DTFH6117R00010_JOFOC.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity

United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration

(FHWA) Headquarters, Office of Acquisition and Grants Management, 1200 New Jersey

Avenue, S.E., E62-204, Washington, DC 20590.

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

The FHWA anticipates making a sole source award - Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite

Quantity (IDIQ) contract to The American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to provide assistance to the Federal Highway

Administration (FHWA) in key program areas, as they relate to the use of technology and knowledge transfer, to influence the development of policies and procedures within State

Departments of Transportations (DOTs). This assistance allows the FHWA to provide improved benefits to the traveling public, by optimizing the operations of state transportation systems. The contract will be for a 5-year period.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs

(including the estimated value)

The services required to meet FHWA’s needs, for this effort, are as follows:

1. Standing Committee and Subcommittee Support

Staff and other support shall be provided to the AASHTO Standing Committees and Subcommittees to aid FHWA in achieving its goals related to transportation operations.

2. Freight Management and Operations Support

The contractor shall support, facilitate, coordinate, collaborate, conduct, or manage research, outreach, or communications related to research, analysis, surveys, data development or improvements, workshops/meetings/conferences/roundtables, and training for HOFM programs.

3. ITS Research Activities

The contractor shall provide input on stakeholder needs and facilitate stakeholder reviews of program documents and activities. The contractor shall support appropriate outreach activities and exchange among public sector members to promote implementation of research results.

The contractor shall provide support in other ITS research areas, including safety, mobility and environmental program areas. The contractor’s role shall involve providing support to USDOT in stakeholder involvement activities, meeting support, needs definition, policy research, implementation guidance, outreach and technology transfer activities related to these research programs.

4. Connected and Automated Vehicles Support

The contractor shall support, facilitate, coordinate, collaborate, conduct or manage research, outreach or communications related to research, analysis, surveys, data development or improvements, workshops/meetings/conferences/roundtables, and training.

*The estimate of services is for five (5) years and will total = $1,800,000.00*

4. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.

3304(a) (1), FAR 6.302-l (b)(1) "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or

Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements." "When there is a reasonable basis to conclude that the agency’s minimum needs can only be satisfied by -- (i) Unique supplies or services available from only one source or only one supplier with unique capabilities."

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited

AASHTO was founded to be a uniquely positioned business to provide support to/through its members – the State DOTs. AASHTO has a unique relationship with State

DOT executives and technical staff that permit direct access to and influence on the decision makers and operators of transportation facilities, who will realize the benefits from the activities in this proposed agreement.

Since the States own and operate the majority of the highway facilities that are the targets for improving operations, it is essential to be able to communicate with, and influence, executives, management, and staff throughout the State DOTs. This IDIQ provides the most effective means for the States to acquire the knowledge that they need to improve transportation operations nationwide, and will also aid and support the FHWA's transportation operations mission. While discrete parts of this requirement could be performed by other entities, none have the combined technical expertise, unique relationship with State DOTs, and standing within the transportation community that

AASHTO does; it is on that basis that the FHWA is justified in awarding a contract, on a sole source basis, to AASHTO.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized

The FHWA’s intent to sole source was posted on FedBizOpps from December 9, 2016 to

December 27, 2016.

7. Determination that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable

AASHTO’s proposal will be subjected to a detailed cost-and-price analysis before any negotiations are conducted, and if that analysis reveals that any adjustments to the respective costs are needed, such adjustments will be made before any contract is awarded. Moreover, each invoice submitted during the life of the contract will be scrutinized for allowability, allocability, and reasonableness of billed costs. These procedures will ensure that the anticipated cost to the Government is, and will remain, fair and reasonable.

8. Description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted

Because of the highly specialized nature of the required work, and due to the unique qualifications needed for the contractors, this acquisition cannot be made commercially through a catalogue purchase. The agency knows of no other sources that have the specialized capabilities possessed by AASHTO. The agency’s dissemination of an extremely broad notice concerning the proposed contract (as described in section 6 above) fully satisfies any requirements for market research.

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

No other facts are needed and none are known.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

There were no inquiries or interest expressed in this acquisition.

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 supplies or services required.

The FHWA will continue to review vendors, inquire with key federal partners and with other organizations as to their activities and plans for development. Also, FHWA will review organizations that provide similar services on an ongoing basis and if/when appropriate, the FHWA will compete for this service.