ETFO for Public Release.pdf

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

8725 JOHN J. KINGMAN ROAD, STOP 6201

FORT BELVOIR, VA 22060-6201

EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY JUSTIFICATION

1. Nature and/or Description of the Action

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) contracting activity proposes to procure, without multiple award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ), an effort and existing program entitled, "Mobile Ground Sensor (MGS)." Alion Science and Technology Corporation will be the only WMD ID/IQ contractor solicited to provide the required technical effort.

2. Description of the Supplies/Services Required

The Contractor shall provide the development of training aids (TAs) for United States Special Operation Command (USSOCOM). This effort will support USSO chemical and biological Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). The TAs being developed require an extensive level of expertise in the fields of microbiology, inorganic/organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, mechanical engineering, sensor training, test and evaluation, and program management to ensure successful technical execution of project objectives, including ensuring safety prototcols are met through all phases of the project. The primary objective of this effort is to provide the technical expertise, engineering and integration necessary to develop the TAs in accordance with DTRA requirements so that DTRA can transition improved capabilities to USSOCOM.

This effort continues the ongoing research and development (R&D) support of MGS to DTRA under the previous task order HDTRA1-14-D-0002-0003.

This task order is expected to be in place no later than July 23, 2020, with a planned base period of performance of 12 months with four 12-month options allowing for support through July 2025. The potential total estimated value of the effort for the base period and option years is $5.8M. This estimate is based on an assumption of a level of effort of 4 Full-time-equivalents (FTEs) over the contract period of performance, including materials and travel.

The work will require contractor personnel to have access to Secret Clearance in order to successfully execute the requirements. The work also requires the use of Biosafety Level 2 and 3 facilities, as well as chemical surety facilities to allow for periodic handling of dangerous pathogens and toxic chemicals.

3. Exception to Fair Opportunity

FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C), the order must be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency as a logical follow-on to an order issued under the contract, provided that all awardees were given a fair opportunity to be considered for the original order.

4. Justification Rationale

The current MGS task order, HDTRA1-14-D-0002-0003, was competitively solicited and awarded to Alion under the CWMD IDIQ; three proposals were received for this effort.

The scope of the current, ongoing effort is the same as the proposed follow-on effort, and requires contractor MGS personnel to continue to develop and deliver TAs to DTRA and end users at USSOCOM.

The scope of work requires the performer to systematically assess each end user-specified chemical or biological threat and then design a safe, effective training aid to challenge and tune end user sensor systems. The end user organization, or operational sponsor, requires this systematic process to be repeated for each high priority chemical and biological threat. The current contract has addressed a broad range of threats, but due to the nature of evolving and emerging real-world threats, this follow-on contract is required to fully satisfy end user requirements. The specific task in terms of the threat may vary based on USSOCOM requirements, but the development and testing process is the same. If the award was made to a non-incumbent, costs of approximately $1.5M and a delay of 12 months would be incurred to retrain and equip new personnel to put together a multi-disciplinary team consisting of a wide range of expertise needed to meet the requirements of the specified tasks in the SOW. Further, program delays estimated at 3 additional months would be incurred as all new contractor personnel would be required to undergo a lengthy read-in process to allow them to access highly sensitive information held by the operational sponsor information which is critical to performing this work and adhering strict operational security (OPSEC) procedures. These delays would be disruptive to the program, ability to accomplish its counter WMD mission.

5. Market Research

Market research was accomplished in accordance with DTRA Market Research How-to-Guide v3 August 2017 (CAE Approved). Extensive market research was conducted prior to the initial award of the current task order, and follow-on market research was conducted in February 2020. Multiple sources were checked to research various capabilities relevant to this procurement and are documented in the Market Research Report associated with this action. Market research revealed that the incumbent Alion is uniquely positioned to perform the tasks outlined in the Statement of Work due to their expertise in evaluation, design, and fabrication of training aids and methodologies, development of innovative technologies, performance assessments, sensor training, and test and evaluation. They have over 25 years of experience and a team of MGS-specific research, development, testing, and evaluation staff comprised of chemists, biologists, engineers, and managers to provide a full complement of capabilities.

6. Other Supporting Facts

Alion is the only candidate who had fully demonstrated capability across all desired areas of competency.

Battelle is the subcontractor on the DTRA Bio-ISR MGS contract and is performing at very high levels in all aspects of the program. Their specific expertise and focus on MGS TA development and testing for multiple Government clients results in DTRA being able to leverage program-benefiting technologies such as MGS specific training logs, and a tablet-based recording and tracking system that archives all aspects of a test event.

7. Subsequent Actions

It is likely that the MGS support will continue beyond the end of the proposed contract effort in July of 2025. Current and future requirements are anticipated to be an R&D funded effort. It is anticipated that as Bio-ISR technologies mature, and are transitioned operationally, more contractors will have the required expertise to competitively bid on future proposals.