JOTFOC.pdf

SOLE SOURCE FOR CONDUCTING ACQUISITIONS USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES AUTHORIZED BY

FAR 13.501 WITHOUT PROMOTING COMPETITION TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE

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Identification Number (purchase request/solicitation number): D-24-DC-0022

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

A. Agency: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

B. Contracting activity: Office of Acquisition and Relocation Management (FA)

C. Requiring activity: DC/SFL1

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

SciFinder, a product of CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society. The government will award a sole-source, firm-fixed price (5 year) contract for scientific literature retrieval services.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs, including the estimated value.

SciFinder allows the CAS database to be searched for scientific and patent literature from scientific sources. The service is used by DOE and SFL! staff to support essential functions: collection and analysis of scientific information regarding chemicals and monitoring their legitimate and illicit manufacture and use. New chemicals entities are routinely introduced into the legitimate and illicit market and DOE/SFL1 staff evaluate chemistry, pharmacology, and other relevant information for to these substances.

Period of performance or Total estimated value: final delivery date: 11/01/2024 – 10/31/2029

11/01/24-10/31/25 Base

11/01/25-10/31/26 OY-1

11/01/26-10/31/27 OY-2

11/01/27-10/31/28 OY-3

11/01/28-10/31/29 OY-4

TOTAL

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than competition to the maximum extent practicable.

The simplified acquisition threshold is defined in FAR 2.101. Per FAR 6.001, acquisitions of certain commercial items exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold and conducted using simplified acquisition procedures as authorized by FAR 13.501 are exempt from the requirement to promote full and open competition. Such acquisitions must promote competition to the maximum extent practicable as required by 41 U.S.C. 1901 and FAR 13.104. Because this acquisition will be conducted without promoting competition to the maximum extent practicable, this justification is prepared for review and approval in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) and 13.501(a).

Select the Authority that applies:

41 U.S.C. 1901, FAR 13.501(a) exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold; or

41 U.S.C. 1903, FAR 13.501(a) emergency procurement (up to $750K within the United States and up to $1.5Million outside the United States)

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5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The data is critical to chemical control and drug scheduling, DOE mission-related operations, and analysis to support DEA personnel. No other service provides access to the proprietary CAS database.

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

The government made efforts to explore another provider "ELSERVIER" on a trial basis, however the trial did not find any improvements with ELSEVIER. Actually, it lacked substance names.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Based on historical data the Government Independent Cost Estimate (IGCE) is determined fair and reasonable

8. A description (summary) of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Only one source is deemed to be reasonably available.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than competition to the maximum extent practicable, such as:

i. Explanation of why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available.

SciFinder is the only product available to search the breadth of the chemistry literature that Chemical Abstract Services collects, which is essential when DEA encounters a new chemical used or interdicted in a clandestine setting or the illicit market.

ii. When the acquisition is result in a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, an estimate of the cost to the Government that would be duplicated and how the estimate was derived.

The Government estimate was not only derived from a previously awarded contract no. 15DDHQ24P00000006, but historical usage data and SciFinder users percentage of their chemical searches.

iii. When the justification is based on an urgent and compelling requirement, cite data, estimated cost, or other rationale as to the extent and nature of the harm to the Government.

. The new contract demonstrates a unique capability of the source to provide the research services proposed. The IGCE of $297,897.48 is fair with low risk and will not cause harm to the Government

iv. When the justification is for brand name, explain why the particular brand is the only brand that can satisfy the Government’s need. Include in the explanation why other brands do not meet the Government’s requirement.

No other service provides access to the proprietary CAS database. The Program conducted the trial to evaluate/determine if the ELSEVIER product could undoubtedly satisfy the requirement. As a result, there were no improvements with ELSEVIER lacking substance names.

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

ELSEVIER

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

Future requirements will be synopsized in accordance with FAR 5.203. If another potential source emerges