BMJ_2.0_JA_Redacted.docx

Defense Threat Reduction Agency and United States Strategic Command Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 6201 Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Nature and/or Description of Action

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency contracting activity proposes to procure, without using full and open competition, a sole source contract to adapt an existing, commercially-available platform to deliver training on infectious diseases related to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) list of Select Agents and select agent differential diagnosis topics for clinicians in the partner-countries under the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP).

2. Description of the Supplies/Services Required

Correct clinical diagnosis of infectious diseases caused by Select Agents is critical for early disease detection. Clinical/medical training programs that help our partner nations identify and differentially diagnose diseases of security concern will improve the accuracy of diagnoses and downstream reporting, therefore providing fidelity to decision making in the event that a disease of security concern emerges. CBEP determined that the two most effective tools to allow CBEP partner country clinicians to stay abreast of the most recent medical developments for accurate diagnoses are: distance learning and on-the-job training.

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) has a distinct commercially available platform that provides training to clinical practitioners and specialists in the form of online modules to supplement their existing medical training with the best available and peer-reviewed clinical data. In 2016, CBEP initiated a new partner-country clinician training paradigm by contracting with BMJ and utilizing its unique distance-learning platform to supplement practicing clinicians with medical knowledge and training in how to properly diagnose infectious diseases of security concern.

This procurement is intended to utilize and leverage previous contractual work and expand available distance –learning training topics to partner-country clinicians that are enrolled in the project. The services of the BMJ will be utilized to further adapt their existing platform and offer additional training on Select Agents and differential diagnosis topics that have been developed with DTRA’s assistance under current contract HDTRA1-15-C-0050. Since CBEP is adapting their platform, BMJ is expected to absorb the cost of updating all of the developed materials. In addition, CBEP plans to procure standalone standardized educational materials (PDFs) which will be considered U.S. Government property and can be distributed to partner nations by CBEP free of charge.

The nature of this work is not new as BMJ provides similar services and products under the current contract. The period of performance is expected to extend over the course of five fiscal years and will include translation and licensing of training materials, implementation and full transition of the system to partner nations. This scope will be incorporated into the corresponding task order periods. The estimated ceiling value for the IDIQ is ≤ $31M.

3. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for this non-competitive action is:

10 United States Code (U.S.C.) 2304(c)(1) or 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, as further defined by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2); when the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source, or for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for.

4. Applicability of Authority

In accordance with 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1), DTRA has determined that the incumbent contractor, British Medical Journal is uniquely qualified and is the only responsible source to complete the full scope of this work. The previous effort was sole sourced based on a J&A, dated 26 May2016. BMJ is still uniquely qualified as follows:

a. The BMJ has an existing well-developed platform that specifically meets the needs of partner nations and has been proven as an effective and efficient platform for the clinician online training. For example, this platform has been cited in Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org/2016/1/e15/) as an essential tool that will significantly improve clinician continuing medical education programs in relation to infectious disease diagnoses. There was a case study on weighted decision criteria of the tender process for the Norwegian Electronic Health Library, part of the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for Health Services (NOKC). Through NEHL portal (www.helsebibliteket.no) national clinicians have access to medical journals, indexes, point-of-care reference tools and other medical information resources.

b. The current responses to RFI HDTRA1-18-R-0003 posted on FedBizOps (16Oct2017) and previous responses to the Sources Sought for the original contract demonstrated that only BMJ was fully compliant with all specific CBEP requirements, such as tutorial videos, personalization, and testing mechanisms for training on Select Agents and Toxins. Additionally, a number of topics on select agent and differential diagnosis have been developed under the current contract with BMJ. Additionally, CBEP conducted an open source research survey to ascertain if market conditions changed since the original Market Research. CBEP was unable to identify another uniquely qualified performer.

c. The BMJ is globally-recognized for its expertise in the areas of medical education, clinical decision support, data analytics, and healthcare quality improvement to enhance decision- making. Their well-established distance learning platform is regularly updated with the peer- reviewed and evidence-based technical content.

d. BMJ’s previous experience working with DTRA on the Clinician Decision Tool is essential for the successful transition of the training program to the partner nations.

e. The BMJ has demonstrated their ability to work within resource-constrained international settings, which present some of the highest risks within the CBEP’s mission space.

f. A majority of medical institutions in partnering countries follow British medicine training methodology, which is also practiced by the BMJ. This familiarity will enhance the partner nations’ confidence in taking ownership of the training program during and post the transition phase of the projects.

g. BMJ has already successfully integrated and merged the following unique components into their platform to address CBEP’s critical requirements for this scope: differential diagnosis support, personalized training modules, and individualized credit tracking.

h. This is continuation work from contract HDTRA1-15-C-0050.

5. Effort to Solicit Potential Sources

Market research conducted in April 2016 and October 2017 for this effort determined that no new performers have emerged in the market since the initial contract was awarded in 2016. Based on prior market research (April 2016) and responses received (16Oct2017) to the new RFI HDTRA1-18-R-0003 posted on FedBizOps (6Oct2017), CBEP determined that the British Medical Journal (BMJ) is the only organization capable of delivering all tasks identified to meet CBEP and partner country requirements.

6. Fair and Reasonable Costs The estimated cost/price of this contract action was determined by using the historical information from the current contract that was awarded in June 2016. Fairness and reasonableness of the final cost of this action will be determined based on an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) and an in-country price analysis developed during a Collaborative Proposal Development effort with the British Medical Journal.

7. Market Research

In accordance with FAR Part 10, CBEP conducted an open source research survey to ascertain if market conditions changed since the original Market Research. CBEP was unable to identify another uniquely qualified performer. Previous market research performed for the initial contract and responses received (16Oct2017) to the new RFI HDTRA1-18-R-0003 posted on FedBizOps (6Oct2017) were utilized for this acquisition.

CBEP support of the BMJ CDS tool and distance learning platform has been a resounding successes, with more partner countries interested in this engagement than the current contract can provide. A new, more flexible contract vehicle is required for CBEP to continue to support sustainable clinical diagnostics and distance learning with the BMJ platform. This project is a continuation and expansion of on-going Clinical Decision Support (CDS) engagements currently implemented in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine under HDTRA1-16-C-0050. A new contract would enable CBEP to support emerging requirements in Cambodia, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Turkey and Kazakhstan, as well as future requirements in other CBEP partner countries.

Additionally, under the current successful BMJ contract, the British Medical Journal developed and incorporated into their existing platform all select agent and differential diagnosis topics for training courses offered under the current scope. These already developed training material will be translated into partner country languages as executed per task order. BMJ fully addresses the current requirements.

8. Other Facts

None.

9. Interested Sources

For this effort, CBEP conducted an open source research survey to ascertain if market conditions changed since the original Market Research in 2015. CBEP was unable to identify another uniquely qualified performer.

Additionally, on 06Oct2017 a new Request for information (RFI) HDTRA1-18-R-0003 was posted on FedBizOps. Two responses were received on 16Oct2017 from TMC Global Professional Services (TMC) and British Medical Journal (BMJ). Based on the RFI review, TMC’s response did not demonstrate any clinician training capabilities or indicate any experience in developing or supporting such technical capacities. Upon reviewing their submission and cross-walking it against the RFI and CBEP requirements, we concluded that the information provided did not meet the requirements.

BMJ submitted a very well written response addressing all elements requested. The RFI response demonstrated that BMJ was fully compliant with all specific CBEP requirements.

10. Subsequent Actions

As the DTRA CBEP effort evolves, the Program Office will continue to monitor the marketplace to identify any additional sources that may develop the specific services required for this effort at the comparable cost and quality in the future.

Technical Certification

I certify that the data and information forming the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

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X N o r m a n G . F a c e y

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Project Manager Date

Contracting Officer Certification

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

BUTLER.DEBRA.A.141234

)Digitally signed by BUTLER.DEBRA.A.1412343987 DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=DTRA, cn=BUTLER.DEBRA.A.1412343987 Date: 2017.12.08 11:40:18 -05'00'

Contracting Officer Date

General Counsel Coordination

This justification is/is not legally sufficient.

HAWORTH.DEBRA.B.1192536886

Digitally signed by HAWORTH.DEBRA.B.1192536886 DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=DTRA, cn=HAWORTH.DEBRA.B.1192536886 Date: 2017.12.08 12:33:47 -07'00'

Attorney Date

Approval

Based on the above justification, I hereby approve accomplishment of this acquisition by means other than using full and open competition.

OKER.JR.1045498871

)JONES.SAMPSON.BO

Digitally signed by JONES.SAMPSON.BOOKER.JR.1045498871 DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=DTRA, cn=JONES.SAMPSON.BOOKER.JR.1045498871 Date: 2017.12.12 09:40:52 -05'00'

Competition Advocate Date

1200213960

)WRIGHT.EDWIN.E.JR.

Digitally signed by WRIGHT.EDWIN.E.JR.1200213960 DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=DTRA, cn=WRIGHT.EDWIN.E.JR.1200213960 Date: 2017.12.14 13:21:33 -05'00' Head of Contracting Activity Date image1.png