JA KLC Redacted.pdf

CUI

Control Number: JA24-02-1508

Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4

FEB 2023

Sole Source Justification and Approval Under FAR 13.501

1. Contracting Activity: The contracting activity responsible for this action is the US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), on behalf of the US Army Research institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM)

2. Description of Action: This will be a new single award Requirements Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for stable isotope analysis services. Funding will be provided at the task order level. The ordering period for the IDIQ will be five (5) years.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Government requires a requirements contract with Metabolic Solutions Inc to provide stable isotope analysis services of human urine, blood, saliva, fecal, muscle, and ribonucleic acid (RNA) samples. The results from this work will provide data needed to fulfill requirements of approved and planned human research protocols assessing the impact of nutrition interventions and dietary supplements, pharmacological interventions, and exposure to operational stressors and environmental extremes on substrate metabolism, whole-body protein turnover, muscle protein synthesis, RNA synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism and gastrointestinal function. The total ceiling is estimated at

4. Authority Cited: 41 United States Code 1901 as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.501(a)(1)(ii), sole source under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: USARIEM requires stable isotope analysis services in support of current and upcoming research study protocols. The most critical aspects of the stable isotope analysis services required herein are that they are performed at a laboratory that (1) has the ability to use gas chromatography isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) methods that allow for the administration of less isotope tracers to research participants and allows for the detection of smaller differences between treatments; (2) can prepare biological samples (i.e., dry down, ground) when necessary for isotope analysis services; (3) has expertise in stable isotope-based methods of substrate metabolism and the ability to perform the associated data

Controlled by: Defense Health Agency (DHA) Controlled by: USAMRAA CUI Category(ies): Source Selection Limited Dissemination Control: FED Only POC: Kasey Carroll

Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4

FEB 2023

calculations for substrate kinetics (i.e., fractional synthesis rates); (4) can provide custom services for developing and implementing stable isotope-based research techniques from previously-published research; (5) has a documented history of contributing to peer-reviewed publications using these technologies and expertise; and

(6) can analyze samples using the same methodology that has been used in prior USARIEM field studies and laboratory studies in order to reliably compare results across studies. Metabolic Solutions is the only organization to meet all these requirements. In particular, Metabolic Solutions is separated from the competition by their ability to perform substrate kinetic calculations from the stable isotope data and documented history of contributing to peer-reviewed publications in the human substrate metabolism field. Metabolic Solutions is also the only organization that can use the same methodologies implemented in prior USARIEM field and laboratory studies, ensuring the data is consistent and reproducible and allowing for scientific integrity and validity of comparing results across studies. These capabilities are critical to ensuring the most complete and accurate information needed to transition research findings to solutions for the Warfighter. As such, the only known source to meet the needs is Metabolic Solutions.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Contracting Officer published a notice of intent on 27 February 2024. One vendor, Bridging Pieces submitted a capability statement that was reviewed by Marques Wilson at USARIEM. After review, it was found that the vendor would not be able to provide all of the services required for this requirement. Bridging Pieces was notified of these results on 12 March 2024.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The marketplace will continue to be monitored to determine if the requirement can be competed in the future.

8. Market Research: Market research was conducted in January 2024. A few potential sources were identified (Metabolic Solutions, ALFA Chemistry, BOC Sciences, Boston University Stable Isotope Laboratory, Washing State University Core Laboratory) using multiple search terms and criteria specific to this effort to perform simple internet searches and searches on SAM.gov and GSAadvantage.gov. Of those entities, only Metabolic Solutions was found to be able to provide services and have the capabilities that fully meet the requirements of the performance work statement (PWS). Additionally, the current contract includes follow-up work to previous investigations that used Metabolic Solutions to perform stable isotope analysis services and they remain the only organization that can provide consistent data analysis. As such, Metabolic Solutions was identified as the only source that can provide the services.

9. Interested Sources: To date, no other sources have written to express an interest.

The notice of intent required by FAR 5.201 was published, and no bids or proposals were received. CUI

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Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4

FEB 2023

10. Other Facts: N/A

a. Procurement history.

(1) Contract numbers and dates of all awarded contracts for these same requirements. W81XWH-20-P-0107 awarded June 2020

(2) The competitive status of these actions. W81XWH-20-P-0107 was solicited as a sole source.

(3) Authority previously cited if less than full and open competition was used. Only one source is reasonably available per FAR 13.501 (a)(1)(ii).

(4) If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, a summary of the contents of paragraph 7 of the justification for that procurement and an explanation of the results. N/A, prior justification did not provide a plan to increase competition.

(5) If any prior contract for this requirement was accomplished using full and open competition, include a detailed explanation of the changed circumstances causing this action to now limit the sources. N/A

(6) An explanation of any unusual patterns that may be revealed by the history, e.g., several consecutive, urgent buys. N/A

(7) If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, briefly describe the circumstances justifying the procurement and whether there have been any significant changes. There have been no changes in the industry to change this procurement.

b. Other facts. Not Applicable.