A03.11_ERDC_18-0107_JA_Mental_Modeling_df_(002).pdf

ERDC-18-0107

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Justification Review Document For Other Than Full and Open Competition

Requirement: Engineering with Nature Advancement through Strategic Planning and Communication Authority Cited: 6.302-1(a)(2) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

Amount: $426,000.00

Prepared By:

Melissa Keen Phone: 601-634-4880 Contract Specialist

Email: Melissa.A.Keen@usace.army.mil Signature:

Technical Representative:

Deborah Felt Phone: 601-634-3576 Contracting Officer’s Representative Email: Deborah.Felt@usace.army.mil

Requirements Representative:

Dr. William Nelson EPR Chief Email: William.M.Nelson@usace.army.mil

Office of Counsel:

Email:

Signature:

Phone: 601-634-3619 Signature:

Phone: 601-634-3619 Signature:

Contracting Officer:

Chelsea Whitten Phone: (601) 634-4679 Contracting Officer E-mail: Chelsea.M.Whitten@usace.army.mil Signature:

Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Contracting Office located at 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199.

2. Description of Action: Execute a new sole-source, firm fixed price contract with Decision Partners, LLC to advance the Engineering with Nature (EWN) program through strategic planning and communication in the estimated amount of $426,000.00.

3. Description of Services: The Environmental Laboratory (EL) requires services for the advancement of the EWN program, the development of evidence-based strategic risk communications through utilization of Mental Modeling Technology™ is required. Mental Modeling Technology™ is a software-supported management platform for developing validated, behavior-specific programs that seamlessly integrate policy, strategy, communications, and measurement. The platform is essential to this effort because it is the premier method for generating the in-depth, evidence-based understanding of factors influencing decision making and behavior required to develop strategies, plans and communications to effectively address complex issues. There is also a growing need for determining how best to communicate with our federal agencies and the public. Obtaining input from scientists and management professionals in the field of applied research in judgment, decision making and behavioral communication science will be critical. This will entail a series of stakeholder meetings incorporating mental models research, development of a multi-year research strategy and various communication materials (videos, website content, fact sheets, technical documents, etc.). For cutting edge videographic material, MedRespond’s Synthetic Interview™, an interactive technology that simulates a one-on-one conversation through a combination of streaming video and artificial intelligence, is required. Designed in a modular format, the technology will enable ongoing data collection on the interests and priorities of stakeholders regarding EWN. It will be used to share advances in EWN research and technology, and to elicit internal and external stakeholder input on research priorities.

Overall, these tasks build upon one another and each is integral to the goal of supporting implementation of EWN. The products will include EWN communication materials mentioned above, reports that determine factors for decision-making, identify data gaps, and summarize short-term communications.

Long-term strategies will be compiled in a comprehensive research strategy. This effort is estimated to take 3 years.

4. Authority Cited: 6.302-1(a)(2) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The proposed procurement meets the criteria for exclusion from full and open competition under the authority cited above based on the following:

a) Background: In 2010, the USACE began its Engineering With Nature (EWN) program with the expressed purpose of promoting the intentional alignment of natural and engineering processes to efficiently and sustainably deliver economic, environmental and social benefits through collaborative processes (www.engineeringwithnature.org). The EWN Program includes a combination of research and development, communication, and demonstration activities that are organized to promote four key elements in infrastructure project development and execution: 1) using science and engineering to produce operational efficiencies; 2) applying natural systems and processes to maximum benefit; 3) broadening and extending the benefits provided by projects to include economic, environmental and social benefits; and 4) employing science-based collaborative processes to engage, organize and focus interests, stakeholders, and partners.

Aligning natural processes with infrastructure systems can produce benefits across the US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works mission, including navigation, water operations, ecosystem restoration, and flood risk management. To this end, there is a need to design and develop communication strategies and materials that address these issues.

b) Justification: The vendor for this acquisition must be familiar with and have a working knowledge of both Mental Modeling Technology™ and the MedRespond’s Synthetic Interview™ platform. Decision Partners, LLC was instrumental in developing the Mental Modeling Technology™ and MedRespond’s Synthetic Interview™ platforms. Expertise in evidence-based strategic risk communications through the utilization of Mental Modeling Technology™ is imperative to this effort because it is the premier method for generating the in-depth, evidence-based understanding of factors influencing decision making and behavior required to develop strategies, plans and communications to effectively address complex issues.

Only Decision partners, LLC has the subject matter experts available and capable to do this work. Conducting an open competition at this point runs the risk of losing the unique historical knowledge and experience, as well as the benefits of the previous development of the EWN methods, mental models, tools, plans and communication material. In addition, Decision Partners’ comprehensive, unique and exceptional knowledge of EWN, along with having existing frameworks, senior researchers, and rapid capability to meet deadlines, would be cost prohibitive if not impossible to replace. Change in course at this stage, would involve reconstruction of institutional knowledge and redevelopment of a unique exceptional foundation of historical and current knowledge. Furthermore, the broad scope of EWN requires experienced contractors to meet the goals and objectives of this effort. Decision Partners’ participation brings experience and expertise with EWN, mental modeling technology, research-based strategic risk communications, scientific informed stakeholder engagement and the Civil Works Strategic Plan having been intimately involved with past EWN activities.

c) Impact: The required tasks must be completed in a relatively short period of time in order to meet project goals and milestones. Another contractor would need an extended period of time to learn the platforms and familiarize themselves with the required tasks, and thus could not provide the requested products on time in order to meet the project deadlines. The inability to award this requirement to Decision Partners will result in the Environmental Laboratory not being able to procure critical technical knowledge to support EWN advancement. In addition, there would be substantial duplication of cost to the Government to allow another vendor to gain the same level of knowledge and experience needed. Market research does not reveal any other vendors capable of providing the knowledge and experience essential for meeting the Government’s requirements. The overall EWN effort must adhere to strict timelines to provide the most up-to-date knowledge gathering possible. This type of timely data is essential to model input used in communication strategies such as stakeholder engagement.

d) Alternatives: Possible alternative includes: Use of internal personnel/expertise. Currently, the

ERDC does not have the internal expertise to meet these requirements. There are no other known vendors who have the experience with Mental Modeling Technology™ and the MedRespond’s Synthetic Interview™. Therefore, contracting with the Decision Partners is critical to the continued success of the EL in its efforts to advance the EWN program.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Competition for this action was not feasible based on information in paragraph 5, above, the required intellectual property, and past performance to perform the requirement.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Due to the changing approaches in communication and technology, ERDC must remain watchful for new and innovative products, services, and capabilities that become available which could be used to satisfy or improve similar future requirements. The Government will continue to review the online searches, monitor trade journals, and review vendor abilities to meet this requirement in the future.

8. Market Research: Reference paragraph 7 above. Market research was performed principally through the use of online searches. No other vendors were identified that have experience with both Mental Modeling Technology™ and MedRespond’s Synthetic Interview™ platform.

9. Other Facts:

a) Procurement History: There are three previous contracts with Decision Partners. Contract W912HZ-12-C-0012 was awarded based on a proposal submitted in response to ERDC’s competitive Broad Agency Announcement. Total contract price was $178,974.00 with a period of performance from February 2012 through February 2013. Contract W912HZ-13-C-0021 was awarded sole source to Decision Partners. Total contract price was $624,500.00 with a period of performance from July 2013 through March 2016. Contract W912HZ-16-C-0031 was competitively solicited but only one response was received from Decision Partners. Total contract price was $442,773.00 with a period of performance from August 2016 through December 2017.

b) Acquisition data availability: A performance work statement and quality assurance surveillance plan have been developed and will be used for this contract.

c) Unusual and compelling urgency: N/A

d) Subcontracting Competition: Decision Partners is a small business under NAICS code 541910

– Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling, with a size standard of $15 million. In accordance with FAR 19.702(b) (1), a subcontracting plan is not required from small business concerns. Subcontracting opportunities are not considered substantial, however, where the opportunity for subcontracting arises, the use of other small businesses will be encouraged and pursued to the extent possible.

10. Interested Sources: A notice of intent to award a sole source contract was posted at the Government point of entry, FedBizOpps on 29 March 2018. No capability statements were submitted by interested organizations.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the services required: N/A

12. 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:

13. 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:

14. Fair and Reasonable Price Determination:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. Cost analysis will be performed to determine that costs are fair and reasonable.

Certified cost or pricing data will not be required since this action is beneath the $750,000 threshold.

15. Procuring Contracting Officer Certification:

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

Deborah Felt Signature:

Contracting Officer’s Representative

Dr. William Nelson Signature:

EPR Chief

Chelsea Whitten Signature:

Contracting Officer

Chelsea Whitten Signature:

16. Approval:

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of Engineering with Nature Advancement through Strategic Planning and Communication for the Environmental Lab on an Other than Full and Open Competition basis pursuant to the authority of 6.302-1(a)(2) subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Chelsea Whitten Signature:

Requirement: Engineering with Nature Advancement through Strategic Planning and Communication