J-and-A-Other-Than-Full-and-Open 2022 BPA signed and redacted.pdf

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Laboratory Response Network (LRN) Challenge Panels Blanket Purchase Agreement
Solicitation number
2200-62427
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Template for Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition Completion Instructions: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has established a standard template for the preparation of a J&A for Other Than Full and Open Competition. If this is an 8(a) set-aside, please note this form is not required unless the acquisition is valued (including all options) at greater than $22 million. This template is NOT applicable for actions using simplified acquisition procedures (FAR Part 13), Federal Supply Schedule orders (FAR 8.4) or task or delivery orders subject to fair opportunity (FAR 16.505).

Tailor all aspects of this template to the individual acquisition. Consult FAR Subpart 6.3 for guidance. An addendum may be added in case additional space is needed.

When this document is printed, the blue italic instructions are automatically deleted on the printed version.

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

2. Description of Action:

Nature:

Pricing:

Funds:

3. Description of Services or Supplies:

Basis for Approval (FAR 6.303-1(d)):

As applicable, briefly describe the services or supplies required to meet the agency's needs, including make & model number where appropriate. Include quantities of supplies or period of performance for services. Provide information for any options included. If the action is a modification to an existing contract, distinguish clearly between the work covered by the original contract and the work to be obtained by the proposed modification.

4. Authority and Rationale: Identify the statutory authority, FAR title and FAR citation permitting other than full and open competition. It may be one of the following most commonly used citations by the operating divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), but other exceptions may apply per FAR Subpart 6.3.

Actions other than simplified acquisition procedures (select only one and provide an explanation):

Explain why the intended contractor is the only responsible source who can provide the required supplies or services. Discuss the unique capabilities, expertise, etc. that support the lack of competition/why no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Explain factors/unique qualifications such as proprietary data or exclusive licensing rights, if applicable. When competition is limited to items particular to one manufacturer, this justification must explain why the particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government's requirements, and that market research indicates other companies' similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet the agency's needs in accordance with FAR 11.105. If in connection with a follow-on contract for continued development or production of highly specialized equipment, detail the substantial duplication of cost or unacceptable delays. May not Exceed one year, including all options, unless the head of the agency (Secretary of HHS) determines that exceptional circumstances apply.

If unusual and compelling urgency is the basis for the justification, explain the chronological events leading up to the requirement and explain why time constraints cannot permit even a limited competition. Describe the detrimental effects/serious injury to the mission of the requiring activity or to the government, financial or otherwise, that will result if this justification is not approved. Describe impact of required delivery/performance date. Describe the detrimental effects/serious injury to the mission of the requiring activity or to the government, financial or otherwise, that will result if this justification is not approved and the product or service cannot be provided by the intended sole source contractor. Failure to plan for expiring funds is not a valid reason for citing this exception. May not exceed one year, including all options, unless the head of the agency determines that exceptional circumstances apply.

Provide a citation to the statutory authorization and a brief description of its content, or identify the specified source or other agency.

Provide the authority and citation to the applicable section of FAR 6.3.

Provide a full explanation to justify use of the exception.

5. Agency Actions to Take or Remove Barriers That Led to Other Than Full and Open Competition (If applicable):

Describe the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration prior to any subsequent acquisition for the supplies of services is made. If no such actions have been taken, explain why.

6. Bridge Contracts:

For contract extensions or bridge contracts when a competitive follow-on is in the process of being developed, summarize history of current contract and explain the reasons for any delays in the acquisition. Include discussion of the milestones for the follow-on action; the milestones should be as efficient as possible. Discuss why it would be neither cost effective nor realistic to expect another contractor to perform during the brief interim period; include issues such as start-up costs, phase-in, transfer of GFP, recruitment and staffing, etc. If the action is because of a protest, provide a brief discussion of the protest including the date the protest was filed and the basis of the protest. Explain that the action will provide the minimum quantity or performance period.

7. Actions to Increase Competition:

Describe efforts made to compete the action, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 or which exception under FAR 5.202 applies. If a notice was publicized, discuss the number of written responses to the synopsis and the results of the assessment of the written responses. List sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. Provide rationale if interested sources were rejected. If applicable, state that no other sources have expressed interest, but all offers received shall be considered. Describe what actions will be taken to increase competition before subsequent acquisition of the supplies or services is required. You may state that an action is a one-time requirement, but if a similar requirement arises, every effort will be made to compete it to the maximum extent possible. If action is sole source because of proprietary data or licensing rights and there will be a continuing need for the requirement, there must be evidence that advanced planning has been initiated to overcome the barriers to competition, or there should be documentation to support an analysis that replacement costs/licensing purchase costs outweigh the benefits of competition. If the action is a contract extension or bridge, explain actions to compete the follow-on. If action is an urgent new requirement and a competitive follow-on is anticipated, explain that efforts are underway to facilitate a full and open competition.

8. Market Research:

Describe the extent of the market research conducted to identify all qualified sources and the results thereof. “Market Research” is defined as those attempts you made to ascertain whether other qualified sources exist, and can include contact with knowledgeable experts regarding similar or duplicate requirements, contact with industry, results of a sources sought synopsis, or draft solicitations. Research of the marketplace may consist of written, electronic (i.e. email) telephonic, or world wide web inquiries. Lack of advanced planning is not an acceptable reason for the lack of market research, but true urgency may necessitate abbreviated market research that is limited to readily available historical and commercial information. If action is a contract extension or bridge contract, describe the market research efforts underway or completed for the follow-on. See FAR 10.002(b)(2).

9. Procurement History:

Was action competed?

If action was not competed, state the cited authority, summarize rationale, and describe the actions that were supposed to be taken to increase competition and the results thereof:

10. Additional Information to support the justification:

If applicable, explain why technical packages or specifications to facilitate competition were not developed or available; describe actions taken to remedy the situation.

11. Technical / Requirements Certification: By my signature below, I certify that the supporting data included in this J&A is accurate and complete.

Program Manager Name:

Position Title:

Email address:

Phone:

Program Manager Supervisor (or one level above Program Manager) Name:

Position Title:

Email address:

Signature:

Date:

12. Fair and Reasonable Price/Cost Determination: As Contracting Officer, by my signature below, I hereby determine that the anticipated price/cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

Provide the basis for this determination, e.g., describe techniques to be used to determine fair and reasonable price (FAR Subpart 15.402), such as price analysis, cost analysis, cost realism. Per FAR Subpart 15.403-4(a)(1), the threshold for obtaining cost or pricing data is $750,000.

Name:

Phone:

Signature:

Date:

13. Contracting Officer's Approval (Required for proposed contract not to exceed $700,000 (value calculated including all options)): I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I approve this justification subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and supplies herin describe have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Name:

Phone:

Signature:

Date:

14. Legal Review:

All J&As greater than $68 million must have a legal review from the General Law Division of the Office of the General Counsel prior to sending it to the Department.

15. OPDIV Competition Advocate Approval (Required for proposed contract over $700,000 but not exceeding $13.5 million value calculated including all options)):

I have reviewed this justification and find that it adequately supports other than full and open competition.

Name:

Phone:

Signature:

Date:

16. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization:

I have reviewed this justification and find that it adequately supports other than full and open competition.

Name:

Phone:

Signature:

Date:

17. OPDIV HCA Approval (Required for proposed contract over $13.5 million but not exceeding $68 million value calculated including all options)):

Name:

Phone:

Signature:

Date:

18. Department Competition Advocate:

Concur:

Non-Concur:

Name:

Phone:

Signature:

Date:

(The below approval paragraph is required if the cumulative contract value, including all options, exceeds $68 million.)

19. HHS Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) Approval:

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve other than full and open competition for the above stated procurement, subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

State supplies/services being procured:

State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304:

State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304 Name:

Phone:

Signature:

Date:

11.0.0.20130303.1.892433.887364 Justification & Approval - Other Than Full and Open Competition Health and Human Services Justification & Approval - Other Than Full and Open Competition

AcquisitionTitle: LRN Challenge Panel Testing Program Vendor Procurement
Agency: CDC
NIHDrop:
PSCDrop:
PSCOther:
AcqusitionYear: 2022
Author: Peter Syribeys Health Scientist
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Purchase order/contract number:
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Agency Actions to Take or Remove Barriers That Led to Fair Opportunity Exception (If applicable): The Office of Acquisition Services posted posted a sources sought notice for LRN Challenge Panels BPA on sam.gov from June 24 -July 2 2021. The notice was structured as a combined synopsis/ solicitation with solicitation 75D301-21-Q-73204 attached. This action was published announcing that the CDC intends to award a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) for LRN challenge panels . There was one vendor inquiry and the vendor declined to participate stating that it wasn’t in their business model after receiving government responses to their questions.
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Other funds:
TextField5: MRIGLOBAL
TextField5: 425 Volker Boulevard
TextField5: KANSAS CITY, MO 64110-2241
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TextField7: XXXXXXXX
As applicable, briefly describe the services or supplies required to meet the agency's needs, including make & model number where appropriate. Include quantities of supplies or period of performance for services. Provide information for any options included. If the action is a modification to an existing contract, distinguish clearly between the work covered by the basic order and the work to be obtained by the proposed modification.: A BPA is needed for delivery orders of panels for a base year period of performance plus four option periods for preparation, packaging and distribution of Challenge Panels to LRN member laboratories. Production of samples for CP Challenges involves the spiking of designated environmental or clinical matrices with potential biothreat or emerging infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, and toxins. Each Challenge Panel contains no more than five samples and production of as many as 200 panels may be required for a CP Challenge. Each panel may contain up to 3 agents. In addition, twenty percent of the panels produced must be stored by the vendor for shipment as remediation up to 6 months after the initial CP Challenge. Vendor is responsible for shipping challenge panels to participating laboratories as directed by individual delivery orders issued under this BPA.

Preparation of clinical samples to be used in multi-center validation studies. Preparation of samples includes procurement or fabrication of clinical samples. Some of these samples will then be spiked with biothreat or emerging infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, and toxins. Up to 300 samples per clinical sample type may be needed. Vendor is responsible for shipping CP panels to participating laboratories as directed by individual delivery orders issued under this BPA

CheckBox12: 1
State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304: MRIGlobal has been providing exceptional challenge panels through contract 75D30118C03063 which expired on 03/24/20. CDC is unable to locate additional vendors with the same or similar capabilities as MRIGlobal. If additional vendors were located then CDC would validate the new vendor’s manufacturing processes. MRI Global’s processes have already been validated through contract 75D30118C03063. The production of challenge panels requires the use of specially characterized strains of bacteria, viruses and toxins supplied by CDC. Through our previous contract, Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) have been instituted which allow for the exchange of materials and proprietary information between MRIGlobal and CDC. These materials have already been transferred to MRIGlobal and are maintained in their biological agent inventory. MRIGlobal is ISO 9001:2015 certified. MRIGlobal has Biological Select Agent and Toxin (BSAT) registered facility with the Federal Select Agent Program. Additionally, MRIGlobal has the USDA-APHIS permits in place for the registered agents. No other contractor (other than MRIGlobal) have the ability to provide the required challenge panels without significant start-up delays. Timing of this award is critical as our program needs to begin the first order process on October 1, 2022 in order to meet federally mandated deadlines given to LRN member laboratories through their PHEP grants.
State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304: Purchase order 75D30122P13464 was awarded to MRIGlobal in March 2022 to meet the immediate needs in support of the COVID pandemic response. The recent outbreak of MonkeyPox may also create a need for additional challenge panels.
State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304: The Office of Acquisition Services posted posted a sources sought contract opportunity for LRN Challenge Panels BPA on sam.gov from June 24 -July 2 2021. However, no vendors submitted proposals.
State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304: Market research was previously performed for contract 75D30118C03063 using internet and previous response to contract solicitations for LRN proficiency testing contracts. Additional market research was performed by internet search for companies that produce Challenge panels for Bioterror agents. Our search revealed that no other company have all of the SOPs in place, agents available or materials in place to manufacture these materials.
State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304: However, the GSA SIN used previously is no longer available. The Office of Acquisition Services posted a sources sought contract opportunity for LRN Challenge Panels BPA on beta.sam.gov from June 24 -July 2 2021. The Synopsis on SAM.gov only received one vendor inquiry and the vendor declined to participate stating that it wasn’t in their business model after receiving government responses to their questions.
State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304: The qualifications for MRIGlobal's testing laboratory manufacturing process to become certified by the CDC are quite stringent and involved the following, 1) The production of challenge panels requires the use of specially characterized strains of bacteria, viruses and toxins supplied by CDC; 2) Through our previous contracts, Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) have been instituted which allow for the exchange of materials and proprietary information between MRIGlobal and CDC; 3) These materials have already been transferred to MRIGlobal and are maintained in their biological agent inventory; 4) MRIGlobal is ISO 9001:2015 certified; 5) MRIGlobal has a Biological Select Agent and Toxin (BSAT) registered facility with the Federal Select Agent Program; and 6) MRIGlobal has the USDA-APHIS permits in place for the registered agents.
State the full statutory authority and FAR cite and title, consistent with paragraph 4, e.g. 41 U.S.C. 3304: The pricing proposed by the offeror will be compared to pricing from previous contracts for the same or similar materials, such as those awarded under the expired BPA which ended in March 2020, plus separate orders placed in 2020 and earlier in 2022.
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TextField9: 75D30118C03063 Blanket Purchase Agreement under GSA SIN 66-118 Scientific Equipment and Services
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Program Manager name: Peter Syribeys
Program Manager position title: Health Scientist
Program Manager email address: fmu0@cdc.gov
Program Manager phone: 404-639-0810
Program Manager Supervisor name: Julie Villanueva
Program Manager Supervisor position title: Branch Chief, LPRB
Program Manager Supervisor email address: jfv3@cdc.gov
HHS Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) signature:
Program Manager Supervisor date: 2022-06-28
Contract Officer's Approval name: Kristopher Lemaster
HHS Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) phone: 770-488-2995
Contract Officer's Approval date: 2022-08-11
HHS Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) name:
DateField6:
Office of Small Business date:
OPDIV HCA date:
Concur with Acquisition: 0
Non-Concur with Acquisition: 0
HHS Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) date:
State supplies/services being procured:

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