Redacted_-_JA-Other_Than_Full_Open.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

US ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH ACQUISITION ACTIVITY

820 CHANDLER STREET

FORT DETRICK MD 21701-5014

Control No: JA17121

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity:

The Contracting Activity responsible for this action is the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity

(USAMRAA), Fort Detrick, MD on behalf of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

2. Description of Action:

The government intends to establish of a single award contract with Azimuth Inc., the current contractor providing services. The current contract is W81XWH-12-A-0007-0022.

3. Description of Services:

The services currently awarded under W81XWH-12-A-0007-0022 include administrative services (web media, public relations and grants clerk support) that are scheduled to expire 31 March 2017. Services are in support of

CDMRP. CDMRP manages Congressional Special Interest Medical Research Programs, including military health and other specified areas and is a subordinate organization to the United States Army Medical Research and

Materiel Command (USAMRMC) subordinate organization. The USAMRMC is a major subordinate Command of the United States Army Medical Command (MEDCOM). The Commanding General (CG), USAMRMC, directs the management of a number of medical research, development and acquisition programs. Research includes breast, prostate, ovarian and lung cancer, defense health, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis complex, autism, psychological health/traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury research, bone marrow failure, multiple sclerosis medical imaging, medical informatics, behavioral health, medical simulators, mobile health applications, medical robotics, deployed health, and other medical research programs. The USAMRMC is responsible for planning, coordinating, integrating, programming, budgeting and executing these programs. Fiscal year 2016 RDT&E funding in the amount of $75,000.00 is provided for this requirement. The total estimated value of this requirement is $256,358.00 inclusive of optional period. The period of performance will be 1 April through 15 September 2017, which is inclusive of one three-month optional period.

4. Authority Cited:

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(2). The FAR citation is

6.302-2 with application at 6.302-2(b).

5. Reasons for Authority Cited:

Azimuth, Inc. currently has personnel in place to continue providing administrative support services for the performance period of three months (01 October 2016 through 13 January 2017) and an option period of 14 January

2017 through 31 March 2017. The services were included in newly awarded, competitive contract W81XWH-16-D-

0012. However, an interested party protested the new award on 12 September 2016 (received at USAMRAA on 13

September 2016, thus creating a delay in the start of services. Therefore, a bridge contract is necessary to continue the existing data management and reconciliation services currently provided via the incumbent contractor, Azimuth.

Given the lead time required in a competitive procurement, the acquisition of administrative services cannot be competitively procured. The bridge contract will contain the performance period necessary to ensure time for resolution of the protest. Without the administrative support services, the government would be seriously injured.

Lack of these services will seriously impact all CDMRP programs as well as MRMC programs which are supported by CDMRP. The administrative support personnel are responsible for multiple tasks. The Web Media Specialist

Control No:

J&A, Other Than Full and Open Competition

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

has taken the appropriate training required to be able to review all CDMRP website content for compliance with public affairs officer and operations security guidelines. In addition, all content must adhere to DOD, Army, MEDCOM and USAMRMC policies governing the release of information to public and private websites operated by CDMRP. Since the CDMRP website is the primary source of information for Congress and the American public, this role is critical to CDMRP. The Public Relations (PR) Specialist is responsible for all internal CDMRP planning, coordination, and social media services and is the only individual within the organization with this responsibility. The PR Specialist is also responsible for working with the CDMRP leadership team with regards to an annual public relations plan and relaying it as appropriate on all of the social media mediums. These roles are integral to CDMRP’s ability to meet congressional intent in informing the research community about funding opportunities. The grants clerks are responsible for processing all progress reports, they assist the Grants Officer’s

Representatives and Science Officers with updating the Electronic Grants System on all research funded by CDMRP

(over 3,500 active research contracts, grants and cooperative agreements) which is a significant workload which is critical to the successful operation in the Grants Management division. For the reasons cited herein, this requirement is deemed to be available only from Azimuth. GORs and CORs would not be able to as effectively monitor funded research without this support.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

A justification shall be posted at the Government Point of Entry (GPE) within 30 days after contract award and will remain posted for a minimum of 30 days, as outlined in FAR 6.305. The justification will include a statement allowing any and all responsible sources to submit a bid, proposal, or quotation for consideration.

7. Actions to Increase Competition:

The services applicable to this justification and approval have been competed and awarded under contract

W81XWH-16-D-0012. Specifically, solicitation W81XWH-16-R-0023, awarded on 02 September 2016, was awarded using full and open competition; however, a protest was received and the competed services will be delayed while the protest is under consideration. As a result of the protest, the Government proposed corrective action. However, two separate protests were filed in response to the proposed corrective action, one of which was dismissed on 29 November 2016. The other protest was denied by GAO on 17 January 2017. Because of the additional time required for the protests on the initial corrective action, the Government requires additional time to implement the corrective action and re-solicit this requirement. There is no reason to believe that future services will not be competed.

8. Market Research:

A justification shall be posted at the Government Point of Entry (GPE) within 30 days after contract award and will remain posted for a minimum of 30 days, as outlined in FAR 6.305. The justification will include a statement allowing any and all responsible sources to submit a bid, proposal, or quotation for consideration.

9. Interested Sources:

Interested sources are currently unknown. A justification shall be posted at the Government Point of Entry (GPE) within 30 days after contract award and will remain posted for a minimum of 30 days, as outlined in FAR 6.305.

The justification will include a statement allowing any and all responsible sources to submit a bid, proposal, or quotation for consideration.

10. Other Factors:

a. Procurement History:

(1) Contract number(s) and date(s) of award(s):

W81XWH-12-A-0007-0022; 1 June 2016

(2) Competitive status of these actions:

The acquisition resulting in contract W81XWH-12-A-0007-0022 utilized full and open competition procedures.

(3) Authority previously used for less than full and open competition:

Not applicable; previous acquisition was competed.

(4) If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, a summary of the contents of paragraph 7 of the justification for that procurement and an explanation of the results.

(5) If any prior award was accomplished by full and open competition, a detailed explanation of the changed circumstances.

The Government issued a competitive solicitation (W81XWH-16-R-0023) which resulted in award of

W81XWH-16-D-0012; however, a protest received on 13 September 2016 delayed the competitive award performance start date. As a result, the Government was forced to sole source the existing data management and reconciliation services to the incumbent while the protest is resolved. The Government intends to continue competitively procuring the services.

(6) An explanation of any unusual patterns which may be revealed by the history, e.g., several consecutive urgent buys.

Not applicable.

(7) If justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, briefly describe the circumstances justifying the buy and whether there have been any significant changes.

b. Other Facts.

The Contracting Officer will perform a price analysis in order to determine that the anticipated cost to the

Government for the supplies/services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable.

11. Technical Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in this J&A are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Julie Buchanan Date:

Title: Contracting Officer Representative Signature:

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the following data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Beverly R. Michaels Date:

Title: Chief Acquisition Manager Signature:

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I hereby determine the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. A cost analysis will be conducted to determine if the proposed budget is fair and reasonable. Certified cost or pricing data will be required in accordance with FAR 15.403.

Typed Name: Wayne A. Medina Date:

Title: Contracting Officer Signature:

14. Contracting Officer Certification:

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

Typed Name: Wayne A. Medina Date:

Title: Contracting Officer Signature: