirements, however preference is given to specific socio-economic concerns over a generalized small business set-aside. In addition, prior to setting aside any requirement, the Contracting Office should establish that there is 1) reasonable expectation that two or more business in that distinction will respond to the requirement and 2) at fair market value. FAR 19 also advises that the set aside be coordinated with the SBS to ensure it progresses to agency goals. The market research indicated that at least two or more proposals from responsible SDVOSB offerors is a reasonable expectation. The consolidation of PATSS into BOSS equates to approximately 30% of PATSS tasks; the other 70% of PATSS will be recompeted separately at a later date.

No negative impacts have been identified as BOSS will be recompeted as a 100% SDVOSB set-aside with market research to support the acquisition strategy.

e. Steps are taken to include small business concerns in the acquisition strategy;

A RFI was posted (October 2020) to identify qualified, experienced, and interested potential business sources in support of the requirements. All capability statements received were reviewed and analysis of the statements indicated that at least two or more proposals from responsible SDVOSB offerors could be expected. As previously stated, this requirement will be 100% set aside for SDVOSB.

5. FAR 7.107-2(b) allows for the inclusion of benefits in determining the necessity and justification of the consolidation, if the benefits of the acquisition would substantially exceed the benefits that would be derived from the alternative contracting approaches identified.

Consolidating the tasks from the PATSS contract to the BOSS contract are beneficial as these tasks align with the existing scope of BOSS more appropriately since they are administrative, non-technical and non-scientific in nature.

The PATSS contract contains scientific elements and preferred experience in Program Evaluation and Analysis that is not required for Data Management and Reconciliation and Logistics support. Further, the BOSS contract contains Information Assurance / Information Management, which directly relates to Data Management and Reconciliation. The data is gathered, managed and reconciled in terms of quality control, formatting, importing and exporting, and disseminated as needed. That information is then assured in compliance with DoD regulations for information management and technology through the support under the existing BOSS contract and the recompete. These aforementioned quality improvements will save time and enhance performance and efficiency.

The appropriate alignment of scope with Data Management and Reconciliation and Logistics falling under the BOSS recompete decreases costs associated with recruitment. Management of functional areas would also be lower in cost and more streamlined as they are administrative.

This consolidation fosters an environment that will allow for knowledge to flow from the contractor to CDMRP functional leads. The tasks would be completed by one contractor that is directly related, improving quality by way of more efficient and effective management. Additionally, combining these tasks produces better terms and conditions within the contract.

The benefits of including the logistical support and data management with reconciliation support tasks under the BOSS contract with other similar skill set tasks will allow for an overall increase in efficiency, effectiveness, and quality. This increase will also result in better communication with key components related to information management and information assurance under one contract. The consolidation will provide an anticipated ten percent (10%) savings in contract value due to the strategic organization of the tasks.

6. In compliance with the requirements found in FAR 7.107-2(f):

If the determination is made that the consolidation is necessary and justified, the contracting officer shall include it in the acquisition strategy documentation and provide it to the Small Business Administration (SBA) upon request.

Determination

Based on the above findings, consolidation of contract requirements for the Business Operation Support Services and the Program Administration and Technical Support

Services are in the best interest of the Government and has been determined to be necessary and justifiable. This Determination and Findings will support the base period and four (4) twelve (12) month option periods.

Prepared by:

Contract Specialist

Reviewed by:

Assistant Director Office of Small Business Programs

Contracting Officer

Chief, Contracts Branch 9

Chief, Contracting Group 1

Chief of Contracting Office

Approved by:

Senior Contracting Official