Correction to FAR citation (corrected to FAR 6.302-2-Unusual and Compelling Urgency) and time of responses due (corrected to "Eastern Standard" as Daylight Savings Time ends November 7, 2021). The United States Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), intends to award a sole source contract to Booz Allen Hamilton ("BAH"). The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-2(a)(2) - Unusual and Compelling Urgency. This synopsis is being published for informational purposes only. This proposed action is for continued scientific, engineering, technical, professional, financial and administrative support services from the incumbent contractor for a six-month period of performance with two three-month option periods to facilitate a competitive acquisition for the requirement that does not sacrifice quality for speed. Since 2018, there have been several roadblocks to recompeting this requirement, many of which were not within the agency's ability to control. Presently, many of the roadblocks have been cleared and the agency anticipates release of a solicitation by or before January 2022. However, the current contract expires November 30, 2021. Thus, in order to accomplish its mission while conducting a recompetition of the requirement, ARPA-E must continue receiving the support services currently provided by Booz Allen Hamilton. ARPA-E's need for these support services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured unless ARPA-E is permitted to limit the number of sources from which it solicits bids or proposals. The incumbent contractor provides critical support services to ARPA-E and it would not be an exaggeration to state potential harm to the Government from loss of this support would approach catastrophic. The incumbent supports ARPA-E across nearly every aspect of its mission: providing technical and scientific expertise in program development, project selection, and program execution, internal and external communications, project management, moving new technologies made possible through Federal financial assistance closer to market, life-cycle administration of Federal financial assistance awards, budget and finance related matters, e.g., recipient invoice processing and associated cost analysis, event and travel planning and execution, data analytics to assess ARPA-E's impact on the energy industry’s landscape, IT support for ARPA-E's Federal financial assistance applications system and ARPA-E's project management system, and providing a host of administrative professionals that keep the lights on. The applicable North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) for this requirement is 561990 – All Other Support Services. Business size standard for NAICS 561990 is $12,000,000. The statutory authority for permitting other than full and open competition for this requirement is pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2) and FAR Part 6 for the aforementioned requirement based on the application of FAR 6.302-2(a)(2) - Unusual and Compelling Urgency. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement in response to DOE's intent to purchase on a sole source basis. Any capability statements shall be considered by the Government if received by 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (Washington D.C. time), Monday, November 22, 2021. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government to change the acquisition strategy for the proposed requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Capability statements shall be e-mailed to
[email protected], no later than 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (Washington D.C. time), Monday, November 22, 2021. Only capability statements received by this date will be considered. Be advised that all correspondence sent via e-mail shall contain a subject line that reads "89703022NAR000019-Support Services." Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award of any contract. You may register in SAM online at https://www.sam.gov. If any assistance is needed pertaining to SAM registration, you can contact the Federal Service Desk online at https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do or by calling 866-606-8220.