COVID Class Justification - CSELS Freezers

This is a class Justification & Approval (J&A) in accordance with FAR - 6.303-1(d) and 6.302-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency, FAR - 8.405-6(a)(1)(A), Limiting Sources, and FAR - 16.505(b)(2)(i)(A), Exceptions to the Fair Opportunity Process for all contract actions to facilitate the recovery efforts necessary to address the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Because COVID-19 is an emerging disease, and there are no vaccines or approved treatments, it is prudent to have adequate flexibility to address this public health emergency. This class J&A is essential to respond to urgent requests for immediate support to respond to the expanding outbreak of COVID-19 which was just declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020 and a national emergency via Presidential Proclamation on March 13, 2020. This class J&A supersedes all other class J&A's executed and issued by HHS and negates the need for individual J&As for contract actions to facilitate the recovery efforts necessary to address COVID-19. Requirements that arise and are executed by HHS contracts offices can be processed under the authority of the class J&A. A copy of the class J&A must go in the award file for all requirements processed under the authority of this class J&A and each contracting activity must maintain a log of all contract actions awarded under the authority of this class J&A. The requirement is to purchase critically needed laboratory freezersin support of the COVID-19 global outbreak.