SSJ_IHMC_Redacted.pdf

CUI

Control Number: JA25-0012

Controlled by: Defense Health Agency (DHA) Controlled by: USAMRAA CUI Category(ies): Source Selection Limited Dissemination Control: FEDONLY

POC: KASEY CARROLL

Source Selection Information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4

NOV 2024

Sole Source Justification (SSJ) for Requirements under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

1. Identification of the Agency and Contracting Activity: The contracting activity for this action is the US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) Contracts Group 2, on behalf of the US Army Research Institute of Environmental medicine (USARIEM), Natick, MA

2. Description of Action:

☒ New Requirement ☒ Purchase Order

Contract Type ☒ Fixed Price

3. Description of Services or Supplies and Estimated Value: The government requests a sole source contract with the Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC). The government projects award for August 2025, and FY 2025 Biomedical Performance Enhancement funds will be used. The research and development services are to support the Military Nutrition Division of USARIEM in its ongoing research efforts in feeding strategies that mitigate energy deficits experienced by Warfighters. USARIEM has a need to determine the physiological responses to high quality protein intake during graded levels of calorie deficiency. There is evidence of diverging protein homeostasis and anabolic response to high-quality, high-protein diets across varying energy deficits during multi-stressor operations. Therefore, it is critical to understand the mechanisms and metabolic biomarkers or signatures modulating these responses. This understanding is a crucial component for next actions in the development and testing of targeted nutritional interventions for improving Warfighter readiness and performance. The knowledge gained from this effort will inform next generation combat rations for use in future Multi-Domain Operations. This contract will require the procurement of laboratory supplies, biological sample (blood and muscle) analyses to characterize ‘omic signatures, and interpretation of the signature pathways.

NOV 2024

Period Period of Performance

Estimated Value Type of Funding

Base Period Aug 2025-July

$143,000.00 Biomedical Performance Enhancement

Option Period 1 May 2026- April 2027

$143,000.00 Biomedical Performance Enhancement

Total $286,000

4. Authority:

☒ FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name, or industrial mobilization).

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

MND requires the unique subject matter expertise of the Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC; the contractor) to conduct the ‘omics analyses and assist with the specialized interpretation of generated data for the determination of metabolic biomarkers or signatures characteristic of molecular responses to military-relevant stressors (i.e. energy deficiency, etc.).

Blood and skeletal muscle samples collected by USARIEM will be sent to IHMC and prepared for ‘omics analyses at IHMC. Scientists at IHMC are subject matter experts in advanced molecular biology and advanced nutrition and exercise physiology, particularly multiomic integrative analyses of human biospecimen and physiological responses to exercise and stress.

Additionally, IHMC is the only advanced molecular biology laboratory to be uniquely experienced in applying this expertise in large scale human military research studies. Their demonstrated capabilities are internationally recognized, and they are consistently well-funded by the National Institutes of Health, DoD, Office of Naval Research, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). No other institute or company has the skill level, equipment, or expertise to carry out the required work of MND while also providing the unique intellectual consultation required for the interpretation of the generated data. Moreover, the IHMC has the capability to meet the desired timeline for data generation. MND currently has over 100 muscle and plasma samples that are ready for immediate processing and interpretation so that data can be analyzed and the summary of findings published and knowledge products transitioned. IHMC is the only laboratory equipped and prepared to conduct this immediate work and data interpretation to meet the government’s requirements. Delaying this work will negatively impact the government’s ability to move knowledge products forward. If the service cannot be provided then it will contribute to delays in policy updates and modernization of Warfighter physical recovery solutions for austere mission and training environments, ultimately impacting Warfighter readiness.

NOV 2024

The state-of-the-art facilities (e.g., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory;

Biorepository; Computational Biology Core) at IHMC are well-equipped to carry out all proposed ‘omics analyses required by this contract, including: inventory management (Lab Guru barcode-based inventory software, multiple ultra-low temperature -80ºC freezers, -20ºC freezers, and liquid nitrogen dewars, and a centralized freezer temperature alert system), sample processing (BeadRuptor Elite Mill Homogenizer with Cryo Cooling Unit and all necessary minor laboratory equipment including several tabletop centrifuges, vortices, and spinners), and quality assessment/ quality control (Forma Scientific Class IIA/B3 microbiological safety cabinet, RNA/DNA clean box stations enabled with UV light to maintain sterility, NanoDrop One Microvolume spectrophotometer, Qubit fluorometer, and Agilent bioanalyzer). Moreover, the IHMC laboratories will require no additional equipment to conduct the proposed study. All samples are processed using commercially available kits supplied by IHMC. The IHMC team has substantial experience using this sample-to-data workflow as in other ongoing DoD/DARPA funded projects.

MND requires the contractor to assist with the intellectual interpretation of the analytical approach for the characterization of metabolic biomarkers or signatures characteristic of molecular responses to military-relevant stressors in young adults. The expert contractor will perform unique and specialized ‘omic analyses in blood and muscle tissue collected at USARIEM and will provide a comprehensive data report and assist with complex data interpretation and preparation of scientific reports/peer-review publications.

6. Market Research:

The only contractor with the specialized experience of working with military populations, subject matter expertise regarding molecular biology and exercise physiology, and unique testing and validating abilities to meet this contract requirement is IHMC. This contractor is the only institute with the laboratory possessing the knowledge, technical expertise, intellectual expertise, and facility required to complete this work with USARIEM. It is also the only facility capable of delivering analytical methods that have been consistently executed across military specific studies funded through the Department of Defense, which is critical for comparative purposes.

Market research was conducted on 13 January 2025. Methods used to arrive at market research findings for providing ‘omics analyses and interpretation of generated data for the determination of metabolic biomarkers or signatures characteristic of molecular responses to military-relevant stressors included internet searches, and information compiled from the Healthspan, Resilience & Performance section of the IHMC website.

• Information from https://www.ihmc.us/research/healthspan-resilience-performance/

• SAM.gov (Contract Opportunities) - searched for omics analyses, and found no matches.

7. Other Facts:

NOV 2024

a. Procurement History:

(1) Is this a new requirement? Yes

(2) If 6.a.(1) is No, was the action just prior to this one competed?

(3) If 6.a.(2) is Yes, what has changed where this action cannot be competed?

b. Additional Information:

7. Technical Certification:

I certify the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Adrienne McChesney

COR

USARIEM

8. Requirements Certification:

I certify the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Adrienne McChesney

COR

USARIEM

9. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I hereby determine the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

NOV 2024

Basis for Determination: Fair and reasonable price will be determined by price analysis and comparison of the IGE.

Courtney Piar Contracting Officer

USAMRAA

10. Contracting Officer Determination:

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

Courtney Piar Contracting Officer

USAMRAA