RAINN SSJ Redacted.pdf

Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR AN ACTION EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED

ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

USING SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.501(a))

NAAJ400020000115

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants

Office (AGO), Strategic Sourcing Acquisition Division and the Workforce Violence Prevention and Response program within the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Operations.

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

This is a justification for a new requirement. The planned award type is Firm Fixed Price (FFP).

The Government intends to solicit and award a firm fixed price (FFP) contract with the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) of Washington, DC.

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

Due to Congressional mandates in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act and proposed legislation in the pending 2020 NOAA Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements (SASH) Act, NOAA requires a 24/7 active hotline.

NOAA attempted to meet the requirements of the 2017 NDAA through a helpline contract with RAINN. This effort has been insufficient, which is underscored in the dictates of the pending 2020 NOAA SASH Act. Thus, this new requirement provides substantially greater support services to meet the employee safety, education, and wellness objectives of the legislation.

The anticipated period of performance includes one 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods.

The total estimated value, including all options, is

4. Statutory authority permitting the sole source (including brand name) acquisition.

■ 41 U.S.C. 1901, using SAP up to $7M as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

□ 41 U.S.C. 1903, using SAP up to $13M for contingency operations as authorized by FAR 13.500(c) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited. The contracting officer has determined the following circumstances justify the use of a sole source as supported below:

Only one source – Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique and highly specialized.

(Insert PR/RFQ/SOL number, as applicable)

RAINN is the only organization capable of meeting the Government’s regulatory requirement for a number of reasons. As the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, RAINN has a network of resources capable of providing services for members of the NOAA enterprise dispersed throughout the country, including on its waterways. RAINN personnel are uniquely qualified and credentialed to provide victim-centered and trauma-informed, services.

RAINN’s resources include program assessments and data analytics to support NOAA’s required data reporting to Congress.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, including whether a 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 the Government’s intent to solicit and award hotline and SASH online training on a sole source basis was posted to beta.sam on 14 August 2020. As a result of additional market research and the single response received by the closing date, the Government revised its proposed scope of services to only include hotline services. The required training services will be addressed in the future; considering competitive acquisition strategies. No responses were received related to the Government’s critical hotline services.

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

The contracting officer will use price analysis techniques established in FAR Subpart 15.4, Pricing, to determine the proposed prices are fair and reasonable. The contracting officer will use commercially available information for similar services as well as request any/all necessary uncertified cost and pricing data from the offeror.

8. Description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

The integrated project team conducted extensive online research to determine no other source is capable of meeting the breadth and depth of the Government’s mission critical and Congressionally mandated hotline requirement.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of a sole source (including brand name), such as:

None.

10. List of the sources that expressed written interest in the acquisition.

No sources expressed an interest in the hotline services required by the Government. Due in large part to interest expressed by , a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), the Government revised its intended scope to remove online training services. The Government intends to address this requirement in the future.

11. A statement of 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.

(Insert PR/RFQ/SOL number, as applicable)

As future hotline requirements arise, the market will be continuously surveyed to identify new sources. The Government will continue to encourage competition through public notices and engaged discussions with interested parties.

12. Technical/Requirements Representative Certification

I certify this requirement constitutes the Government’s minimum needs and the supporting data provided herein is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

13. Contracting Officer’s Certification and Approval

I certify this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.