NNJ17HK09P_Cancer_Mortality_JOFOC.pdf

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

PURSUANT TO 41 U.S.C. 1901 AND FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION 13.5,

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

1. This document is a Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition prepared by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Johnson Space Center

(JSC), pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1901 and Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.5.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This justification provides the rationale for contracting by other than full and open competition with the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies for the procurement of a medical forecast assessment titled: “Projection of U.S. Cancer Mortality and Incidence Rates in the late 2040s to early 2050s.” This effort is in support of the Space Radiation (SR) Element of the Human

Research Program (HRP).

3. Description of the supplies or services required, include an estimated value:

The HRP is instrumental in carrying out NASA's Strategic Plan, by developing and delivering research findings, health countermeasures, and human systems technologies to support crews on missions to the moon, Mars, or other destinations. HRP performs research and technology development to support next-generation systems that enable humans to live and work safely and effectively in space. Special emphasis is placed on mitigation of critical risks to human health and performance.

To develop research findings, health countermeasures, and human systems technologies, HRP openly solicits research announcements via traditional solicitation paths (NSPIRES), but primarily relies on internal evaluations of technologies to inform those research announcements.

NASA medical technologists stay informed on governmental and academic state of the art, but are less knowledgeable about commercial state of the art practices, specifically with small, commercial companies. Additionally, NASA does not have a strong basis to forecast trends in technology development specifically because small, commercial companies tend to drive the development path, which results in NASA potentially allocating medical technology development dollars to an area that is either already being developed or will be developed without additional NASA investment.

This procurement will be targeted to an assessment of which NASA has limited experience, specifically, a projection of US Cancer Mortality and Incidence Rates in the late 2040s to early

2050s. NASA will use this scope of work to predict the risk of radiation exposure induced death

(%REID) for comparison with our current Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for future Mars

Missions.

All work will be performed at the contractor’s facilities.

The estimated value of this procurement is $170,000.

The period of performance for this effort will be a four-months in duration beginning the day of contract execution which is estimated to occur in June 2017.

4. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), which permits other than full and open competition “when the property or services needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the agency.”

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is an independent, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit public policy research institute. The Institute identifies and aggressively shepherds discussion on key science, and technology issues facing the United States, providing an academic forum for the study of related policy issues. Using these discussions and forums, the Potomac Institute develops meaningful policy options that ensures their implementation at the intersection of business and government. The Institute currently has specific expertise in: Science and

Technology (S&T) policy; National security; S&T forecasting; Operational research; Terrorism and asymmetry; Emerging threats and opportunities; Cybersecurity; and Neurotechnology and ethics.

Potomac uses a proprietary mix of subject matter experts in a variety of disciplines and includes leaders from business, government, and academia to create an environment that promotes exchange of information and analytical development to conduct their technology assessments.

They then use the technology assessments as a basis for a technology forecast and a procurement policy recommendation regarding investments in that technology. Potomac Institute is currently the only available source that provides future technology forecast assessments which is the end product deliverable for this procurement.

6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

Pursuant to FAR 5.201(b)(1), this action was synopsized on the Government Wide Point of

Entry, located at www.FedBizOpps.gov.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The cost proposal was reviewed by NASA JSC personnel who determined that the level of effort and materials required were reasonable based on past experience with medical research projects within HRP. Additionally, the costs proposed by the vendor were approved by DCAA for a similar contract with the GSA. Based on these factors the cost is considered to be fair and reasonable.

8. Description of the market survey conducted, and the results, or a statement of the reason a market survey was not conducted.

Initial market research began with a web search to determine if there were any vendors other than Potomac with the capability to meet the requirements of this procurement. After extensive hours of web based searches no vendors were found.

After the initial markets search yielded no results a quick market search in the Dynamic SBA

Database was conducted for companies with the capability to perform technology forecast and technology assessments. The quick market search for small business vendors with the capability to perform technology assessments yielded no results. The initial quick market search for small business vendors with capability to perform technology forecast showed one vendor which possessed this capability, a firm called Funaro, Gregory V. Further investigation of this firm’s ability to meet the requirements of this procurement determined that they did not have the capability to develop future technology forecast assessments.

In addition to the quick market search of the Dynamic SBA Database a sources sought synopsis, NNJ17ZBH005L, seeking capability statements from all interested parties, including Small, Small Disadvantaged (SDB), 8(a), Woman-owned (WOSB), Veteran Owned (VOSB), Service

Disabled Veteran Owned (SD-VOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Institutions (MI) was posted on FedBizOps for ten days. The sources sought synopsis yielded one response which was evaluated and found not to possess the capability to meet the requirements of this procurement.

The overall assessment of the extensive market research conducted for this procurement is that there are currently no vendors, other than the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, which have the capability to provide the future technology forecast critical to the success of this procurement.

9. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

NASA has a very near-term need for this specific market analysis and time does not allow for a more broad procurement. However, the HRP already has posted a synopsis on FBO to solicit responses for future studies.

10. Sources, if any, that expressed interest in writing in the acquisition.

One capability statement was received in response to the sources sought synopsis, however upon technical review it was determined that the vendor did not meet the requirements.

11. The actions, if any, the Agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

The HRP has needs for additional studies of a similar nature, and NASA has recently posted a synopsis on FBO in an effort to identify potential sources for future acquisitions.