JEFO_Approved.pdf

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

a. Federal agency and contracting activity. HHS. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

b. Sponsoring organization. National Cancer Institute (NCI); Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences (DCCPS); Surveillance Research Program (SRP)

c. NCI Technical Point of Contact information.

• Name. Marina Matatova

• Mailing address. 9609 Medical Center Dr., Rm 4-E436

Rockville, MD 20850

• E-mail address. marina.matatova@nih.gov

• Telephone number. 240-276-6269

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

a. Acquisition purpose and objectives.

The purpose of this Task Order is to provide scientific IT project management, project control, and contract administration to enhance SRP’s acquisition of Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program pathology and radiology reports. The contractor provides expertise in discovery and analytic platforms in precision oncology, laboratory information management systems, machine-learning algorithms development, public health and research operations, pathology and radiology digital reports, processing of digital pathology and radiology images, text mining platforms for work with pathology and radiology reports, operationalization and integration of machine-learning algorithms, design, development, and deployment of dashboards and related tools, and health information messaging systems such as the Public Health Information Network Messaging System.

SRP is currently establishing a Pediatric Cancer Whole Slide Imaging Pilot (pilot) for the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI). The objective of the pilot is to establish the feasibility and best practices, including the logistical and technical pipelines, for acquiring digital Whole Slide Images (WSI) and associated metadata of diagnostic microscopic slides. SRP requires technical expertise to support planning for a technical pipeline for implementation in the Pediatric Cancer Whole Slide Imaging Pilot.

Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity

b. Project background.

Task Order number 75N91019F00129 titled “SEER Program Pathology and Radiology Reports Acquisition Enhancements” was competitively awarded to Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. under NIH BPSS II multiple-award IDIQ contract number 75N98019D00018. This Task Order is Firm-Fixed-Price with a Base Period from May 13, 2019 through May 12, 2020 and three consecutive 12-month Option Periods.

The addition of technical expertise to support the Pediatric Cancer Whole Slide Imaging Pilot is estimated to increase the total Task Order value by $699,025.74. This change in total Task Order value is necessary to procure the same type and nature of technical requirements procured at contract award. The new work is simply increasing the magnitude of those technical requirements to cover the specific pilot work that was not contemplated at time of award. Therefore, in accordance with FAR 16.505b(2)(C), an exception to the fair opportunity process is in the best interest of economy and efficiency because it is a logical follow-on to an order already issued under the contract and all awardees were given a fair opportunity to be considered for the original order.

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

a. Project title.

SEER Program Pathology and Radiology Reports Acquisition Enhancements

b. Project description. See Statement of Work.

• Requirement type: Support Services (non-R&D)

• Type of action: Follow-on

• Proposed contract/order type: Firm-fixed-price

• Acquisition identification number: 75N98019D00018 / 75N91019F00129

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

The Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) for this increase in Task Order value is $699,025.74 as shown in the table below.

Task Order Period of Performance

Original Amount

Estimated Increase

Revised Amount

Option Period 1 5/13/2020 - 5/12/2021 $311,337.39 $225,868.37 $537,205.76 Option Period 2 5/13/2021 - 5/12/2022 $316,850.69 $231,099.19 $547,949.88 Option Period 3 5/13/2022 - 5/12/2023 $316,850.69 $242,058.18 $558,908.87 Total Estimated Dollar Value $945,038.77 $699,025.74 $1,644,064.51

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

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 253(c)(1) as set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.505b(2)(C).

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):

Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.

8283 Greensboro Drive McLean, VA 22102

b. Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractors.

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. is the current contractor satisfactorily performing the contract requirements for the May 13, 2019 – May 12, 2020 base period of performance. Since this is a logical follow-on action that will only increase the magnitude of the current technical requirements for Option Periods 1, 2, and 3; selecting Booz Allen Hamilton to perform this additional work is in the best interest of economy and efficiency.

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

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable. A cost analysis of the Contractor’s proposal will be conducted by the Contracting Officer in accordance with FAR 15.404 and the principles established in OMB Circular A- 122 "Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations". The Task Order COR and the Contracting Officer will evaluate all proposed costs and an evaluation of the cost will be compared against the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).

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. This contract action is a logical follow on to the task order base period. There are no other contractors capable of performing this work without substantial duplication of cost and unacceptable delays in fulfilling the NCI’s requirements. See paragraph 5 above.

9. 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. The NCI anticipates the needs to be met successfully with the fulfillment of this action. In the event that additional services are required, the NCI Program Office and the Contracting Officer will conduct market research to determine if the current state of technology has advanced and to determine if there are other sources available that could provide the services required.

10. Other. This Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold and will be posted within 14 days after placing the order in accordance with FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(D).

11. 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 SIGNATURE

Contracting Officer Representative (COR)

Marina Matatova

12. 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.

13. Branch Chief Approval. Pursuant to FAR 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(C(1)), for actions exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, but not exceeding $700,000, the ordering activity contracting officer’s certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the ordering activity contracting officer’s knowledge and belief will serve as approval, unless a higher approval level is established in accordance with agency procedures.

Branch Chief, NCI OA Wanda Neal

Contracting Officer and Team Leader, NCI OA

John Turner