A03-_JA_IS_Finder_Redacted.pdf

Justification and Approval for Other than Full Open Competition

Program/Equipment: ISfinder_Tn - A Platform for Identification and Analysis of the Prokaryotic Mobilome Authority: FAR 6.302-1(b)(1)(i), unique supplies or services available from only one source or only one supplier with unique capabilities.

Amount:

Control Number: JA-18-82

Prepared by:

Typed Name: DSN:

Title: Date Reviewed: 7 March 2018 E-Mail:

Contracting Officer:

Typed Name: DSN:

E-Mail: Date Reviewed: 7 March 2018

Technical Representative:

Typed Name: DSN:

E-Mail: Date Reviewed: 7 March 2018

Requirements Representative:

Title: Date Reviewed: 7 March 2018

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition. (Reviewers signatures are required up to the appropriate Approval Signature Authority)

Program Manager/Project Manager/COR

Signature: _____________________ __ Date: _____________________

1. Contracting Activity: The Contracting Activity responsible for this action is the US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), Fort Detrick, Maryland on behalf of the

2. Description of Action: This is a justification and approval request for a New

Firm Fixed Price Contract using FY18 funds for the ISfinder_Tn - A Platform for Identification and Analysis of the Prokaryotic Mobilome.

3. Description of Supplies/Services:

) will provide support to the to enrich and/or extend the ISfinder prokaryotic insertion sequence (IS) database into a community standard, authoritative mechanism for cataloguing, tracking, and disseminating knowledge on the bacterial mobilome. developed the software tool in support of the ISfinder. The extended database, ISfinder_Tn, will include both a transposon database as well as the software tools associated with transposon identification— important tools that will enhance accessibility to critical information for supporting research and other scientific endeavors to support initiatives to control drug-resistant microorganisms. To support this objective, will collaborate with to achieve 7 key tasks enable to support the advancement of the ISfinder_Tn - A Platform for Identification and Analysis of the Prokaryotic Mobilome, developed by a professor at .

The total estimated value of for a 12 month period of performance with no options.

4. Authority Cited: FAR 6.302-1(b)(1)(i), unique supplies or services available from only one source or only one supplier with unique capabilities. The Government has a reasonable basis that the agency’s minimum needs can only be satisfied by the unique services and capabilities available from only one source.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: Reason for Authority Cited: is uniquely qualified to perform the services under this requirement as they are the developer of the software tool for the ISfinder. The software tool used to expand the usage of the ISfinder has demonstrated a unique and innovative concept that is not available from any other source. owns the proprietary database that no other vendor has the ability to provide.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: A Request for Information (RFI) was posted on FedBizOpps from 13 February 2018 – 20 February 2018. Potential sources were given the opportunity to provide capability statements. One response was received from . The Government, with expertise in the subject matter within the scope of the RFI requirements, conducted a review of the RFI response and found as the only capable contractor to meet the requirement. Although this notice was an effort to ensure offers were solicited from as many potential sources as practicable, there was no expectation that effective competition would be the result.

a. Effective competition. No effective competition is anticipated for this acquisition, appears to be the only organization that has an existing tool

b. Subcontracting competition. No potential subcontracting opportunities exist under this requirement that would result in effective competition.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: It is not possible to compete the current acquisition as is the unique source with the capabilities that has holds the proprietary technology data that is not available from another other source.

Therefore, no action have been taken by USAMRAA to increase competition for the acquisition.

8. Market Research: conducted market research activities, which determined that only has the capabilities and extant platforms to support interest.

The market research showed that the IS-Finder is derived from pioneering research conducted by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology at . While many other database developers were identified, none provided the technology, and capabilities of the IS-Finder.

Through an RFI, internet searches and discussions with experts at various universities (www-is.biotoul.fr; [Siguier et al., 2006]), and the work done at emerged as the best solution to meeting the requirement, because there is an extant template or database, which through this contract will be developed to include a transposon database as well as the software tools associated with transposon identification— critical for enhancing accessibility to information for supporting research and other scientific endeavors to support initiatives to control drug-resistant microorganisms.

9. Interested Sources: To date, only has expressed interest in providing the services. A Notice of Intent to Sole Source to was posted on FBO on 22 February 2018 for 15 days. As a result of the intent, no responses were received.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement history.

1. Contract numbers and dates of the last several contracts for these same requirements: Not Applicable;

2. Competitive status of these actions: Not Applicable

3. Authority previously used for less than full and open competition: Not Applicable

4. 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

5. If any prior award was accomplished by full and open competition, include a detailed explanation of the changed circumstances causing this action to now limit the sources: Not Applicable

6. An explanation of any unusual patterns which may be revealed by the history, e.g., several consecutive, urgent buys: Not Applicable

7. If a justification was prepared to support the procurement made before this one, briefly describe the circumstances justifying the buy and whether there have been any significant changes: 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.

Name: Date:

Title:

Signature:

12. REQUIREMENTS 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.

Name:

Date:

13. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

The price established for the required services will be determined to be fair and reasonable by using a price analysis. The price analysis of the proposal is to ensure that the price/cost is fair, reasonable and realistic. The acquisition is under $700,000.00, as such, certified cost or pricing data will not be required in accordance with the exception at FAR 15.403 (b) (3).

Name:

Date:

14. CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION:

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

Name: Date:

Control Number: JA-18-82