2-_JOFOC_posting.doc

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition

“Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104”

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

2. Federal agency and contracting activity. HHS. DHHS/National Institutes of Health [NIH]/National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases [NIAID]/Acquisitions Management Operations Branch [AMOB]

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

a. Acquisition purpose and objectives. The Viral Pathogeneses and Evolution Section (VPES) within the Laboratory of Infectious Disease (LID) conducts research directed towards defining the cause of epidemiology of influenza viral infections and developing means for their control. VPES engages in a wide range of research activities that extends from clinical virology to molecular characterization of highly virulent influenza viruses that cause severe acute disease of the respiratory tracts in animal models to the development of human challenge models, novel vaccines and antiviral drugs and vaccines. Scientists in the section employ high-throughput genomic, proteomic and computational approaches to elucidate pathogenesis of influenza disease, understand the response to bacterial secondary infection and determine the molecular correlates of vaccine protection. The purpose of this acquisition is to fulfill the need for the service of molecular characterization of RNA samples provided by VPES. This characterization will include all RNA purification, cDNA expression microarrays, next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics analyses to characterize mRNA and micoRNA expression of RNA samples from influenza vaccination, viral infection, bacterial co-infection and vaccination.

b. Project background. Currently, LID uses data collected by the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB). This data is stored in ISB proprietary bioinformatics software and data analysis pipelines. Proprietary software developed by ISB includes (1) PisaR, which is a comprehensive small RNA sequencing (sRNA-Seq) method to profile circulating small RNAs to facilitate accurate profiling of endogenous small RNAs (including microRNAs), comprehensively assign exogenous RNAs to different species, and discover novel low abundant microRNAs in biological samples including peripheral blood; and (2) an automated machine-learning-based classifier pipeline for feature selection and classifier generation to aid in RNA biomarker discovery. These unique bioinformatics resources and tools allow VPES researchers to understand the RNA expression correlates of (1) protective vaccination; (2) influenza viral infection and challenge; (3) secondary bacterial infection; as well as identifying diagnostic and prognostic RNA biomarkers. The same data collection method, organization, and storage must be used to provide seamless continuity between the existing data and the newly generated data.

4. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

a. Project title. Molecular Characterization of RNA Samples

b. Project description. This characterization will include all RNA purification, cDNA expression microarrays, next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics analyses to characterize mRNA and micoRNA expression of RNA samples from influenza vaccination, viral infection, bacterial co-infection and vaccination. The molecular characterization data must be compatible with existing data from previous years utilizing ISB bioinformatics software and data analysis pipelines. LID will supply the samples to the vendor to process.

· Requirement type.

( Research & development (R&D) ( R & D support services

( Support services (non-R&D) ( Supplies/equipment

( Information technology (IT) ( Construction ( Architect-engineer (A & E) services ( Design-build ( Other (specify): ____________________

· Type of action.

( New requirement ( Follow-on ( Other (specify): ______________________

· Proposed contract/order type.

( Firm-fixed-price ( Other fixed-price (specify, e.g., fixed-price award-fee, fixed-price incentive-fee): __________ ( Cost-plus-fixed-fee ( Other cost reimbursement (specify, e.g., cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee): ___________ ( Time and materials ( Indefinite delivery (specify whether indefinite quantity, definite quantity, or requirements): ___________ ( Other (specify): ___________ ( Completion Form ( Term form

· Acquisition identification number. Sequence#1788041

c. Total estimated dollar value and performance/delivery period. $215,243.00 POP 9/28/16 to 9/27/17.

4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

( This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 3304(c)(1) as set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, Only one responsible source.

( This acquisition is conducted under the authority of section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996.

( This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (41 U.S.C. 428a).

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

· Name and address of the proposed contractor(s).

Institute for Systems Biology 401 Terry Ave North Seattle, WA 98109-5263

· Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s). The new molecular characterization data must be compatible with previous year’s data. It must be organized and stored within ISB proprietary bioinformatics software and data analysis pipelines. Only the Institute for Systems Biology offers this proprietary software.

6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Indicate whether a FedBizOpps notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies. A Notice of Intent (NOI) will be posted for 15 days on FedBizops.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Please see market research and previous purchases documented in the acquisition plan.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted. Please see market research memo.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition. The molecular characterization data must be compatible with existing data from previous years utilizing ISB bioinformatics software and data analysis pipelines. Using a different software would render previous data useless, and thereby introduce significant downtime and harm the mission of NIH.

10.

Listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. No others have expressed interest to the proposed acquisition. Only one response received from NOI-RML-E-1807838.

11.

Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the required supplies or services. It is the policy of NIAID to promote the use of competitive procedures whenever and wherever possible. In an effort to remove or overcome barriers to competition in the future, the market will be scanned frequently for new companies and products that could satisfy the Government’s requirement. The LID staff meets with equipment manufacturers and vendors and attends manufacturer and industry training to keep current on technology. Vendor and trade magazines and scientific journals are scanned for new technologies that can satisfy future requirements. The agency will continually to re-evaluate the services currently being used and will research the manufacturers and services that will be in the Government’s best interest as best value for future services at the agency’s sites. The current situation requires Institute for Systems Biology as they are fully-compatible with the current software and data collection process. Since there is a continual re-evaluation of services currently being used by the agency for the present services, if/when alternatives become available, they will be evaluated for use.

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