Intent to Sole Source: NAICS Code: 541712 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a requirement for continuation of technical support services under the current contract, EP-D-11-060, as described below. EP-D-11-060 expires on March 31, 2016. The Government requires completion of tasks and delivery of deliverables as defined in EP-D-11-060, Option Period IV, Work Assignment (WA) 036, entitled Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research Program (SHCRP) Existing and New Tools, which at this time, cannot be completed by the stated expiration date of the contract. The services under this work assignment are critical and need to be completed. The EPA intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with Oneida Total Integrated Enterprises, LLC (OTIE), 1033 N. Mayfair Rd Ste 200, Milwaukee, WI 53226, a modification to contract EP-D-11-060 to incorporate and exercise FAR clause 52.217-8 -- Option to Extend Services to extend services under this contract for one additional month of service to complete the work assignment, with the option to extend to, but not to exceed a total of six months of additional service, until such time that the tasks stated in the referenced work assignment are completed and deliverables have been received and accepted by the EPA. OTIE currently provides the stated technical support services for ReVA (development and refinement of statistical methods, analyses, and quantitative models; ongoing design, development, and enhancement of web- and PC-based assessment and visualization tools to provide accessibility to research results; literature review support; mining, compilation, and management of data an information and accessibility to data and models used in these assessments; exploration and development of new information technologies; development of risk-reduction, economic, and quality of life benefit-cost analyses to support comparison of alternative futures and trading options; outreach and technology transfer activities; development, packaging, and distribution of products; and support for workshops on methods, expert opinions, and review of products including logistics and facilitation) for the EPA¿s Office of Research and Development (ORD) located at 109 TW Alexander Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC, under contract EP-D-11-060, and has provided these services under said contract since April 2011. OTIE has been working diligently on completing WA 036 since May 2015 and has made significant progress. The EPA¿s technical representative is confident that OTIE will be able to complete the work assignment, to include the delivery of deliverables, given additional time. The continuity that OTIE¿s technical support services will provide are critical to ORD¿s ReVA priorities and to ensure continuity of research. There are no other entities that have the capability of providing the level, breadth, and depth of technical support that are required by ORD¿s ReVA in order to prevent the loss of critical research data and maintain full continuity of research, as it pertains to the referenced work assignment, with the least amount of disruption to in the short period of time required to complete this work assignment on a temporary basis. OTIE is best suited for continuing to provide the above indicated technical support services under this contract to complete the work assignment for the requested extension as they have the necessary infrastructure, personnel, supplies, and subcontractors already in place, fully functioning, and doing so will guarantee continuity of technical support services for ORD ReVA and provide for the completion of the referenced work assignment and delivery of stated deliverables. The Government is not stating that there are no other contractors who can provide this level of technical support for the ReVA requirement. The Government understands that there are other companies that provide similar technical support services. The Government is instead saying that considering the short period of performance contemplated within this extension and that the work assignment was issued to, is currently being worked by OTIE, and is near completion, no other contractors could transition this workload from OTIE and efficiently continue performance without potential reduced services, increased costs, increased time for completion, and unnecessary risks to the Government. This one month extension, with the option to extend to, but not to exceed a total of six months of additional services is not an attempt by the Government to limit competition to the incumbent contractor, but to provide additional time to complete the tasks and provide deliverables as defined in the work assignment. In accordance with FAR Part 5.207(c)(16)(ii), all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the Agency. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon response to this notice, is solely within the direction of the Government. This notice will be posted for 15 days. The intent of this synopsis is to state the Government¿s intention to sole source this requirement and to determine if any other source(s) exist; and, therefore, no solicitation is available. All interested parties who believe they can provide the required service should 1) fully explain their capabilities and qualifications in writing and submit same via FedConnect, a government web portal, within 15 days from the date of this announcement; and 2) must submit itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. Consequently, any responder(s) failing to provide the aforementioned data but instead choosing merely to submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the RFQ will not be honored. Offerors must submit all technical questions / responses concerning this synopsis electronically through FedConnect at www.fedconnect.net/Fedconnect/. This notice and any amendments will be available via the Internet at the following URL: www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/ . You must register with FedConnect as an interested party to submit questions and to view responses. Vendors can register with FedConnect at www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/. For assistance in registering or for other FedConnect technical questions please call the FedConnect Help Desk at (800) 899-6665 or email at
[email protected]. FedConnect is a web portal that connects agencies and vendors to streamline the process of doing business with the federal government. Through FedConnect contractors will be able to receive, review and respond to contract pre- and post-award actions and documents such as correspondence, request for proposals, tasking instruments and contract modifications. The use of FedConnect also furthers the EPA¿s commitment to moving towards a paperless acquisition environment by reducing its carbon footprint and conducting its business in an ecologically friendly manner. There is no charge to use FedConnect. In addition, all vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), as this facilitates registration for FedConnect. Please note that vendors MUST have their SAM profile set to ¿public,¿ otherwise FedConnect will not be able to access the SAM information required to validate vendor credentials. Registration may be completed and information regarding the registration process may be obtained at http://www.sam.gov. There is no charge for registration in SAM.