Contract # 40181AM335 Project # 1113 TAS 14 1611 TAS The Contracting Officer for this action is Vincent Chua (
[email protected]) This J&A is also available at http://www.fws.gov/contracts/ja.aspx?id=36BDE82E-C3F3-4AC5-8D0C-8A8FA29F2240 United States Department of the InteriorClass Justification and Approval forOther Than Full and Open Competition andWaiver of Publication Requirements Federal law (41.US.C. 253(c)(1)) and FAR 6.302-1 authorizes under certain conditions, including only one responsible source and no other supplies or service will satisfy agency requirements, contracting without providing for full and open competition. Exceptions are also authorized to the statutory requirements in the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(e)) and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 416), to provide public notice of contracting opportunities. J&A FAR 6.302-1 - Services to provide a White Nose Captive Bat Breeding Workshop to be held at the the St. Louis Zoo. 1. Organization: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Regional Office, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia 30345. 2. Description of Action: a. Requirement: New b. Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price c. Funds: 11134WNS 3. Description of Item/Service: Facilitation of National Workshop to Investigate the Feasibility of the Captive Propagation of Insectivorous Bats in Response to White-nose Syndrome (WNS). 4. Name of Intended Contractor:Conservation Breeding Specialist Group12101 Johnny Cake Ridge RoadApple Valley, MN 55124 5. Statutory Authority: The authority permitting other than full and open competition for this acquisition is 41 USC 253 (c) (1), which is cited under FAR 6.302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supply or service will satisfy agency requirements. 6. Justification/Reason for Soliciting Only One Source: The Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) is a well-known and respected organization that specializes in the conservation and population ecology of threatened and endangered species, including the maintenance of populations of such species in captivity. They have over 20 years of experience in the preparation of population viability analyses (PVA), population and habitat viability assessments (PHVA), conservation management plans and species action plans through specialized workshops. They have completed over 140 such workshops to date, including many for offices within the Fish and Wildlife Service's Southeast Region. Their staff is also uniquely qualified to address (and facilitate discussion on) emergency conservation actions, such as captive propagation, for bats affected by WNS, because of their broad knowledge of the species, conservation strategies, and unique contacts within the zoological community. They successfully completed similar workshops for the Service in previous years, one focusing on the development of triggers for captive propagation of endangered Virginia big-eared bats in 2009, and one investigating the feasibility of captive propagation for endangered beach mice in 2007. Both of these workshops aided the Service with key conservation decisions. For these reasons, we feel that CBSG is uniquely qualified to conduct this extremely important workshop focusing on the feasibility of captive propagation for insectivorous, cave dwelling bats in response to WHS beach mouse captive breeding feasibility workshop. a. What harm will come to the Government is desired supplies/services are not provided on time? The potential loss of large numbers of federal trust wildlife resources (bats). WNS is responsible for the death of an estimated 1 to 2 million bats in the NE USA, and is spreading rapidly though the rest of the country. This workshop is needed to provide FWS with critical information regarding captive propagation/holding in response to WNS. b. What harm will come to the Government if desired contractor does not receive the award? The Government would have to look for other facilitation options involving personnel less skilled that does not have extensive experience with imperiled mammal workshops and captive propagation feasibility studies. This would affect the quality of the final product. 7. Action to Increase Competition: a: No action will be taken due to limited source. 8. Market Survey: The market survey consisted of discussing facilitation options within the WNS captive propagation workgroup (10 Fish & Wildlife Service Biologists from 4 Regions). We determined that CGSG was uniquely qualified to handle this workshop. 9. Procurement History: a: Previous contract/order number: N/A b: Previously competed: N/A c: Previous authority for less than Full & Open Competition: N/A 10. Price Reasonableness: The quoted price ($8,700.00) includes extensive planning with the WNS captive propagation group, preparation/dissemination of pre-workshop materials, travel and expenses, facilitation of a 2.5 day workshop, and completion of a post workshop report. This will take approximately 2 to 3 weeks (80 to 120 hours) of work. Estimating $1,200.00 for travel and expenses, the work would constitute a range of $62 to $93 per hour, a rate that is extremely reasonable give the level of effort and expertise and in comparison with the independent government estimate. 11. Technical Certification: This justification is accurate to the best of our knowledge. /s/ Robert Taws, Biologist (Technical Expert)/s/ Don Calder, Chief, Contracting, & Grant Services