Tab_A16_JA_FBO.docx

Naval Medical Logistics Command

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity:

The Justification and Approval (J&A) is executed by the Naval Medical Logistics Command (NMLC), 693 Neiman Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702 on behalf of the requesting agency: Naval Medical Research Unit-6 (NAMRU-6), Lima, Peru.

2. Description of the Action Being approved:

The proposed action is to perform a research and development project in support of the Naval Medical Research Unit Six (NAMRU-6) Lima, Peru. The Government intends on awarding a Firm Fixed Price contract to Tulane School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine (Tulane), 1440 Canal St. Suite 2300 #8317, New Orleans, LA 70112.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs:

The research project is titled “Evaluation of Anti-Microbial Protein against Pseudomonas Skin Infections” and it is supported by the Military Infectious Diseases Research Program (MIDRP). The objective of this project is to provide bacterial susceptibility tests of a novel antimicrobial and evaluate the ability to protect the host from terminal Pseudomonas infections using the burned mouse model.

The deliverables for this project include the following:

a. Conduct susceptibility tests to define the individual and synergistic minimum bactericidal concentration of pelonase according to the CLSI guidelines.

b. Evaluation of the protein’s toxicity will be determined by measuring the respiratory activating of HepG2 cell cultures via MTT assays.

c. Evaluate pelonase’s ability to both prophylactically and therapeutically protect the host against Pseuodomonas aeruginosa.

The contract is anticipated to be for a 12-month period of performance. The type of funds being utilized for this requirement is FY 2015 Navy Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E).

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:

Tulane is the only source that can provide the required services in support of this project because the author and Principal Investigator (PI) of this project has the expertise in pelonase and the ideas and objectives written in this project are the intellectual property of the PI. The PI of this project was the scientist and author who submitted a proposal for MIDRP funds that were accepted, approved and transferred to NAMRU-6 after his period as a researcher at NAMRU-6 was over. The funds were then transferred to NAMRU-6 to develop this project at Tulane as this is where the PI now resides. The PI at Tulane has over 10 years of experience in bacteriology and biochemical purifications. Further, the PI has expertise in pelonase and the ideas and objectives related to this project are the intellectual property of this individual. NAMRU-6 will participate in all phases of the study to include reporting of final results to the MIDRP. Any change in the process to execute this research could compromise the validity of this project. This research will be conducted at Tulane.

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 01 September 2015 and only Tulane 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 Tulane to perform the required work. Additionally, a notice of intent to award was synopsized on the FBO website on 06 September 2015 and no companies submitted a capability statement for this requirement.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost:

The Contracting Officer shall determine the anticipated cost to the Government of the supplies/services covered by the J&A to be fair and reasonable by conducting an appropriate price analysis.

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 contracts for the type of supplies/services covered by this document. If another potential source emerges, NMLC will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible. If future requirements exist that do not involve the same research efforts, the Government will solicit through full and open competition to remove barriers.