Limited Sources Justification - MDRC_Redacted.pdf

Ser #: xxx-lsj- (xxx equals office code, ops, bls, etc…)

Limited source justification Far part 8.4 - federal supply schedule

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity

Contracting Activity Customer Agency Department of Labor Department of Labor OASAM/OSPE Chief Evaluation Office 200 Constitution Avenue, NW 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 Washington, DC 20210

2. Nature and description of the action being approved:

This Limited Source Justification and Approval authorizes and approves the issuance of a follow-on contract to MDRC, 750 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006. Pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(a)(1), full and open competition will not be utilized, and a task order will be placed against MDRC’s Contract Number 1605C2-23-A-0018, to continue supporting the mission of the Chief Evaluation Office at the U.S. Department of Labor, by leveraging and linking data from five already-funded studies from the “Inclusive Strategies for Economic Mobility” Research Portfolio to new earnings data to provide analysis on employment outcomes that would otherwise not be available.

The period of performance is a 12-month Base Period plus four (4) Option Periods. All of the work will be performed at the contractor’s work site, with employment data analysis conducted securely within the DOL network.

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

(including the estimated value):

This requirement is for the contractor to leverage and link the portfolio studies’ participant data to earnings data to provide analysis on participants’ employment outcomes that would otherwise not be available. The “Inclusive Strategies for Economic Mobility” Research Portfolio brings together five already-funded studies of innovative approaches that promote upward mobility for target populations of special interest to DOL offices. In order to do this, MDRC will match their participant program data with earnings datasets from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to measure outcomes for all study participants. MDRC will also broadly disseminate the results of the evaluation.

MDRC is uniquely positioned as the only contractor to complete this work, and with expediency, for the following reasons:

DOL provided a Request for Information (RFI) #1605C2-24-N-00007 to all of the contractors on the CEO Research and Evaluation BPA. Only one contractor submitted a response. The response was assessed, and it was determined that the contractor failed to demonstrate its ability to access the necessary program participant data; it was therefore a high risk to the government.

MDRC is the only contractor that owns and has access to the program participant datasets. The participant data cannot be accessed by any other contractor.

MDRC, through data sharing agreements, is the only contractor able to match the participant data with DOL’s WorkForce Integrated Performance System (WIPS), state data with personally identifying information for the comparison group, and HHS’ National Directory of New Hires (NDNH).

MDRC is the sole contractor evaluating the studies, has staff who are experts on the studies, and has invested extensive staff resources examining the participant and earnings data such that the analysis can be done both with study-specific expertise and expediency.

Without a sole-source contract with MDRC, the government will lose important evidence that could inform and improve employment and training programs.

The Independent Government Cost Estimate with optional tasks for this Base plus 4 option period of performance The base contract, without optional tasks,

4. Identification of the authority and rationale:

MDRC is uniquely positioned as the only contractor to complete this work, and with expediency, for the following reasons:

MDRC is the only contractor that owns and has access to the program participant datasets. The participant data cannot be accessed by any other contractor.

MDRC, through data sharing agreements, is the only contractor able to match the participant data with DOL’s WorkForce Integrated Performance System (WIPS), state data with personally identifying information for the comparison group, and HHS’ National Directory of New Hires (NDNH).

MDRC is the sole contractor evaluating the studies, has staff who are experts on the studies, and has invested extensive staff resources examining the participant and earnings data such that the analysis can be done both with study-specific expertise and expediency.

Without a sole-source contract with MDRC, the government will lose important evidence that could inform and improve employment and training programs.

5. Determination by the ordering activity that the order represents the best value far

8.404(d):

The Contracting Officer will review the MDRC staffing categories and pricing in order to determine that the price proposed is fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer will ensure that the labor mix and hours proposed is suitable for this effort.

6. A description of market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted:

MDRC is the only contractor that has authority to match participant data with earnings data.

Through data sharing agreements that were negotiated, MDRC has the authority to access and use the datasets which contain sensitive personally identifying information (PII) about study participants. Among the small and large firms on the CEO BPA with experience in conducting rigorous impact analyses (such as Westat or Abt), none of the firms have the necessary data access privileges or experience working directly with the Inclusive Strategies for Economic Mobility funded studies to successfully fulfill the Government’s requirement. To avoid a lapse in data collection, this requirement should be awarded quickly; given this situation, CEO has determined that MDRC would be highly qualified to conduct this particular type of project.

7. Any other facts supporting the justification:

None.

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

None.

9. Technical certification:

The program/technical official further certifies that no conflict of interest exists in awarding a sole source contract to the contractor identified herein.

I hereby certify that the supporting data, which are the responsibility of the technical personnel, and which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

6/6/24 Date

Contracting officer's certification:

I certify this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and Belief.

Alicia M. Jackson, Contracting Officer Date

Janet Javar, Senior Evaluation Specialist