Brand Name Justification - REDACTED.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Limited Source/Brand Name Justification

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

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

AGENCY

National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility 1980 Denison Avenue Manhattan, Kansas 66502

CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

Marian Dyson Contract Specialist, Contacting Operations Branch Acquisition and Property Division (APD) Administrative and Financial Management (AFM) USDA – Agricultural Research Service (ARS) 5601 Sunnyside Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705

Desk: 301.504.1700

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

Redtail provides customizable background services to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). Background checks include Federal, State and Criminal History, FBI Fingerprint-based checks, FBI Identity history, sex offender and more, remaining compliant with FCRA and EEOC background screening. Redtail’s Vetting and Screening team is available to fully adjudicate results and verify all checks against the court or county of conviction. NBAF has a need for background screening program to properly vet sponsored visitors to attend our campus.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

In 2019 and 2022, as required by Departmental Regulation 1650-001, Departmental Physical Security Program, a consortium of security professionals from the ARS-Facilities Division, Real Property Management Branch, APHIS-Emergency and Regulatory Compliance Services, APHIS- Veterinary Services, APHIS-Diagnostics and Biologics and USDA-Office of Safety, Security, and Protection, conducted physical security assessments on NBAF utilizing the risk management process as outlined by the Interagency Security Committee (ISC). The results of these assessments established that NBAF must meet the baseline level protection of an Interagency Security Committee FSL-5 facility. To achieve the baseline level of protection for NBAF, and as outlined in ISC best practices for facility access control as well as to supplement the Federal Select Agent regulations 7 CFR Part 331, 9 CFR Part 121, and 42 CFR Part 73), favorably cleared background screening determinations are required for all requested visitors, contractors, and guests of the NBAF campus. These screening determinations reinforce a holistic approach to security and serve as a supplement to NBAF’s required security barriers as outlined 9 CFR 121-11 for the proper protection of biological select agents and toxins and the nation’s agriculture.

Redtail has provided an established customized landing page specifically for NBAF with a link for contractors/visitors to access for background check submittal, as well as working with our site-specific denial policies and processes. Redtail has built a citizenship assessment for NBAF to properly vet foreign nationals or US citizens born abroad, aiding in the ability to ensure each non- US citizen or naturalized US citizen is properly vetted or proven US citizenship.

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

Market research was conducted prior to the initial purchase of the Redtail software, two years ago and is the established software utilized at NBAF to properly vet visitors in line with the ISC standards for an FSL-5 facility as outlined above. Subscription renewal is necessary to maintain the historical records used to process current and future visitor requests, and receive information for future background checks to be submitted. Many in which will include contractors working on the currently approved contracts for Operational Standup of the NBAF.

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

Annual Redtail membership for background checking services.

Base Award: $11,080.00 Option Year I: $11,412.40 Option Year III: $11,754.77 Option Year IV: $12,107.42 Option Year V: $12,470.64

TOTAL: $58,825.23

6. Recommended source(s).

Datamaxx Applied Technologies, Inc.

2001 Drayton Dr Tallahassee, FL 32311

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.

Danielle Wilson, Program Official

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.

Marian Dyson. Contracting Officer

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.

Christopher Tomlin, Team Lead