National Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment: Meeting of Experts

National Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment: Meeting of Experts

The USGS NCASC is seeking the procurement of an independent peer review for Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment draft chapters. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) will conduct an independent peer review of the BDCCA draft chapters. For this purpose, the National Academies will recruit an ad hoc committee of subject-matter experts, not to exceed 15 members. The committee will conduct its review of the chapters and will develop findings and recommendations in a consensus report addressing the statement of task. The report will be released 6 months after receipt of the draft chapters. Briefings will be provided to USGS and other interested parties, including the chapter authors. The report will be made available on the National Academies website.

Period of Performance will be 12-months from date of award.

NASEM is to be awarded this action on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 6.302-5(c)(iii)(B). Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Miranda Blankenship via email at mblankenship@usgs.gov no later than 12:00PM EST, Wednesday March 27, 2024, with any questions.

Sole Source Justification States the Following:
The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Acquisition Branch, plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for use of one of the exceptions to full and open competition allowed under the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) of 1984.

The National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (NRCASC) of USGS require independent and objective review by a group of credible technical experts of draft chapters for a trinational assessment of biodiversity. NASEM will identify subject matter experts to review the document. NASEM will recruit an ad hoc committee of subject matter experts and will assess whether the draft chapters rigorously assess the relevant scientific literature.

The proposed action may be awarded without full and open competition under 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(5) as implemented in FAR 6.302-5 (Authorized or Required by Statute)

FAR 6.302-5(a) states that full and open competition need not be provided for when a statute expressly authorizes or requires that the acquisition be made through another agency or from a specified source. 36 U.S.C. § 150303 authorizes that the acquisition be made from NASEM: ¿On request of the United States Government, the corporation (NASEM) shall investigate, examine, experiment, and report on any subject of science...The corporation may not receive compensation for services to the Government, but the actual expense of the investigation, examination, experimentation, and report...¿

This contract will require the NASEM staff members to seek suggestions and nominations for the ad hoc committee from members of the relevant Boards, and use their own knowledge to develop and screen experts for the ad hoc committee to ensure that it has relevant expertise and balance among the many disciplines required for the review (e.g., ecology, natural resources,climate, biodiversity, oceanography, water science). All NASEM activities, products, and services adhere to rigorous standards designed to guarantee objectivity.

Market research indicates NASEM is the appropriate source for this work, pursuant to regulation.