Justification-Maintenance of a Technical Advisory Group for United States Representation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Acquisition and Grant Services, under the Department of Health and Human Services, has justified a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract valued at $495,600 to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the maintenance of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to ISO/TC 34/SC 9, which focuses on food product standards. This procurement is authorized under FAR 6.302-1, as ANSI is the only entity legally recognized as the U.S. national member body to the International Organization for Standardization, making it the sole responsible source capable of representing U.S. interests in international food standards development. The performance location is Silver Spring, Maryland, and the contract supports critical coordination of U.S. consensus positions, accreditation of technical experts, and official participation in global standards forums under ISO governance. No competitive solicitation is permitted due to ANSI’s unique statutory and international mandate, and market research confirms no alternative entity can fulfill this role. The contract value includes all options, with no separate line items or CLINs detailed. Approval requirements are triggered by the value, requiring specific HHS oversight levels, though the contract falls below thresholds demanding multiple layers of senior executive approval. The contract does not include standard FAR clauses, inspection criteria for physical deliverables, or detailed payment or invoicing instructions, as the nature of the services is administrative and institutional. Acceptance is based on ANSI’s continued legitimacy as ISO’s designated U.S. representative and its ability to maintain compliance with international standards procedures. No key personnel, security clearances, packaging requirements, or socioeconomic set-asides are specified, as the requirement is organizational and non-personnel based. All supporting approvals, legal reviews, and competition advocacy endorsements are documented internally but remain to be executed by designated officials.