UAH_JAv2_(20_Jun_18)_Redacted.pdf

J&A No.: 18-00 Contract Solicitation No.: HQ0147-18-

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Introductory Paragraph.

Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as the Director of Contracts, Advanced Technology, hereby approve the issuance of the contractual action discussed below using other than full and open competition pursuant to the authority cited herein.

2. Agencies and Contracting Activity (Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.303-2(b)(1)).

This Justification and Approval (J&A) is for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program Office (MDA STEM). The MDA contracting activity is Advanced Technology Contracts (DACV). The point of contact for this action is .

3. Nature and Description of the Action Being Approved (FAR Part 6.303-2(b)(2)).

MDA/STEM intends to award a sole source, Cost, contract to the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to provide a STEM program supporting the MDA mission.

4. Description of the Supplies and/or Services Required to Meet the Agency's Needs (including the estimated value) (FAR Part 6.303-2(b)(3)).

Per direction from the MDA Executive Director (MDA/DX), the MDA STEM office is tasked with developing and operating STEM education programs that inspire, cultivate, and enhance STEM engagement across a three-tiered target group; K-12, college, and educators – preparing the next generation of STEM professionals to solve future missile defense challenges in the Department of Defense (DoD), industry, and academia. A key component to this effort is the development of two capstone projects that begin this process: 1) a high-altitude balloon launch project requiring collaboration using the engineering design process among K-12 students; and

2) a project developing STEM education hardware for K-12 classrooms for use in multiple grades.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Systems Management and Production Center (UAH SMAP) shall support the following specific objectives:

• Develop a detailed STEM education plan that can be executed in subsequent academic years for continuing and expanding the two projects described above,

• Establish collaborations with K-12 school systems and universities/colleges in areas of the country where MDA has a presence to conduct the two projects,

• Establish relationships with other government agencies (OGA’s) having an interest in partnering on STEM education projects,

• Develop prototypes and materials supporting the long-term success of the two STEM education projects,

• Develop a long-term strategic plan for the MDA STEM office.

The anticipated contract period of performance for this requirement is one (1) year. The expected period of performance is June 29, 2018 through June 28, 2019. The planned funding type is Research Development Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) and the estimated total cost is .

5. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition (FAR Part 303-2(b)(4)).

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is Title 10 United States Code 2304 (c)(l) as implemented in FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The requirement is for highly specialized services and award to anyone other than the original source will result in substantial duplication of cost, not expected to be recoverable through competition, and an unacceptable delay in fulfilling the Agency’s requirement.

6. Demonstration of Contractor's Unique Qualifications (FAR Part 6.303-2(b)(5)).

The UAH SMAP has a broad experience base in STEM education (both formal and informal education) that is a local unique capability for use by the MDA. UAH SMAP has been engaged in (STEM) education for over ten years. UAH is seasoned in developing and operating unique, challenging, and transformative STEM education programs, serving students throughout the United States, and providing a strong background from which the STEM office can leverage in developing MDA’s unique STEM education programs.

By working with UAH SMAP, the MDA can leverage existing projects, funded by OGA’s, to develop and operate its own unique STEM educational programs. The UAH SMAP center, through its STEM Projects Advancing Relevance and Confidence in the Classroom (SPARCC) Laboratory, has completed, or are completing, for various government agencies, including several organizations within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC). A list of the projects is located in Table 1 below.

For the past nine years, UAH SMAP has conducted the Innovative System Project for the Increased Recruitment of Emerging STEM Students (InSPIRESS) project for the NASA Planetary Missions Program Office located at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, AL. Total funding for this project has surpassed . A total of high school students from five different states have participated in the program over the past nine years, with another community participants (mostly middle and elementary school students) engaged in the program since the fall of 2013. This project continues to be a large success, with a great deal of local participation in the fall and spring semester final review/open house events held at UAH. Over local professionals annually volunteer to be judges. Since the inception of this project, UAH SMAP has developed a network of local and non-local teachers and school systems that have agreed to assist with the development and pilot of additional STEM educational activities.

The MDA STEM office plans to leverage the knowledge gained with InSPIRESS to develop a similar program focusing on showcasing MDA’s unique mission for the DoD. Without the assistance of UAH SMAP, the MDA STEM office would require additional years and manpower to develop their project. Due to UAH SMAP’s immense background in the development of STEM education challenges for the classroom, the MDA STEM education project will begin in academic year 2018-2019 (fall 2018).

Through its other outreach efforts, UAH SMAP has conducted over high-altitude balloon flights at school systems throughout the country. Conducting these plus flights provides UAH SMAP a unique insight into developing and operating a high-altitude balloon program for demonstrating fundamental MDA technology concepts to students while engaging them in a hands-on STEM education project. They have established processes and procedures including the steps required in obtaining approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for these flights. This experience executing balloon launches with educational institutions and executing an established process for FAA approval, eliminates a significant amount of time and effort that would otherwise be required for MDA to develop.

UAH SMAP is currently conducting research for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to understand the STEM education pipeline throughout Alabama via a three-year, grant. Through this grant, the UAH SMAP will gather data from school systems throughout the state of Alabama, for understanding the “state of STEM” in that school system. This research project will develop a methodology for evaluating and reporting a STEM education program for use by the MDA STEM office, a requirement of the DoD STEM education office at the Pentagon.

For the past fifteen years, researchers within UAH SMAP have taught the senior undergraduate design class in both Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management departments at UAH. This class is unique in that it mimics the real world of engineering by having the students work on a real-world design problem in a collaborative integrated product team (IPT) environment with several external partners (e.g., other universities throughout the country and world). The model for the class could be used by MDA to support the development of MDA technology projects and STEM education projects – providing useful information for MDA while simultaneously serving as a recruitment tool for MDA to identify potential technical talent for MDA’s continued mission.

Another unique feature of this class is the university collaborations that occur. UAH SMAP researchers require that each year students from other universities collaborate on the project.

Past collaborations include Southern University at Baton Rouge, Alabama A&M University, College of Charleston, California State, Los Angeles, and ESTACA University in Paris, France.

These collaborations will serve as a foundation for additional collaborative efforts by universities throughout the country on the development of projects for this program.

To address the needs of the local community, UAH SMAP developed the “STEM Roadshow” that travels to school systems throughout the state, showcasing various STEM activities for generating interest in STEM education. This project is internally funded and developed by SMAP. The roadshow focuses on rural school systems in the state that do not have the resources to develop their own STEM education program. For the past three years, interest in this project has increased dramatically and the “STEM Roadshow” travels to a different school system every week. Leveraging knowledge gained by this project, activities developed by this plan could be used by the MDA STEM office in the development of its own programs.

The SPARCC Laboratory research staff within UAH SMAP have been recognized for their work in STEM education locally with the “Quest for Excellence Award” and with the “Educator of the Year Award” from the National Space Club, Huntsville. They have also been recognized nationally with an invitation to present at the Frontiers in Education Symposium hosted by the National Academy of Engineering, to discuss their STEM education programs with engineering leaders throughout the nation. A listing of the UAH SMAP STEM program contracts follow:

Table 1. UAH SMAP STEM Education Programs

Investigators Project Title Period of Performance Description Amount

M. Benfield

(PI), M.

Turner, S.

Lampley, S.

Roller, E.

Waddell, S.

Gholston, M.

Dillihunt, C.

Curtis, D.

Smith

An Investigation of the Engineering Pipeline Challenges Facing K-12 Students in Alabama’s Black Belt Region

October 2016

– September

Comprehensive research study to understand the K-12 STEM Pipeline in rural school districts throughout Alabama

M. Benfield

(PI)

M. Turner

The ENGINEER Program

October 2011

– Sept 2018

Development of a high school STEM outreach program

Development of a Community Outreach Project that Simulates Launch Operations

June 2016 – May 2017

Development of the HABSat STEM education and outreach program

Expansion of the InSPIRESS Program for FY

October – February

Continued expansion of the InSPIRESS high school program to areas of the country

Expansion of the InSPIRESS Program

March 2014- May 2015

Continued expansion of the high school outreach program for the SLS Stages Office

(PI)

M. Turner

Outer Planetary Mission Design

April 2011 – March 2012

STEM education project focusing on outer planetary mission design and development

M. Turner

Engineering Integrated Project/Product Team

August 2009

– January

STEM education projects for senior design

M. Turner

Concepts for a New X-Ray Telescope Using an Ares V

August 2008

– September

STEM education projects for senior design

D. Landrum

M. Benfield

Rocket Deployed Loiter Vehicle Design Project

August 2009

– December

Senior design project to develop a RDLV for

SMDC

M. Turner

Lunar Lander Design

September 2007 – August 2008

STEM education program to design a robotic lunar lander

2009 RASC-AL

Forum

May – June

2009 NASA

undergraduate competition

Warlords Conference

April – November

Service academies competition

7. Description of Market Research Conducted (FAR Part 6.303-2(b)(6),(8) and (10)).

Market Research performed: September 12, 2017 through December 14, 2017

Market Research Performer:

Market Research techniques used:

a) Discussions with Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) STEM Executive Board Working Group members from each service and fourth estate who are knowledgeable in the nature of this requirement;

b) Contact with knowledgeable persons in academia and industry regarding the nature of this requirement, and;

c) Review of other DoD programs with relevance to this type product.

Market Research Determination: The UAH SMAP center has unique expertise, capability and/or past experience not available within MDA. The SPARCC Laboratory is a nationally recognized STEM education organization with more than 15 years of experience in STEM Outreach programs. They work closely with the National Science Foundation on STEM education studies and analysis and they work with other government agencies on planning and executing STEM programs. In addition, part of the MDA project requires collaboration with multiple Historically

Black Colleges and Universities. UAH SMAP center has many of these partnerships already in place.

8. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost (FAR Part 6.303-2(b)(7)).

No award shall be made until the Contracting Officer determines the costs to the Government to be fair and reasonable. In accordance with FAR 15.402, the Contracting Officer shall ensure that all supplies and services under this contract are procured at a fair and reasonable cost. UAH will submit a formal cost proposal with certified cost and pricing data and sufficient information to support accuracy and reliability of the estimated costs. A thorough analysis of proposed costs will be conducted to include UAH’s bases of estimates, supporting hours, labor mix, rates, and factors. MDA STEM will perform a thorough technical assessment of the proposal to form the basis for the Contracting Officer’s determination of fair and reasonable cost. The contracting officer will make the fair and reasonable determination based on: UAH’s current Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Cost Rate Agreement from the Department of Health & Human Services, independent government cost estimate, program office technical evaluation, and historical costs of similar university contracts.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition (FAR Part 6.303-2(b)(9)).

None.

10. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition (FAR Part 6.303-2(b)(ll)).

MDA STEM office plans to use a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to pursue future STEM endeavors. This contract will enable MDA STEM to initiate program development. The BAA will open this opportunity to other educational programs and solicit new ideas and strategies for further technology development through the use of STEM educational programs.

11. Technical/Requirements Official Certification (FAR Part 6.303-2( c)). "I certify this justification for other than full and open competition is made in good faith and that the supporting data and information are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I further certify that this request is not the result of a lack of advance planning."

12. Contracting Officer (FAR 6.303-2(b )(12)). "I have determined that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable and certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and ability."

14. Approval {FAR Part 6;304). "In accordance with FAR Part 6.304, the above f er th ition is hereby approved."

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