Foresight_-_Limited_Source_Justification_-_Draft_-_7-14-16.docx

EPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

FY17-20

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION LAW FAR 8.405-6

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES: The Environmental Protection Agency requires commercialization support services for its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The SBIR Program’s authorizing legislation enables Federal agency SBIR programs to procure commercialization technical assistance services for the companies they support at the rate of $5,000 per company. All GSA schedule holders charge the same rate. The difference between contractors is in the technical expertise offered.

I. JUSTIFICATION RATIONALE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 8.405-6(a) and (b):

There are three vendors on the GSA Schedule holders that offer SBIR technology services. The vendors are: Foresight Science and Technology, Inc.; Larta Institute; and Dawnbreaker, Inc. Each company has a different approach to commercialization support. Foresight provides Technology Niche Analyses and customized consultation. Dawnbreaker helps companies develop their business case and a commercialization plan. Larta helps companies utilize its global resources network.

Federal agencies with SBIR programs have utilized one or more of these companies based on their agency’s SBIR program needs. The Department of Energy, for example, uses Dawnbreaker to help its SBIR companies develop their business case and a commercialization plan. The National Institutes of Health uses Foresight in Phase I to develop Technology Niche Analyses and uses LARTA in Phase II to help their companies utilize the LARTA global resources network. The Dawnbreaker and LARTA approaches do not match EPA’s SBIR program needs.

Only Foresight Science & Technology, Inc., offers the services that EPA needs for its SBIR Program. The following sections describe the unique characteristics that Foresight possesses:

Technology Niche Analysis. Foresight’s proprietary Technology Niche Analysis (TNA) is uniquely suited to the EPA SBIR Program. Foresight provides an expert in the relevant technology area to work with each SBIR company. The expert follows a 10-step process that includes market analyses, patent searches, identification of potential customers and investors, and descriptions of competitors’ technologies. At the end of the process, the expert prepares a report for the company. The competitor companies do not have the expertise, funds, or time to do this essential work.

Consulting Services. The Foresight expert assigned to each company also provides commercialization consulting services tailored to that company’s needs. This includes competitor analysis, product comparisons, market share analysis, and distribution and positioning strategies. The expert also assists in refining the technology value proposition and concepts for marketing materials, identifying and removing roadblocks, making introductions to prospective investors, partners, and customers.

Environmental Technology Experience. Foresight is the only vendor that has extensive experience with commercialization of environmental technologies. Environmental technologies differ from other technologies because of the nature of their markets and the Federal, State, and local regulations that affect their adoption and use. Foresight has helped universities, government laboratories, and companies in the US and abroad commercialize thousands of environmental technologies. As a result, Foresight has experience working with environmental technologies in all the topic areas relevant to EPA’s SBIR Program.

Experience Working with EPA SBIR. For several years, Foresight has provided commercialization support services for EPA’s SBIR program. It has always performed above what was expected of them. For example, it has had all its experts attend our annual Phase I kick-off meeting so they could meet individually with their assigned companies. The experts introduce Foresight’s services and give the companies a jumpstart on the commercialization of their technologies. In addition, Foresight’s president has given an overview of the commercialization process and explained Foresight’s TNA approach.

Foresight has provided significant contributions to the success of EPA’s SBIR program. We are confident that Foresight will continue to provide this high level of performance under this contract. They provide exceptional value to EPA for the cost of their services, which results in a very high benefit to cost ratio. Foresight is the best source for meeting EPA’s needs.

II. DETERMINATION OF BEST VALUE:

In accordance with FAR 8.404(d), it is determined that the proposed task order represents the vest value to the Government. GSA has already determined that the price of the system is fair and reasonable. The value is in the expertise that Foresight offers over the other GSA contractor’s offering SBIR programs.

III. MARKET RESEARCH:

Market research was conducted to determine which vendors offer services similar to those provided by Foresight. For future acquisitions, EPA will continue to monitor the market place to see if other contractors have acquired the expertise that Foresight offers.

IV. PROJECT OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION:

As the Contracting Officer Representative for this requirement, I certify that the above-identified technical requirements that form the basis for this Limited Source Justification are accurate and compete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

SBIR Program (ORD/NCER)

V. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION:

As the Contracting Officer for this requirement, I certify that the above-identified technical requirements that form the basis for this Limited Source Justification are accurate and compete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I have also determined that this order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

Cincinnati Procurement Operations Division

Cincinnati Procurement Operations Division