J_and_A_ProteinSynthesis_Redacted.pdf

Control No. JA 17050

Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition Justification

1. Contracting Activity: The Contracting Activity responsible for this action is the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), Fort Detrick, MD on behalf of the Walter Reed Institute of Research (WRAIR)

2. Description of Action: This approval is being requested for a new firm fixed- price service contract with George Mason University using FY 16/17 DHP funds. The NAICS code for this acquisition is 541990 and the size standard is worth $15 M. The PSC code is AD21.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Wound Infections Department within the Bacterial Diseases Branch at WRAIR conducts research to defeat combat-related wound infection. WID conducts requirements-driven programmatic research using a multi-disciplinary approach to characterize wound pathogenesis and develop novel antimicrobial countermeasures for wound infections of Service Members. The WID includes the WRAIR X-ray Crystallography Facility, which provides structure-based drug design services to WRAIR, DoD labs, industry, and academic collaborators to support the development of therapeutic and prophylactic countermeasures against bacteria, parasites, and viruses. The service required is for technical expertise and support services necessary to perform protein expression and purification of MEP pathway proteins, characterization of MEP pathway proteins, MEP pathway enzyme assays, and bacterial growth inhibition assays for antibacterial discovery and development.

4. Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1). The FAR citation is 6.302-1 and the FAR citation title is only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: and researchers at is the only source that will meet the requirement. research group has extensive experience in the expression, purification and characterization of MEP pathway proteins for antibacterial development. His group also has many publications detailing their research on MEP pathway proteins for therapeutic development. His lab is well-equipped with the instrumentation required for our protein service needs. His laboratory at is also within local distance of the WRAIR for delivery of freshly purified protein for protein x-ray crystallography experiments that will be performed at WRAIR.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Not Applicable. No effort will be made to solicit offers from as many potential sources as is practicable as previous market research has determined that and researchers at is the only source that will meet the requirement. No effective competition is anticipated.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Actions to increase competition are not necessary since the proposed Vendor, and researchers at

, is the only Vendor that will meet the requirement.

8. Market Research: The Market Research included a search for universities and small businesses to perform protein expression, purification, enzymology of methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway proteins for drug discovery and development, and protein purification for crystallography studies was performed. Sources were excluded based on experience with MEP pathway proteins. The companies found during the market research do not meet the specific requirements to perform the required services.

9. Interested Sources: In accordance with FAR 5.201, a notice was published in Federal Business Opportunities(FBO) on 2 November 2016 by posting a Sources Sought in FedBizOps. Aside from and researchers at , another vendor submitted a Capability Statement. Both capability statements were reviewed by and found

On 23 December 2016, a Notice of Intent to solicit for Sole Source was issued via FBO with a closing due date of 6 January 2017. No responses were received.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history.

i. Contract numbers and dates of the last several awards. Not Applicable

ii. Competitive status of these actions. Not Applicable

iii. Authority previously used for less than full and open competition.

Not applicable

iv. . 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

v. If any prior award was accomplished by full and open competition, a detailed explanation of the changed circumstances.

Not applicable

vi. An explanation of any unusual patterns which may be revealed by the history, e.g., several consecutive urgent buys.

Not applicable

vii. a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this ou=PKI, ou=USA, one, briefly describe the circumstances justifying the buy and whether there have been any significant changes.

Not applicable

b. Acquisition data availability. A purchase description suitable for full and open competition exists for this action.

c. Unusual and compelling urgency. Not Applicable

d. Subcontracting competition. 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: Date: January 17, 2017 Digitally signed by

NOBLE

Date: 2017.06.14 08:21:09 -04'00'