Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Award: Statistical Support Services for NIEHS for the Division of the National Toxicological Program (DNTP) and Division of Intramural Research (DIR)   2

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. The purpose of this acquisition is to award a sole source T&M task order under the GSA Multiple Award Schedule to Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Corp company (hereinafter S-3). This award will ensure continuation of mission critical statistical support services while the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) procurement team continues acquisition planning for the recompetition of these services under a new 5-year Time & Materials task order GSA contract. This notice is being published by NIEHS in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-2 based on the application of FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A), which states, An urgent and compelling need exists and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays.

BACKGROUND

In 1981, the Environmental Toxicology Program of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) initiated a contract to provide statistical support for experimental studies and basic research carried out by the NIEHS. Over the years, the scope of work for the requirement has evolved to include additional data analysis methods such as mathematical modeling and computational support. Data analysis services continue to be critical in the support of state-of-the-art scientific research in environmental health science and toxicology conducted by NIEHS. Results of this research are used to make decisions regarding the protection of public health.

The current contract, HHSN273201600011C, is a 5-year T&M type contract awarded on April 24, 2016 using full and open competition to Social and Scientific Systems, Inc. (S-3). The purpose of the contract is to provide statistical analysis, mathematical modeling and computational support to researchers at NIEHS in support of state-of-the-art scientific research in environmental health science and toxicology. Results of this research are used to make decisions regarding the protection of public health. The work performed under the current contract is critical for NIEHS day-to-day operations. Contractor staff collaborate closely with program personnel and other contractors to collect, analyze and report data. Without these services, NIEHS would not be able to prepare the summary data tables needed to report NIEHS scientific findings to the public. The incumbent contractor oversees analysis of multiple data sets and code developed over multiple years. NIEHS does not currently have the internal staff or other resources needed to accomplish these tasks if there were a lapse in contractual services.

This proposed 8-month sole source effort will enable continuation of vital statistical support services between the current contract's end date and the new, competitively awarded GSA Task Order estimated to be in place by May, 2022. The work is described in the attached Statement of Work (SOW).

JUSTIFICATION

Acquisition planning for the recompetition of this requirement began in early 2020, engaging all stakeholders to reassess the current contract requirements and determine if adjustments were warranted based on the evolving needs of DNTP and new directives from leadership. Although every effort was made to remain within the acquisition planning milestones, development of the requirement and adjustments to the acquisition method have resulted in unavoidable delays in the progress toward award of a new contract before the expiration of the current contract. Trying to make award of a new 5-year contract at this stage is high risk and likely to lead to a lapse in services. This is primarily due to the compressed time schedule for award and the considerable effort and resources required if a new awardee had to transition-in and fully engage the services. The overhead costs, risks, and resources associated with facilitating a transition and operational hand-offs between the incumbent and new awardee would not be prudent for such a short performance period.

The statistical support deliverables under this contract require the contractor to have an excellent grasp of the NIEHS toxicology and environmental health research study designs and specifications in order to assist NIEHS in the analysis, visualization, interpreting, and reporting of diverse types of data relevant to protection of public health. This level of understanding is essential to successful performance of the contract deliverables. The current contractor, S-3, oversees analysis of multiple data sets and code developed over multiple years. They are the only contractor with a full and detailed understanding of current research goals, statistical methods and technologies used at NIEHS, as well as the existing technical skills and competencies to successfully perform the required support in a timeframe that meets immediate Government requirements. NIEHS does not have the internal staff or other resources needed to accomplish these tasks. It would take an alternative contractor significant transition time to understand NIEHS research study designs and be trained in the proper specifications and processes to provide the required statistical support required to meet NIEHS's goals. This puts a strain on NIEHS resources, time, and effort that would be expended to manage that transition and to maintain continuity. In addition, a new contractor would not have a reasonable opportunity, relative to the short performance period, to capture and cultivate sufficient intellectual capital to engage the service requirements and fully transition-in, which introduces unacceptable risk in continuity of service.

The criticality of these services means that it is imperative that the Government maintains a seamless continuation of services until the next award can be recompeted. Therefore, the Government has determined that continuing services through a short-term contract to the incumbent contractor is the best method of preventing any lapse in service until a new award can be established. The Government anticipates the ability to fully solicit competition in the next award among all interested GSA schedule holders. This sole source task order will provide NIEHS with sufficient time to accurately define its expanded requirements and competitively award the new contract while also ensuring performance of required services during the interim.

Any contract action as described herein will be made in accordance with the required documentation and approval through a Limited Source Justification (LSJ).

RESPONSES
While this notice does not constitute a request for competitive quotes or proposals, interested vendors may identify their interest and capability to satisfy this requirement. The Government understands that S-3 is the only contractor which can provide the requested services to NIEHS. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirement may submit a written capabilities statement (NOT TO EXCEED 3 PAGES). The capabilities statement must contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill the requirement and must be received by the response date listed in this posting. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. NIEHS will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice.

ONLY EMAIL RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED. All questions and correspondence regarding this notice must be made in writing via email to Wanda Holliday at hollida1@niehs.nih.gov.