Sole Source Justification.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT (OPEN

MARKET OR GSA) UNDER $250,000

Sole source acquisitions may be used on a limited basis and only when the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)/Program Official has provided sufficient justification and the Contracting Officer has determined that the circumstances warrant such action. The content for a justification must contain detailed facts and rationale to justify the sole source acquisition. Soliciting from a single source must be done in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b) or 8.405-6. At a minimum, the following information must be included:

Identification of Program Office, Contracting Activity, and Proposed Requirement, Justification and Program Office Certification:

A. Program Office:

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Chamblee Building 106, S106-10 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, GA 30341

B. Contracting Activity:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Financial Resources Acquisition Branch Research and Evaluation

C. Identification of Requirement:

1. Nature of Action to be Approved by Contracting Officer:

a. Sole source acquisition of: Publish a journal supplement in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) no later than December 31, 2020, but anticipated by September 15, 2020.

b. Procurement Request (PR) Number (if available): 000HCUHC-2020-42668

2. Proposed Vendor and Estimated Procurement Amount (if available):

a. Proposed Vendor: American Journal of Public Health

b. Estimated Procurement Amount:

3. Is the requirement on GSA Schedule? ☐ Yes ☒ No

If yes, provide schedule number: Click here to enter text.

D. Justification:

Rev. 5/15/17

1. The justification for this non-competitive action is:

☒ In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), “only one source [is] reasonably available” which states that, “For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (i) Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization). (ii) Where a single source is identified to provide a portion of a purchase because that portion of the purchase specifies a particular brand-name item, the documentation in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section only applies to the portion of the purchase requiring brand-name item. The documentation should state it is covering only the portion of the acquisition which is brand- name.”

☐ Urgency ☒ Exclusive licensing agreements/Proprietary data ☐ Brand name required ☐ Industrial mobilization ☐ Other (e.g., compatibility, space issues, continuity, compatibility, etc.)

☐ In accordance with FAR 8.405-6 “Limiting Sources” which states that, “the only circumstances that may justify the action are – (A) An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays; (B) 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 or highly specialized; or (C) In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-up to an original Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original BPA must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.”

☐ Urgency ☐ Only One Source ☐ Logical Follow Up ☐ Brand name required

2. Other facts supporting sole source procurement:

a. What can this product/service do that other products/services cannot do?

AJPH is a top-tier public health journal (with an impact factor of 4.38) that has a broad, international reach with 3.5 million downloads per year. A similar AJPH supplement to the one we are proposing was downloaded more than 1,400 times since being published in February 2019. The journal’s impact factor and demonstrated ability to achieve broad dissemination of their journal issues is consistent with the Division of Violence Prevention’s goals of achieving wide dissemination of information related to implementation processes and results of evidence-based youth violence prevention strategies to diverse practice audiences.

A YVPC-specific supplement published in AJPH will enhance the YVPC’s role as a local, regional, and national training and technical assistance resource to support the implementation of effective youth violence prevention strategies. Expanding dissemination of process-oriented findings and lessons learned about how to select, implement, evaluate, and sustain youth violence prevention strategies with the best available evidence in communities that have historically faced social and economic conditions that increase risk of violence (e.g., racial and ethnic minorities) are a priority of the CDC supported YVPCs.

The AJPH is also the journal affiliated with the American Public Health Association (APHA). This year, APHA is hosting their annual conference in San Francisco from October 24-28. The theme of the conference is Creating the Healthiest Nation:

Preventing Violence, which aligns with the contents of the proposed supplement. The AJPH and APHA have offered to schedule a special APHA conference session for the supplement authors to further present and discuss their work to this large audience of public health practitioners. The supplement will be published around the time of the APHA conference (i.e., anticipated September 2020) and is intended to prime interest and attendance at this special APHA conference session.

No other publication outlet provides the opportunity for such broad dissemination of the work of the Youth Violence Prevention Centers in both a high-impact public health journal and at a special session at the premier public health conference in the U.S., that is linked to the AJPH supplement.

b. What other products/services were considered and why did they not meet the need?

Several other journals were considered, but did not meet the need including:

• American Journal of Preventive Medicine – This journal was not selected because the cost estimate was the same as AJPH, but CDC would be responsible for the entire cost of the special issue/supplement regardless of the number of articles that are ultimately accepted and published.

• Prevention Science – This journal was not selected because the journal publishes the articles as they are accepted instead of bundling them together as a special issue/supplement. This takes away from the impact of the special issue/supplement as a whole.

• Journal of Interpersonal Violence – This journal was not selected because it has a limited public health reach and a much lower impact factor of 2.44.

Additionally, one of the Guest Editors has prior experience publishing a special issue with this journal and it takes approximately 18 months.

• Journal of Primary Prevention – This journal was not selected because is not a top-tier journal and has a low impact factor of 1.52.

If another journal besides AJPH is selected, the uptake of the special issue/supplement would not be nearly as large. AJPH is in a unique position because of their association with APHA and the theme of the conference this year, which focuses on preventing violence. AJPH is also a premier public health journal with a large readership. By publishing the supplement with AJPH, the YVPCs have an opportunity to receive substantial attention that could help increase the impact of their work, as well as aid in expanding their work.

3. Program Office efforts to seek potential offerors:

We conducted an internet search to identify appropriate journals that offer special issues or supplements and we also examined journals that have previously published special issues or supplements with the Division of Violence Prevention. Once we compiled a list of five journals, we reached out to the Editors of each journal to inquire about their interest in hosting a special issue or supplement for us and the associated costs.

E. Program Office Certification:

I have reviewed this sole source justification and certify the justification is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Center/Institute/Office COR/Program Official Name/Title:

Center/Institute/Office COR/Program Official Signature:

Certification Date: September 16, 2019

F. Contracting Office Certification:

I have fully relied on the information provided herein and hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Contracting Officer Name:

Contracting Officer Signature:

Certification Date: Click here to enter a date.

Howard D.

Bish -S

Digitally signed by Howard D. Bish -S Date: 2020.03.27 17:08:46 -04'00'