RTI_J_A_10_30_23_Redacted_1.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (FAR 6.3)

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey (USGS), Denver Acquisition Branch, plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for use of one of the exceptions to full and open competition allowed under the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) of 1984.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. The USGS National Water Quality Lab (NWQL), has a continuing requirement for routine and non-routine analyses. These analyses are requested by USGS Water Science Centers throughout the United States through NWQL to monitor and understand potential inorganic and organic constituents found in water, tissues, and solids. Elevated concentrations of contaminants found in these constituents can have serious adverse effects on human health. The USGS Water Science Centers work with other government agencies to monitor and understand sources of elevated contaminants found in surface water, groundwater, tissue, soils, and sediments that can adversely affect drinking water, flora, and fauna.

The USGS NWQL has a contract with to provide continuous support for these laboratory services. The current ceiling of the awarded Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract was originally established at for a 5-year period. However, the anticipated need was tripled in a short amount of time due to the new Department of Defense (DoD) requirement for the Draft Method 1633 “Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS),” and unusual warm weather patterns. These unforeseen regulatory changes resulted in increased quantities for PFAS testing, which caused the Government to reach its capacity on the subject contract sooner than anticipated. In addition, the DoD’s Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) has requested the USGS’s assistance in identifying potential PFAS contamination. The recent AFCEC requests are greater than our current contract ceiling allows. This J&A is to request an additional ceiling increase to the IDIQ contract 140G0220D0005 in support of current needs.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The USGS requires laboratory service of chemical and geotechnical analysis of environmental samples. The laboratory must be capable of analyzing surface water, groundwater, tissue, soils, and sediments for general chemistry. Continuation of these laboratory services, under the current IDIQ with , are required until the new General Chemistry contract is in place.

The new contract is anticipated to be awarded in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024; however, this ceiling increase is required to accommodate the needs occurring now through the transition period.

4. Estimated Dollar Value. Maximum value of the extension will be of the increased contract ceiling of , which resulted after settling a Request for Equitable Adjustment claim from the contractor and contract ratification. As a result, the revised IDIQ contract value will increase to .

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. These analyses are needed to fulfill USGS’s obligations to Congress, individual state agency partners, and other co-operators. The general chemistry analytical requirements of USGS Water Resources Mission Area (WMA) are currently provided by