Tab_A15_J A_Pulsar_Fed_Biz.docx

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity.

This Justification and Approval (J&A) is executed by the Naval Medical Logistics Command (NMLC), 693 Neiman Street, Fort Detrick, MD, on behalf of the requesting agency, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

Award of a contract on a sole source basis will be made to provide a validated submarine based scheduling tool for incorporation into the Non-Tactical Data Processing System (NTDPS) within Virginia Class Submarines. The proposed source is Pulsar Informatics, Inc. (Pulsar); 3401 Market St STE 318, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Authority to act under this class justification expires on 01 May 2015.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The Advanced Medical Development Program has a critical need to provide a validated submarine based scheduling tool for incorporation into the NTDPS within Virginia Class Submarines. This proposed requirement needs to be sole sourced to Pulsar, because they are the only company that has conducted the prior Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Advanced Medical Development (AMD) Program funded effort to successfully create the necessary proof of concept software architecture to 1) monitor submariner training qualifications; 2) track individual watchstander work/rest cycles; 3) integrate information from watch sections to design “watchbills” comprising multiple watch section; and, 4) optimize submarine crew schedules by providing fatigue countermeasures and real-time capability to immediately adjust rescheduling of watchbills. Additionally, they are the only company that has integrated submarine-specific operational challenges and directly addressed the needs of submarine operations.

This follow-on effort will include two primary tasks. The first task will include transition and knowledge transfer of the Submarine-specific scheduling system into the new Virginia Class Submarine NTDPS system, named NOSIS. NOSIS is an integrated set of non-tactical web-based applications developed to support submarines in the performance of their daily tasks.

The Virginia Class Submarine Program Office has instructed the prime software integrator to incorporate the scheduling concepts and designs developed by Pulsar Informatics into the NOSIS system.

The second task includes creating a fatigue assessment component and fatigue meter dashboard for the Pulsar stand-alone software tool. A critical component to crew schedule optimization is to minimize fatigue. In order for fatigue assessment and mitigation recommendation to be meaningful, it must be presented at the point-of-decision (i.e., during the scheduling processes) and in a manner focused on submarine operational needs.

In addition to the primary two tasks, a final field evaluation, validation and fine tuning of the software product will be required prior to implementation. To conduct field trials and validation, domain knowledge in fatigue and submarine operations are critical.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition.

10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) (as implemented by FAR 6.302-1); Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

Pulsar created a US Navy Submarine-specific-scheduling and fatigue system as one previously did not exist. This submarine-specific tool captures individualized fatigue-based scheduling that can scale up from the individual watch-stander at the watch station to the watch sections’ integration of fatigue. Their efforts have culminated in a stand-alone software tool that is the only one of it’s kind that includes watch station breakdown, along with watch section integration of the information. In this system, fatigue components are based on individual Submariners, which makes it the only software on the market that has accounted for submarine watch-stander positions while providing the ability to build and redesign watch schedules in real time. Pulsar has produced this software making them the only qualified performer. Additionally, Pulsar is the only company that has produced a submarine specific application, one that accounts for watch sections, qualification requirements, training integration into work/rest schedule construction. This is vital for the implementation into an operational setting, of which Pulsar is the only company that possesses the capability to complete.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable.

A sources sought notice was synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website on 29 January 2015 and only Pulsar expressed an interest in this requirement. No additional market research was conducted because it is not practicable for the reasons discussed in paragraph 5 above, for any company other than Pulsar to provide the required supplies and services. Additionally, a notice of intent to award to Pulsar will also be issued on the FBO website for a period of no less than 15 days. At that time, companies will also be given the opportunity to provide capability statements. All capability statements received by the due date of this notice will be considered by the Government.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

The contracting officer will perform a price analysis in order to determine that the anticipated price of the product procured by the Government under this J&A will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, NMLC has no plans at this time to compete future contacts for the type of product covered by this document. If another potential source emerges, NMLC will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.