Combase SSJ.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FOR FEDERAL PROCUREMENTS UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(The use of this template is optional and solely for the convenience of the Contracting Officer)

1. Estimated Dollar Value:

2. Anticipated Period of Performance:

3. Does the anticipated Period of Performance include option years? If no, explain.

4. Sources Sought Notice posted to Contract Opportunities and attached to this document?

☐ Yes ☐ No

5. Market Research conducted and attached to this document?

☐ Yes ☐ No

6. Is this a new requirement or a follow-on to an expiring award?

7. Describe the requirement. Please note that the requirement is the minimum acceptable specification or capability, and is not necessarily the best in the industry. Please note whether any additional follow-on work is anticipated in response to the current proposed effort.

8. List the proposed vendor and contact information.

9. Describe why the proposed vendor is the only vendor from which the requirement can be obtained. Examples of acceptable justifications include but are not limited to: sole manufacturer and seller, adherence to warranty provisions, urgency, etc. If other vendors can provide similar products or services, describe why they cannot meet our particular requirement.

Yes

No (explanation)

New Follow-On

Explanation (if needed):

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

FOR FEDERAL PROCUREMENTS UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(The use of this template is optional and solely for the convenience of the Contracting Officer)

10. Certification:

I hereby certify that the information provided above is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Technical Representative Date

11. CO Certification:

I hereby determine that the circumstances of this procurement action deem only one source reasonably available. Also, the quoted price is determined to be fair and reasonable as documented on the SAP e-File Checklist and Award Summary.

Contracting Officer Date

To support this requirement, experience with the ComBase website, PMP online and desktop application, predictive microbiology expertise required to review and understand the scientific publications, statistical modelling expertise relevant to food safety, expertise in hosting and developing Windows-based applications such as ComBase and PMP, including database development in SQL Server and web hosting with IIS Web server is necessary.

In addition experience working with scientific advisory groups; internationally recognized experts of combined research in government and industry. Experience in food safety, quantitative microbiology, predictive microbiology, microbial and human health risk assessment, but more importantly model and database design, development and oversight, predictive statistics, computer systems, engineering analysis, computer programming and decision-support product development.

Proposed Vendor: Risk Sciences International 251 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 700,Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J6 Canada Phone: 613‐260‐1424 Fax: 613‐260‐1443 Contact: Todd Ruthman Practice Lead, Risk Management Technology E‐mail: TRuthman@risksciences.com Why is this the only vendor?: RSI has significant experience working with the system and multidimensional models requiring multi-disciplinary expertise to maintain the Combase website and keep related information up to date. The backbone of any predictive model is the underlying model’s structures and the associated kinetic parameters that are affected by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors throughout the supply chain. It is necessary to address the uncertainty of any model, while still providing reliable, accurate, and precise predictions.

Central to building models for real-world applications is the ability to quantify the errors of prediction, which is essential for food safety evaluation and management that gives the risk accessors the confidence when they use the models. If there is a processing (heat, pressure, acid, or other various interventions) error due to a wrong prediction then there is potential for a major foodborne outbreak, with illnesses, deaths, food recalls, extensive economic losses, and trade issues etc. ComBase and the modeling programs ARS develops are specifically used by the USDA and FDA in the development of guidelines and regulations, including under the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Given the level of detail, specificity and knowledge required, only RSI is capable of performing the work ensuring the food safety of the country.