Limited_Source_Justification_NCAT_Electronic_Controls.docx

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION FOR FEDERAL SUPPLY SCHEDULE PROGRAM

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati Procurement Operations Division, Cincinnati, OH.

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

One-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) under GSA Schedule 871 (Professional Engineering Services) for continued development of flexible electronic engine and vehicle interfaces and control systems. The BPA period of performance will be from March 15, 2014 through March 14, 2015 with a maximum value of $750,000.00. The BPA will not include any options for extension of the period of performance.

3. A complete description of the supplies and/or services required to meet the agency’s needs.

The BPA will be for continued engine electronic controls engineering services to be performed on EPA owned or procured engines at the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL). The engineering services involve integrating five (5) proprietary engine controllers with stock engine and vehicle electronic controllers to acquire calibration, emissions, and operating set-point data from light duty passenger vehicles. The integrated proprietary controllers will function to collect data of interest to EPA during vehicle operation, but may also be used together with stock engine controllers to change electronic set-points to improve vehicle emission profiles and fuel economy. The integration will include the physical integration of torque measurement systems with the electronic controllers for torque data acquisition as required by EPA. The required services will also include maintaining and updating the electronic engine controllers owned by EPA at NVFEL.

The deliverables from this BPA will be for the integration of the proprietary controllers into select EPA engine applications, fabrication and integration of torque measurement systems as required by EPA, integration of proprietary controllers for electric motor and battery control, and controller upgrade to change engine set-points as required by EPA.

4. An identification of the LSJ rationale, and if applicable, a demonstration of the contractors’ unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service.

Upon the basis of this justification, prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6(c), I, as Contracting Officer, hereby recommend for approval the use of sources limited to fewer than those required in FAR 8.405-1, FAR 8.405-2, and FAR 8.405-3 pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 251 as implemented by FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C), Logical Follow-On. This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program (41 U.S.C. 251, et seq, and 40 U.S.C. 501).

The engine electronic controls engineering services requested for the one-year BPA is for continuation of existing work under a competitively awarded EPA contract EP-C-08-043 which will expire March 14, 2014. EPA is in process of issuing a new competitive solicitation to replace EP-C-08-043. However, this new contract will not be awarded by the current contract expiration date. Therefore, the requested one-year BPA will function as a “bridge contract” to continue the critical engine electronic controls engineering services until the new contract is awarded and the period of performance begins.

The current contractor has familiarity with the controller software programming and physical integration of the controller hardware with stock vehicle controllers and the EPA engine applications already underway in an engine dynamometer environment whereby the vehicle remains “tethered” to the engine outside of the test cell. EPA believes that duplication of this expertise by another contractor, which is unfamiliar with the applications, hardware, and software involved over this limited time frame (1-year), would result in unacceptable delays and costs to the government.

5. A determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

After considering the level of effort, the mix of skills necessary for completion of tasks identified in the Statement of Work, and competitive nature of GSA rates in schedule 871 (Professional Engineering Services), the proposed BPA represents a reasonable approach for a “bridge contract” and will provide the best value to the Government during this 1-year period.

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders, and the results of the research, or a statement why market research was not conducted.

The required engine electronic controls engineering services are available on the GSA Professional Engineering Services schedule (871). Market research concerning other potential competitive sources under the GSA Professional Engineering Services Schedule 871 was not conducted due to the limited time frame of the contract vehicle considered here (1-year), the follow-on nature of the work to the existing contract, and the technical expertise of the existing contractor performing the current electronic integration work on the systems which are proprietary to the contractor.

7. Any other facts supporting the limited source justification.

The expiring contract (EP-C-08-043) was competitively solicited. However, there was only one proposal received in response to the previous solicitation.

8. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency will take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for supplies and services is made.

The solicitation for the next contract will be competitively solicited again with the anticipation of multiple offerors.

Project Officer:

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification and which form a basis for this justification, are complete and accurate.

Contracting Officer:

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

One-Level Above the Contracting Officer:

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

Competition Advocate:

I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Since this LSJ does not exceed $12.5M, this review serves as approval.