J and A University of Alabama_QN.pdf

Justification and Approval for Sole Source (J&A)

Completion Instructions: HHS has established a standard template for preparation of a Justification and Approval for Sole Source (J&A) for non-Federal Supply Schedule acquisitions exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) shall prepare the template in accordance with these completion instructions. (NOTE: The Project Officer (PO) has responsibility for completing all of the information items included in the template, with any necessary assistance from the cognizant Contracting Officer (CO) and Contract Specialist (CS) - especially for items 3.(b), 4., 6.,

7. , B. and 10. listed below.

The instructions for preparing a J&A are specified in "red" and should be deleted prior to processing the document for review and approval. Also, do not include the completion instructions in the completed document.

A completed J & A must contain all the applicable bolded headings in the order specified. Place the required information directly next to, or under, the applicable heading. If a heading does not apply to a specific J & A, indicate "not applicable" (N/A) next to it. Reference and attach any additional information necessary to support the J & A.

Justification and Approval for Sole Source

"Source Selection Information - see FAR 2.101 and 3.104"

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity

2.

a. Federal agency and contracting activity. HHS. HHS/NIH

b. Sponsoring organization. DIR/NINR

c. Project Officer information.

• Project Officer name. Steven M. Weiss

• Mailing address. 6700B Rockledge Drive, Suite 4500, Bethesda, MD 20817

• E-mail address. steven.weiss@nih.gov

• Telephone number. 301.594-4053

3. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

a. Acquisition purpose and objectives.

Collaborative research project between the Tissue Injury Branch (TIB) and the University of Alabama to assist with collecting, processing, and analyzing spatial data and building Web GIS applications.

Project background.

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) is one of the 27 Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The mission of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) is to promote and improve the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations. NINR supports and conducts clinical and basic research and research training on health and illness across the lifespan to build the scientific foundation for clinical practice, prevent disease and disability, manage and eliminate symptoms caused by illness, and improve palliative and end-of-life care. NINR's research programs, both extramural and intramural, incorporate a broad range of interdisciplinary approaches designed to promote scientific exploration that will lead to better health outcomes and health services. Such approaches include clinical intervention studies; translational and implementation research.

Dr. Quynh Nguyen’s laboratory at NIH focuses on utilizing big data and data science for examining and interviewing on health disparities. One of the pressing issues of our time are motor vehicle collisions. Each year 1.35 million people are killed on roadways around the world. Globally, crash injuries are the eighth leading cause of death for all age groups, and they are the top leading cause of death for young people aged 5-29 years of age. The United States also has higher rates of fatal vehicle collisions than most other high-income countries. Reduction in these crash rates would have powerful societal level impacts by protecting our young people, enabling them to contribute economically, politically, and socially to their communities. Fatal and nonfatal collisions will cost the global economy $1.8 trillion between 2015-2030. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on road traffic deaths is to halve them by 2030, but few countries are moving in the right direction towards meeting that goal.

To provide this much needed data, our project will produce, for the first time, a global data repository that that provides roadway crash factors and risk level.

Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value).

b. Project title.

Geospatial analyses and Web GIS portal

Project description.

Collaborative research project between TIB and the University of Alabama to identify the relationship between built environment characteristics and global vehicle collision risk. Specifically, we will leverage Google Street View images and use advanced neural networks to extract relevant built environment characteristics from street images. We will use these data to quantify associations between built environment characteristics and global collision risk.

The specific study aims of Collision Vision are as follows:

• Aim 1. Develop computer vision techniques to produce vehicle collision risk indicators.

Create areal-level indicators of pedestrian risk (e.g., crosswalks, sidewalks, streetlights) and bicyclist risk (e.g., bike lanes), and motor risk (e.g., number of lanes), from Google Street View images combined with other area measures such as sociodemographic and motorization.

• Aim 2. Measure the accuracy of data algorithms and construct an interactive geoportal.

Assess the accuracy of computer vision algorithms by comparing against manual annotations (produced via crowdsourcing and the research team). Algorithms will be modified in an iterative refinement process to maximize accuracy. Construct an interactive geoportal for data visualization and data sharing.

• Aim 3. Utilize our global repository, Collison Vision, and a large collection of injury and fatality records to evaluate built environment impacts on motor vehicle collision risk.

Hypotheses: Places with street designs allowing protected movement of pedestrians and bicyclists and speed dampening characteristics will have lower risk of injury and mortality.

Collaborators at the University of Alabama shall perform a variety geospatial analyses task including collecting, processing, and analyzing spatial data and building Web GIS applications. Specifically, the contract will 1) build the sampling strategy to extract Google Street View images from all available global roads and 2) use popular Web GIS development tools (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Open Layers) to develop a responsive Web GIS application to host the spatial data generated from this project and disseminate the research projects to the public. The geoportal will be able to support various devices (desktop, laptop, and mobile devices).

• Requirement type.

□ Research & development (R&D) X R & D support services Support services (non-R&D) Supplies/equipment Information technology (IT) Construction Architect-engineer (A & E) services Design-build Other (specify): _

• Type of action.

[Xl New requirement

□ Follow-on

□ Other (specify):

• Proposed contract/order type.

X Firm-fixed-price

□ Other fixed-price (specify, e.g., fixed-price award-fee, fixed-price incentive-fee): __Cost-plus-fixed-fee Other cost reimbursement (specify, e.g., cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee):

Time and materials Indefinite delivery (specify whether indefinite quantity, definite quantity, or requirements): Other

(specify): ----- Completion Form Term form

• Acquisition identification number. To be determined once this request is entered into POTS.

c. Total estimated dollar value and performance/delivery period.

$69,803.00

Period of Performance- October 15, 2024 - October 14, 2025, plus 3 option years.

OY1: October 15, 2025 – October 14, 2026

OY2: October 15, 2026 – October 14, 2027

OY3: October 15, 2027 – October 14, 2028

4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

IXI This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 253(c)(_) as set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302- _.

□ This acquisition is conducted under the authority of section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996.

□ This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (41 U.S.C. 428a).

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor(s) unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

a. Name and address of the proposed contractor(s).

University of Alabama 739 University Blvd E Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

b. Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s).

6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Indicate whether a FedBizOpps notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

TBD by the Contract Officer

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The collaborator, Dr. Dapeng Li at the University of Alabama was chosen because of their expertise in Web GIS development tools. The University of Alabama is the only institution with this skillset in developing a responsive Web GIS application to host the spatial data generated from this project and disseminate the research projects to the public.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Market research was not conducted because no other institutions can provide the specific services requested from the University of Alabama.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

N/A

10. Listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

N/A

11. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the required supplies or services.

If other vendors become known that can support this type of specific request, then competition will be conducted.

12. Program office certification.

This is to certify that the portions of this justification that have been developed by the undersigned program office personnel, including supporting information and/or data verifying the Government’s minimum needs, schedule requirements and other rationale for other than full and open competition, are accurate and complete.

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Project Officer Steven M. Weiss

Sen. Admin Officer

Project Officer’s

Immediate Supervisor

Demond Gibson

Chief, OAS, NINR

Head of the Sponsoring

Program Office

Demond Gibson

Chief, OAS, NINR

13. Contracting Officer Certification.

This is to certify that the justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information and/or data provided to support the rationale and recommendation for approval is accurate and complete.

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Contracting Officer

09/17/24