Biotech-JA.pdf

FAR 13 Determination At or Below SAT Source SelectionInformation‐See FAR2.101AND 3.104 ‐ For Official Use Only

DETERMINATION For

SINGLE SOURCE OR BRAND NAME SOURCE SOLICITATION - FAR 13 (≤SAT)

Biotechnology Engineering Curriculum Resources

1. Contracting Agency: Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)

2. Description of Supplies and Services

DoDEA requires ten items consisting of kits and micropipets used in high school level biotechnology classes at 14 DoDEA high schools systemwide. The ten items are shown below:

Oil Spill Bioremediation Kit Introduction to Plant Cloning Kit

Genetics and DNA Kit Micropipet Student 10 ul

Case of the Murdered Mayor Kit Micropipet Student 20 ul

Testing Soil Productivity Kit Cheese Production Bio Kit

Testing Soil Productivity Kit - Refill Sterile Technique Kit

3. Description of Action

A firm fixed price contract is planned with a total estimated value of . The period of performance is a 12-month base period. FY19 Operating and Maintenance (O&M) funds are available for the base period in the estimated amount of .

4. Authority

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)

5. Market Research

Since 2013, DoDEA biotechnology engineering teachers and students have been using kits and supplies provided by Effective Communication Strategies, LLC. The POCs for Effective Communication

Strategies, LLC (Clifton, VA) are Paul or Katherine Bricker, who may be reached at katie@ecommunicationstrategies.com and at 910-849-8997. The company’s CAGE number is 6WY84.

It is a woman-owned, self-certified economically disadvantaged small business, per the Dynamic Small

Business Search (DSBS)

Three vendors were found that market similar products. As explained in the Rationale (below), none can meet DoDEA’s requirements. First is Carolina Biological Supply Company (Burlington, NC). Its

POC, Elizabeth Stanfield, may be reached at 336-538-6294 elizabeth.stanfield@carolina.com. Its

CAGE number is 59896. It is a small business (Subchapter S Corporation), per DSBS. Second is Steve

Spangler Science (Englewood, CO). Its sales office may be reached at www.stevespanglerscience.com and at 800-223-9080. No CAGE number was found, per SAM.gov. It is not a small business, per

DSBS. Third is Ward’s Science (Rochester, NY). Its sales office may be reached at 800-962-2660 and wardscs@vwr.com. It has no CAGE number, per SAM.gov. It is not a small business, per DSBS.

Using the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) for

NAICS #611110 (Elementary and Secondary Schools), and the keywords, biotech, and biotechnology

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY

mailto:katie@ecommunicationstrategies.com mailto:elizabeth.stanfield@carolina.com http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/ mailto:wardscs@vwr.com yielded no results. Using the same keywords for NAICS #611710 (Education Support Services) yielded the following results:

DSBS

Under biotech there was one result: Access Biomolecular & DNA Laboratories, Inc., which markets its products/services to businesses and cannot meet DoDEA’s requirements. . It is not likely that it can address DoDEA’s requirement. Under cognitive disabilities were no matches.

Under biotechnology there were nine results. In addition to Access Biomolecular & DNA

Laboratories, Inc. (listed above), one match appeared to be with an independent contractor and the other seven were companies that did research and support for businesses and the government. None appear to sell biotechnology kits and none reference schools in their capability narratives; therefore, none appear able to meet DoDEA’s requirements.

FPDS

Under biotech two vendors were listed: ion, Effective Communication Strategies, LLC (cited above) and The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, which is a non-profit international organization that shares agricultural biotechnology, focusing on genetic engineering. This non-profit cannot meet DoDEA’s requirements.

Under biotechnology only two vendors were listed: Effective Communication Strategies, LLC

(cited above) and Basch Subscriptions’ 2016 contract with the Federal Trade Commission. Basch

Subscriptions markets subscription services to the library and business communities and cannot meet DoDEA’s requirements.

6. Rationale for Single Source

Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as the Contracting Officer, approve this justification for the proposed contract action pursuant to the authority cited above because the ten biotechnology engineering curriculum resources listed above are essential to the Government's requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet, the agency's needs.

Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as the Contracting Officer, approve this justification for the proposed contract action pursuant to the authority cited above because the ten required biotechnology engineering curriculum resources are essential to the Government's requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet, the agency's needs.

The resources provided by Effective Communication Strategies are required until the aforementioned competition is completed.

In 2013 Effective Communication Strategies, LLC was awarded contact, HE1254-13-D-0017, and it is the only vendor that can provide the required resources in the required timeframe. To initiate a new competition and to award a one-year contract would result in delivery of resources in the second semester of the 2019-20 school year, which would be detrimental to student learning and achievement. Also, teachers would be without needed resources for at least one full semester. More importantly, introducing new equipment and kits would create great problems for teachers—a major disruption in curriculum continuity which is vital to promoting student learning and achievement.

Based on the rationale above, the Contracting Office has made the determination to issue a sole source solicitation to Effective Communication Strategies, LLC as the only authorized seller of the required resources.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY

KOROMA.ALIM.A Digitally signed by

.1397998254

KOROMA.ALIM.A.1397998254

Date: 2019.08.14 16:31:54 -04'00'

Biotechnology Engineering Curriculum Resources

Technical Certification: I certify the supporting data under my cognizance and which forms a basis for this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

DETERMINATION

Contracting Officer: I certify that the facts and representations included in this determination are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I hereby determine that the circumstances of this contract action deem only one source reasonably available and the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Approval is granted subject to the availability of funds and provided that the products/services described herein have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Alim Koroma, Contracting Officer

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY