Consolidation DF_Redacted.pdf

DETERMINATIONS AND FINDINGS

CONSOLIDATION OF CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA)

Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Operations and Program Support Services

As defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101 consolidation means “a solicitation for a single contract, a multiple-award contract, a task order, or a delivery order to satisfy two or more requirements of the Federal agency for supplies or services that have been provided to or performed for the Federal agency under two or more separate contracts, each of which was lower in cost than the total cost of the contract for which offers are solicited.” Consolidation of requirements with a total value exceeding $2 million must be justified.

I have reviewed this requirement and associated market research and determined that consolidation, in accordance with FAR 7.107 (Additional Requirements for Acquisitions Involving Consolidation, Bundling, or Substantial Bundling), is both necessary and justified. My review resulted in the following findings:

FINDINGS

A. Background

The purpose of this procurement is to provide support services to MTO in the following areas:

technical, programmatic, independent assessments and analyses, outreach, administrative, documentation, briefing, graphics, website, event assistance, financial/ program control, acquisition, concept development, technical expertise, risk assessment, program/ study/ small business innovation research management, testing/ demonstrations/ transition.

The requested services are considered non-commercial in nature, and two cost-plus-fixed-fee task orders are anticipated with a period of performance (PoP) of one 12-month base year and four 12-month option years. The Independent Government Cost Estimate is nder two separate solicitation numbers HR001126RE001 and HR001126RE002, respectively. These requirements are a continuation of services currently being provided to DARPA under three task orders.

Redefining of the Requirement: The consolidation of the three task orders is a direct result of eliminating the current overlapping scope of work/tasks being performed. All three task orders encompass Operational Support Services (front office administrative, business financial management, and subject matter experts (SMEs) support) and Program Support Services (support in the areas of optics, photonics, physics, materials, artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML), mathematics engineering, quantum, chemistry, human performance, and/or other scientific disciplines and related efforts). Consolidation provides separate, distinct work that ultimately eliminates the need for three separate task orders by redefining the scope of work and removing redundancy in the work.

Additionally, the overall scope of work was increased from the previous procurement of MTO’s support services due to the addition of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). This addition has caused an average for both operations support and program support. The inclusion of this program has caused a substantial increase in both Operations and Program support services in order to accomplish MTO’s mission.

The three task order awards to be consolidated into two separate distinct requirements are HR001122F0003, HR001122F0004, and HR001122F0005, , which were all awarded under the same solicitation HR001118R0001 for the MTO Scientific, Engineering, and Technical Assistance (SETA) Support Services.

HR001122F0003 was competed using the Technical and Analytical Support Services (TASS) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract and awarded to

(HR001118D0001), other than small business, on October 15, 2021. The total value of this task order is and the period of performance (PoP) is November 1, 2021 – October 31, 2026.

HR001122F0004 was competed using the TASS IDIQ contract and awarded to (HR001118D0004), other than small business, on October 19, 2021. The total value of this task order is and the PoP is November 1, 2021 – October 31, 2026.

HR001122F0005 was competed using the TASS IDIQ contract and awarded to (HR001118D0001), other than small business, on October 25, 2021. The total value of this task order is and the PoP is November 1, 2021 – October 31, 2026.

B. Selection of Acquisition Strategy

Consistent with FAR 7.107-2, the acquisition team performed the following steps and analyses in selecting the recommended acquisition strategy:

1. Market research: As market research identified GSA OASIS+ as an appropriate OMB government-wide best-in-class contract for these Advisory & Assistance Services, the use of this contract vehicle is appropriate and satisfies the requirements of DARPA Instruction 28.

Services under the MTO Operations and Program requirements are considered non-commercial due to the unique and unpredictable nature of Department of War priorities, particularly in view of DARPA’s mission focus on advanced research and development (i.e., focus on technologies not yet in existence) and security clearance requirements. In accordance with the market research, a small business set-aside is not required or advisable. See the Market Research Report for additional information.

2. Alternative contracting approach that would involve a lesser degree of consolidation:

DARPA could maintain the status quo by keeping the existing requirements separate and intact “as-is” while just adding the QBI across the three task orders.

in post-award. Cost savings would be achieved for the COR at about .

Cost savings are only being estimated for a differential of one task order for the Contract Specialist, Contracting Officer, and COR because they will still need to work on the two task orders awarded (compared to the current three as an alternative). For technical evaluation boards of four Government personnel

. This adds up to nearly

2. Quality improvements that will save time or enhance performance or efficiency:

a. With only two contractor project managers overseeing all of the MTO SETA requirements for the two distinct task orders, there is more potential for those individuals/teams to find efficiencies and use for total solutions within both of the Operations and Program support services.

b. Improvements in the quality of deliverables would be realized with only two contractor project managers providing unified oversight and vision of the related efforts within the two distinct requirements.

c. One contractor, for each of the two separate and distinct requirements, having the ability to review personnel shortfalls and necessary skills across the entire requirement would result in potential improvements in recruitment of qualified personnel and a more balanced workforce.

d. Government oversight of only two task orders and separate companies would reduce Government Program Managers’ confusion of which company a resource supports.

3. Reduction in acquisition cycle times: The acquisition cycle time for the planned consolidated task order will be shorter by potentially compared to acquiring the requirements under three task orders separately. The pre-award development of the requirement has been and will be efficiently consolidated into two task order files rather than having to create separate pre-award documentation for three requirements.

4. The total quantifiable benefits equal

DETERMINATION

Based on the above facts, I determine that in accordance with FAR 7.107-2:

1. The necessary steps have been taken to support the need for consolidation.

2. The benefits of the acquisition substantially exceed the benefits that would be derived from the alternative contracting approach identified under paragraph B.2 above, including benefits that are quantifiable in dollar amounts as well as any other specifically identified benefits.

3. As a result, consolidation of the above referenced requirement is necessary and justified.

Coordination Concurrence /Approval – See Next Page