Limited Source Justification AI Inventory -redacted.pdf

SOLE SOURCE OR LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

(APPLICABLE TO PURCHASES >Micro purchase threshold < SAT)

1. Contracting Activity: ASA/OMAS

2. Purchase Request Number: TBD

3. Authority for Action:

FAR 8.405-6(a), Orders exceeding the micro-purchase threshold based on a limited justification.

FAR 8.405-6(b), Items peculiar to one manufacturer. An item peculiar to one manufacturer can be a particular brand name, product, or a feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer.

GSAM/R 538.7104-3(a)- Exceeding MPT, but not exceeding the SAT. The ordering activity contracting officer must determine in writing that the circumstances of the acquisition deems only one source reasonably capable of providing the products, services, or solutions (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, items particular to one manufacturer).

FAR16.505(b)(2), Exceptions to the fair opportunity process.

4. Describe the supply or service to be acquired and the total estimated dollar value:

The Advancing American AI Act, Executive Order (EO) 13960, Promoting the Use of

Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in the Federal Government, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-25-21, Accelerating Federal Use of AI through Innovation, Governance, and Public Trust, require Federal agencies to report on their use of AI. NIH is updating the FY 2026 inventory of AI use cases in pre-deployment, pilot, deployed, or retired status regardless of whether they are implemented using standalone AI capabilities or AI that is embedded within other systems or applications. Additionally, NIH must inventory use cases regardless of whether the AI was developed or procured by NIH or developed or procured by a third party for the agency.

The requirement will: 1) focus on updating the module webform and dashboards in preparation for the 2026 AI Use Case Inventory data call and 2) support maintenance and operational support for the Integrated Data Platform.

The Period of Performance of this effort is 12 months with an Internal Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) of

5. List the proposed contractor (name, contact, and phone number) or brand name and describe the unique knowledge or capabilities:

Plexus Scientific’s Strategic Tracking and Reporting Tools (START) is a proprietary environment that has been in use by NIH since 2020. Any contractor supporting this requirement would need to have technical expertise in this environment.

As part of the market research, OEPR assessed which existing vendors had experience with the backend development of START and who have a work history with the current OEPR vendor (Plexus Scientific) and their proprietary software. There are several unique factors to

START:

1) Proprietary software code

2) Unique relational data tables,

3) Unique START workflows

4) Functionality of unique webforms

Based on the Market Research Report the following contractors were identified:

Booz Allen Hamilton Sapient Government Solutions Deloitte Plexus Scientific Corporation

Although Quantum Insights also has experience with the START environment, they have been identified with a potential Conflict of Interest due to another requirement supporting

START.

Searches were carried out under GSA Advantage and the SBCX with key words “Plexus Scientific” resulting in no results beside Plexus Scientific.

6. Describe your market research efforts and efforts to ensure that offers/quotes are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable:

All the stated contractors were competitively a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) for Information Technology Professional Services and Health Information Technology Services under GSA.. Having four (4) would bring sufficient competition for this requirement.

7. State why you feel that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable:

The Contracting Officer (CO) will evaluate the proposed prices of the Offerors by reviewing the project officer’s technical questionnaire and conducting an independent price analysis by comparing the proposed prices under competition, against the IGCE, and against the existing price schedules in GSA.

8. Other:

Although there are numerous contractors with a GSA MAS (600+) for the 541511 NAICS Code, it is unknown if any of them have the required expertise. Vetting numerous proposals for this expertise could plan the timeline of this requirement in jeopardy. There should be sufficient competition with the limited source of contractors.

Of the four identified contractors, only Plexus Scientific was identified as a small business.

9. Certifications:

I hereby certify that the data provided above is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Ajay Vatave Date Technical Representative

I hereby determine that the circumstances of this contract action deem only one source or brand are reasonably available.

Christopher Shih, CO Date

8/5/26AJAY V. VATAVE -S

Digitally signed by AJAY

V. VATAVE -S

Date: 2026.08.05 06:49:00 -04'00'

CHRISTOPH

ER SHIH -S

Digitally signed by

CHRISTOPHER SHIH -S

Date: 2026.08.05 09:01:33 -04'00'