Redated__JandA.pdf

Control No: JA18-40

Justification Review Document for Other than Full and Open Competition

Program/Equipment: Research and Development of the “Development and Validation of Cognitive Process Markers of Stress-Related Symptoms Underlying Anger and Aggression”

Authority: FAR 6.302-1

Amount:

Prepared by:

Typed Name: Chris van der Merwe

Title: Administrative Officer

E-Mail: christopher.vandermerwe.civ@mail.mil

DSN: 285-9703

Date: 01/09/2018

Contracting Officer:

Typed Name: Jennifer C. Jackson DSN: 343-2054

E-Mail: jennifer.c.jackson18.civ@mail.mil Date Reviewed: 1/12/18

Technical Representative:

Typed Name: Philip J. Quartana

Title: Research Psychologist

DSN: 285-9777

Date Reviewed: 01/10/2018

Requirements Representative:

Typed Name: Philip J. Quartana DSN: 285-9777

Title: Research Psychologist Date Reviewed: 01/10.2018

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Program Manager/Project Manager/COR

Typed Name: Chris van der Merwe DSN: 285-9703

Signature:

Date: 09 Jan 18

Legal Counsel

Typed Name: CPT Scott Luu DSN: 343-9879

Signature: Date: 16 Jan 2018

Control No: JA18-40

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). The requiring activity is the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR).

2. Description of Action: This is a follow-on requirement to contract W81XWH-15-P- 0339 for research and development. The contract to be awarded will be Firm Fixed Priced (FFP) and incrementally funded with Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 2-year Research, Development, Testing & Evaluation (RDT&E), 6.2 Army research funds.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Military Psychiatry Branch is currently supporting efforts that seek to examine cognitive bias mechanisms (e.g., interpretation, attention, working memory, etc.) that underlie stress-related symptoms, including anger/aggression, risk-taking behaviors, substance use, depression, and anxiety.

Extreme stress exposure is association with significant psychological and behavioral health problems in the Warfighter population. Effective methods for mitigation and treatment of these problems are desperately needed, particularly those that do not require one-on-one health services provisions. This requirement is for research in the Development and Validation of Cognitive Process Markers of Stress-Related Symptoms Underlying Anger and Aggression. The effort will examine the efficacy methods designed to target modification of these markers in a resilience-promoting fashion. The period of performance will be 29 January 2018 – 28 January 2023, which contains a 2-year base and one three (3) year option period. The extended performance periods are necessary in order to obtain all the accurate data required to generate results that are statically significant, and therefore the research is non-severable. The estimated total award amount is $970,000.00.

4. Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) - (7) or 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) - (7) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A) – Only one responsible source and no other Service will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: University of Notre Dame (UND) possess the experience, expertise, and unique testing and validating abilities for cognitive process markers of stress-related symptoms of underlying anger and aggression in healthy young individuals, that has not been duplicated or found at any other higher education institute or business. Furthermore, it is critical for WRAIR to continue its research services with Notre Dame in an effort to maintain testing consistencies with the methodologies presently applied to allow for further modifications of identified markers in order to determine whether these can be used to mitigate stress-related symptom manifestations. The unique tools and techniques conducted by UND show efficacy in the preliminary studies and will be provided to the Army for testing among Soldiers in operational units, so testing methods and consistencies are of the upmost importance. An award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost in the amount of $274,567.92 that is not expected to be recovered through competition, since research services and the applied methodology would have to be replicated. This duplication of cost is estimated to be the price associated with the research efforts under contract W81XWH-15-C-0039.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: A Source Sought was posted to Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) on 19 September 2017 for fourteen (14) calendars days in order to determine whether there was any viable candidates with the knowledge and/or experience and/or capability of providing these specific R&D services outside of the incumbent, however, no responses were received.

a. Effective competition. No effective competition is anticipated.

b. Subcontracting competition. In accordance with FAR 19.705-2(c), no subcontracting plan will be required by University of Notre Dame.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Actions to increase competition is not possible since the proposed vendor, University of Notre Dame, is the only vendor capable of meeting the requirement. Any other source would disrupt the research supporting the Military Psychiatry division for Behavior Heath at WRAIR.

8. Market Research: WRAIR and USAMRAA conducted market research through System for Award Management (i.e. SAM.gov), U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (i.e. VA.gov), and on GSA Advantage (i.e. GSAadvantage.gov) using multiple search terms and criteria, specific to this research effort, and found no businesses (large or small) with the capabilities (i.e. experience, expertise, and/or facilities) to conduct specifically target cognitive processes with stress-related symptoms using a combination of laboratory and field studies. Based on market research, the Government has determined that the only viable vendor/resource with the capabilities to conduct this research effort is the University of Notre Dame.

9. Interested Sources: A "Notice of Intent to Sole Source” was posted to FedBizOpps.gov on 10 Oct 17 for sixteen (16) calendar days. One capability statement was received from University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL) and was submitted to the WRAIR for evaluation and determined that CASL did NOT meet the criteria necessary as they indicated no expertise in the specific testing methods for cognitive antecedents using behavioral indicators of neurocognitive processes.

10. Other Facts: Discuss any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as the following:

a. Procurement history:

(1) Contract numbers and dates of the last several contracts for these same requirements: W81XWH 15-P-0339 was awarded to University of Notre Dame on 15 September 2015, Firm Fixed Price on a full and open basis.

(2) Competitive status of these actions: Full and Open Competition

(3) Authority previously used for less than full and open competition: Not Applicable

(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: Not Applicable

(5) If any prior award was accomplished by full and open competition, include a detailed explanation of the changed circumstances causing this action to now limit the sources: The efforts of this research by Notre Dame requires the experience, expertise, and unique testing and validating abilities for cognitive process markers of stress-related symptoms of underlying anger and aggression in healthy young individuals, that has not been duplicated or found at any other higher education institute or business. It is critical for WRAIR to continue its research with Notre Dame in an effort to maintain testing consistencies with the methodologies presently applied to allow for further modifications of identified markers in order to determine whether these can be used to mitigate stress-related symptom manifestations.

(6) An explanation of any unusual patterns which may be revealed by the history, e.g., several consecutive, urgent buys: Not Applicable

(7) If a 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: Not Applicable

b. Other facts. Not applicable.

11. Technical Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Phillip J. Quartana, Ph.D. Date:10 Jan 18

Title: Research Psychologist Signature:

12. Requirements Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and

Typed Name: Phillip J. Quartana, Ph.D. Date: 10 Jan 18

Title: Research Psychologist Signature:

13. Fair and Reasonable CostDetermination:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

Basis for determination: In accordance with FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(v), the Government will use the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) in combination with FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(ii) Comparison of proposed prices to historical prices paid, in order to determine whether the proposed cost/price is fair and reasonable. In accordance with FAR 15.403-4 certified cost or pricing data will be required.

Typed Name: Jennifer C. Jackson Date: 1/12/18

Title: Contracting Officer Signature:

14. Contracting Officer Certification:

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

Typed Name: Jennifer C. Jackson Date: 1/12/18

Title: Contracting Officer Signature:

15. Legal Sufficiency Review:

Based on the information provided in this document, I hereby determine this justification for other than full and open competition to be legally sufficient.

Typed Name: CPT Scott Luu Date: 16 Jan 2018

Title: Attorney Advisor Signature:

Approval Special Advocate for Competition

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of research and development support services for “Development and Validation of Cognitive Process Markers of Stress-Related Symptoms Underlying Anger and Aggression,” on an Other Than Full and Open Competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1 – Only one responsible source and no other Supplies or Services will satisfy agency requirements, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Name: CHRISTOPHER E. SHERMAN Title: Special Advocate for Competition