LSJ_LabStaffing-Final.pdf

Limited-Sources Justification (LSJ)

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LSJ No: FY17-0187

LSJ No.: FY17-0187

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program, 41

U.S.C. 152(3), Competitive Procedures, and 40 U.S.C. 501, Services for Executive Agencies.

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security, (DHS), Office of Health Affairs (OHA)/BioWatch

Program, proposes to award an order pursuant to FAR 8.405-6 (a), Limiting Sources.

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

DHS/ OPO intends to limit the number of sources solicited pursuant to FAR Part 8.405-

6(a) for the procurement of services to provide laboratory staffing for the BioWatch

Program’s operational labs to Proposed Contractor: Team Astrix (Astrix Technology

Group as the prime contractor), 125 Half Mile Road, Suite 200, Red Bank, New Jersey, 07701.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

Period Unit Price Total

Base Period 07/01/17 – 03/31/18 $1,281,962.58 $11,537,663.25

The requirement is to utilize the existing laboratory staffing services by providing a logical follow-on order for a total of 9 months at a total cost estimate of $11,537,663.25.

The logical follow-on will allow for continuity of services for laboratory operations while the Laboratory Staffing re-compete has time to complete the competitive process. The logical follow-on will also allow time for a successful transition and mitigate the impact of any potential protests that would cause a delay in the start of the new contract vehicle.

Team Astrix is currently the only contractor that has laboratory personnel who are technically capable and proficient to perform the required tasks and are suitable for the

BioWatch daily laboratory operations.

4. Authority and supporting rationale.

8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C) In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-on to an original Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original order or BPA must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of the Multiple-Award

Schedule Program, 41 U.S.C. 152(3), Competitive Procedures, and 40 U.S.C. 501, http://uscode.house.gov/ http://uscode.house.gov/

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Services for Executive Agencies, in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a), Limiting

Sources. An award will be made in the interest of economy and efficiency as a logical follow-on to an original Federal Supply Schedule order # V7997P-7359A pursuant to

FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C). The original award was competitively solicited and awarded using the ordering procedures at FAR 8.405. It is necessary to limit competition for new work described herein as a logical follow-on due to insufficient time to compete a new contract and transition to a new contractor. This work is essential to fulfilling the

BioWatch mission. Laboratory staffing is required to perform daily operations, including sample analysis, results reporting, and adhering to BioWatch quality assurance requirements. Disruption in laboratory staffing would lead to an inability to perform the daily laboratory operations and would result in failure of the BioWatch mission. The current incumbent, Team Astrix, personnel possess a proficiency developed in performing the current task order tasks. This will allow them to transition onto the new task order and continue operations immediately at time of task order award. A nine-month logical follow-on would allow for continuity of services without disruption to BioWatch laboratory operations.

5. Determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the anticipated order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

The contracting officer has determined that issuing the proposed order to Team Astrix for the laboratory staffing support represents the best value and will result in the lowest overall cost, considering price and administrative costs, to meet the Government’s needs. It will also allow for continuity of service for laboratory operations. This order will be placed in accordance with FAR 8.404, “Use of Federal Supply Schedules.” The General Services

Administration (GSA) has already negotiated fair and reasonable pricing rates. Discounts to these GSA schedule rates will be requested. Additionally, prior to issuance of the task order, the ordering activity will consider the level of effort and the mix of labor proposed to perform the specific task being ordered in order to determine that the total price is reasonable. The contractor’s labor mix and level of effort will also be compared to the

Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results, or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

No additional market research was conducted for the logical follow-on order. However, DHS/OHA and DHS/OPO conducted market research on the previously awarded task order and for the re-compete effort. We are in the process of issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to competitively award an unrestricted contract and transition this requirement onto that award once it is in place.

It is necessary to limit competition for the logical follow-on task order because while there are other vendor who may be able to provide such support, there is not adequate time to allow for sufficient transition and on-boarding of a new vendor. The potential delay in support or break in service would be detrimental to the daily operations of the laboratory

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BioWatch mission. The current incumbent, Team Astrix, is the only contractor that can continue support of BioWatch’s immediate requirement. This logical follow-on will allow the continuation of services while the competitive re-compete effort is being put in place.

7. Any other facts supporting the limited-sources justification.

If this order is not extended, the BioWatch Program will be without laboratory staff to perform the daily operations. This will leave the government without support to detect and mitigate the threat of biological airborne pathogens. There is no other alternative to these mission critical services. Team Astrix is currently the only contractor that has laboratory personnel who are technically capable and proficient to perform the required tasks and are suitable for the BioWatch daily laboratory operations. If the extension is not approved, a disruption to daily laboratory operations will likely occur and result in the inability to detect and mitigate potential bioterrorism events. Currently, there is no suitable alternative for the mission critical laboratory staffing.

8. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to restricted consideration (i.e., limited-sources) before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

The government is currently working on the re-compete of this requirement under a full and open competition. This new competition will eliminate barriers for future competition.

9. DHS intends to post this requirement on Fedbizopps pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(a)(2)(i).

10. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification.

Pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(x), I certify that this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which form a basis for the Limited-Sources

Justification, are accurate and complete.

Technical Representative/COR Date

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11. Contracting Officer Certification and/or Approval *

Pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(ix), I certify that the Limited-Sources Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Contracting Officer Date

*Note: In accordance with FAR 8.405-6(d)(1) for BPAs with an estimated value 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.

12. Approval.

Procuring Activity Advocate for Competition Date