Sole_Source_Justification_Redacted.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION PURSUANT TO FAR SUBPART 13.5

IN ACCORDANCE WITH 41 U.S.C. 1901

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION:

The purpose of this sole source justification is to acquire expert technical review and peer review support services related to contaminated sediment management, risk assessment and wastewater contaminated drinking water issues from Science and Engineering for the Environment, LLC (SEE). The work will directly support the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP). SERDP and ESTCP are the Department of Defense's (DoD) environmental research programs, harnessing the latest science and technology to improve the DoD’s environmental performance, reduce costs, and enhance and sustain mission capabilities.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES OR NATURE OF ACTION:

The requirement is to purchase specialized experience to support the SERDP/ESTCP Program office by conducting technical reviews of SERDP/ESTCP funded projects. A summary of the project tasks are provided below:

Support for organization of and attendance to annual and/or semi-annual Program meetings. This task shall also include post-meeting summations and/or report preparation.

Examples include, but are not limited to ER-Contaminated Sediment Management Meetings (annual and 5-year planning), PFAS Meetings, SERDP & ESTCP Annual Symposium.

Coordination, facilitation, and meetings with the SERDP & ESTCP director(s) and the Sediment Technical Review Panel Support the development of guidance documents and/or technical web sites.

Provide technical evaluations of technical pre-proposals and proposals submitted to SERDP & ESTCP from annual Statements of Needs (SERDP) and/or Environmental Technologies Requests (ESTCP).

Support the SERDP & ESTCP Program Manager with special technical reports and interagency interactions.

Specifications concerning the tasks and deliverables are provided in the corresponding Performance Work Statement.

4. AUTHORITIES CITED:

FAR 13.501(a)(2)(i) – “For a proposed contract exceeding $150,000, but not exceeding $700,000, the contracting officer’s certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief will serve as approval, unless a higher approval level is established in accordance with agency procedures.”

41 U.S.C. 1901 (a)(2) – “Simplified acquisition procedures are to be used to promote efficiency and economy in contracting and to avoid unnecessary burdens for agencies and contractors, the Federal Acquisition Regulation shall provide for special simplified procedures for purchases and services for amounts … greater than the simplified acquisition threshold but not greater than $5,000,000 for which the contracting officer reasonably expects, based on the nature of the property or services sought and on market research, that offers will include only commercial items.”

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

Pursuant to FAR 13.501(a)(2)(i) in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901: As noted above, simplified acquisition procedures are to be utilized to support and/or maximize efficiency and economy in government contracting and to minimize unnecessary burdens for government agencies and contractors alike. Should a proposed contract exceed the simplified acquisition threshold but not exceed $700,000, the contacting officer may review and approve a limited source justification when and where warranted.

In this particular instance, SEE, LLC has served Seattle District and the SERDP/ESTCP Program Office(s) on several projects helping to assess the functionality of sediment remediation and evaluating risks to human health and the environment. The firm also has direct experience serving the SERDP/ESTCP Program Office(s) in developing research priorities for DoD, evaluating technical strategies and producing technical guidance. SEE, LLC has supported Seattle District and the SERDP/ESTCP Program Office(s) for over 15 years, in various capacities.

SEE, LCC has worked on sediment projects for the Seattle District since 1990. Some of the more recent projects that SEE, LCC lead include the U.S. Government Moorings (2008 - 2010), the Lower Duwamish Waterway (2011 and 2012), East Eagle Harbor Superfund Long-Term Monitoring (2012 and 2017), Lower Snake and Clearwater River Sampling (2013 - 2014), Willapa Bay Federal Navigation Channel (2014), and the Quillayute Boat Basin Post-Dredge sediment characterization (2016).

SEE, LCC has supported SERDP/ESTCP programs since 2006. The scope includes providing peer review of new research proposals, direct technical oversight of the program's sediment research projects, and most recently in perfluorate (PFOA and PFOS) compound fate, transport and toxicity. SEE, LLC has organized four (4) national symposia, coordinates and leads the Program's Sediment Technical Review Panel - consisting of the Corps, EPA, and the U.S. Navy, and assists in organizing the annual SERDP/ESTCP Symposium.

Contracting with a different entity would require additional resources from the Government because a new contractor would not have the same knowledge base and expertise, frame of reference based on past performance, and/or resources currently retained by SEE, LLC.

Furthermore, another entity may require additional time to become familiar and proficient with the standards, protocol, and expectations to properly satisfy this requirement. Procuring technical service support directly from SEE, LLC results in lower costs and greater efficiency. Continued support from SEE, LLC will enable the SERDP/ESTCP Program Office(s) to finish ongoing projects efficiently, complete planned guidance, and retain significant program knowledge and information accrued over many years of collaboration.

6. BASIS FOR RESTRICTING COMPETITION:

As mentioned above, SEE, LLC has supported Seattle District and the SERDP/ESTCP Program Office(s) for over 15 years. The scope of the previous work has included providing technical evaluations of ongoing projects, assisting the program office(s) in developing research needs and priorities and developing technical guidance on sediment remediation, passive sampling and bioavailability. A majority of this work is for ongoing program efforts and projects. Loss of the technical expertise, historical knowledge, and/or continuity will result is significant delays and increased costs to the Government. The time and expense needed for another contractor to review the entire set of program files and data to begin providing the required services in an efficient and effective manner will dramatically increase the cost of the contract and disrupt one or more projects at critical phases of research and/or execution. Procuring support directly from SEE, LLC results in lower costs and greater efficiency which is directly sanctioned by FAR 13.501(a)(2)(i) in accordance with 41 U.S.C.

1901.

TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION:

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

NAME: DATE: _________________________

TITLE: Chief, Technical Services Branch SIGNATURE: __

REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION:

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

NAME: DATE: _________ ___

TITLE: Project Manager SIGNATURE: ___ _

8 FEB 2019

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Date: 2019.02.08 11:25:38 -08'00'

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t, Date: 2019.02.08 11:36:51 -08'00'

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION AND APPROVAL:

I hereby certify to the best of my knowledge this justification is accurate and complete. Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of expert technical support services from SEE, LLC on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to FAR 13.501(a)(2)(i) in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901, subject to the availability of funds, and provided the content herein described has otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

NAME: Jeffrey A. Ross DATE: _________________________

TITLE: Contracting Officer SIGNATURE: ___________________

7. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on publicly-available pricing data and available historical prices paid for the same or similar item(s)/services(s).

NAME: Jeffrey A. Ross DATE: _________________________

TITLE: Contracting Officer SIGNATURE: ___________________

11 Feb 2019

11 Feb 2019

Date: 2019.02.11 10:44:32 -08'00'

Date: 2019.02.11 10:45:05 -08'00'