STPI_JOFOC_2018.pdf

National Science Foundation Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support 2415 Eisenhower, Ave.

-Alexandria, Virginia 22314

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Agency, Contracting Activity and Document

The National Science Foundation (NSF), Division on Acquisition and Cooperative Support (DACS), proposes a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition for the operation and management of the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI), a federally-funded research and development center (FFRDC).

The STPI FFRDC was chartered by Congress under 42 USC 6686 to assist the Executive Branch as it formulates Federal policy involving science and technology.

42 USC 6686 assigns NSF as the sponsor along with the duties of STPI including:

• Assembly of timely and authoritative information regarding significant science and technology (S&T) developments and trends in the United States and abroad.

• Analysis and interpretation of this information, with particular attention to how it 'affects the federal S&T research and development (R&D) portfolio and interagency and national issues.

• Studies and analyses of alternatives available for ensuring the long-teim strength of the United States in the development and application of S&T, including identifying appropriate roles for the Federal Government.

• Providing, upon request of the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), technical support and assistance for the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and to committees and panels of the National Science and Technology Council.

STPI is managed and operated by a contractor, Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), under contract NSFOIA0408601. This indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract was competed and awarded in 2003. Reviews of STPI have been conducted every five years in accordance with FAR 35.017-4, with the most recent reviews occurring in 2007, 2012, and 2017. In both 2008 and 2012 the IDIQ with IDA was renewed for five years a piece in accordance with FAR 35.017(a). With the completion of the 2017 review, the contract will be extended for another five years in order that the government continues to benefit from the continuity and high-quality personnel offered by the long-term relationship.

2. Action Being Approved

The current contract ends December 3, 2018. The action to be approved is an extension,of the current contract for five years through 2023. The estimated cost for the next five years is $50 Million, which is reflected in an increase on the total ceiling of the IDIQ. NSF's contribution to this (outside of funding provided by OSTP) is $2,000,000 per year over 5 years for a total of $10,000,000.

2415 Eisenhower, Ave.

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

3. Description of Services

The services required are the operation and management of the FFRDC, the "assembly of timely and authoritative information, regarding significant S&T developments and trends" and the provision of studies and analyses support for OSTP and other federal agencies.

The duties of STPI include:

• Assembly of timely and authoritative infounation regarding significant science and technology (S&T) developments and trends in the United States and abroad.

• Analysis and interpretation of this information, with particular attention to how it affects the federal S&T research and development (R&D) portfolio and interagency and national issues.

• Studies and analyses of alternatives available for ensuring the long-term strength of the United States in the development and application of S&T, including identifying appropriate roles for the Federal Government.

• Providing, upon request of the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), technical support and assistance for the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and to committees and panels of the National Science and Technology Council.

The above described activities often result in Task Orders placed against the IDIQ, examples of which include:

1. Resilience Programs: Assessment of Gaps and Needs for Software, Tools, and Data

2. Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) Roadmap

3. Trends in Small Satellite Technology and the Role of the NASA Small Spacecraft

Technology Program

4. Trans-NIH Workplace Climate and Harassment Survey

4. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 USC 253(c)(3), as implemented at FAR 6.302-3(B)(2): "To establish or maintain an essential engineering, research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center."

2415 Eisenhower, Ave.

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

5. Contractor's Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the Acquisition Requires Use of the Authority Cited

The nature of this acquisition requires the use of the authority in FAR 6.302- 3(a)(2)(ii). Pursuant to that section, "Full and open competition need not be provided for when it is necessary to award the contract to a particular source...in order to establish or maintain an essential engineering, research or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center." This action renews a federally funded research and development center contract. Therefore, in accordance with 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii), full and open competition is not required and will not be sought for this contract action

42 USC 6686 requires STPI be "administered as a separate entity by an organization currently managing another federally funded research and development center." IDA currently manages centers for the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency and does not compete for other than the management of FFRDCs.

The contractor has been determined responsible and technically capable of performing the work as described in the statement of work based on their satisfactory past performance and the results of the 2017 5-year review of the FFRDC. This review addressed the factors listed in FAR 35.017-4 including:

(1) An examination of the sponsor's special technical needs and mission requirements that are performed by the FFRDC to determine if and at what level they continue to exist.

(2) Consideration of alternative sources to meet the sponsor's needs.

(3) An assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of the FFRDC in meeting the sponsor's needs, including the FFRDC's ability to maintain its objectivity, independence, quick response capability, currency in its field(s) of expertise, and familiarity with the needs of its sponsor.

(4) An assessment of the adequacy of the FFRDC management in ensuring a cost-effective operation.

(5) A determination that the criteria for establishing the FFRDC continue to be satisfied and that the sponsoring agreement is in compliance with 35.017-1.

The findings of this review were then forwarded on to the Director of NSF. Once received by the Director, a review was conducted of the findings, and approval was given to renew the STPI FFRDC agreement with IDA.

6. Efforts Made to Obtain Competition

Efforts were not made to obtain competition for this contract action. See Section 1 and .4 above.

2415 Eisenhower, Ave.

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Synopsis of this contract action is not required as it is "made under the terms of an existing contract that was previously synopsized in sufficient detail to comply with the requirements of 5.207 with respect to the current proposed contract action" (FAR 5.202(a)(11)).

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Price

The Contracting Officer will evaluate the contractor's proposal to determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

8. Market Survey

Not Applicable.

9. Additional Information

Not Applicable.

10. Other Sources Expressing Interest

Not Applicable.

II. Removing Barriers to Competition

A re-competition of this contract will be conducted if recommended by the next 5-year review of the FFRDC.

10. Certifications/Coordination/Approval

Requesting Office Program Officer and Division Director (or Equivalent) certifications are required for all J&As.

REQUESTING OFFICE CERTIFICATION

Program Officer: I hereby certify that the facts presented in this Justification are current, completed and accurate.

Name Date 11— 9,1— if?

Director, (Office of Integrated Activities):

I hereby concur witlriis Justification.

Name Date

1̀2

PROCURING OFFICE CERTIFICATION

Competition Advocate: I hereby concur with this Justification.

Date IA4

National Science Foundation Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support 2415 Eisenhower, Ave.

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Contracting Officer: I assure that a detailed analysis will be performed on all proposed prices to assure that they are fair and reasonable. I also certify that this Justification is current, complete and accurate.

Name ...Vi et A--

Date 1 v)*-1 1 tie, Chief, Contracts Branch: I hereby concur with this Justification.

N e Date

Senior Procurement Executive:

I hereby approve this Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition.

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Name , Date /