Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Research and Development

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE The US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Acquisition Management, Cincinnati Acquisition Division intends to negotiate a sole source contract to provide the Transportation and Climate Division (TCD) of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) with full access to UC Davis STEPS+ research products for transportation technologies, fuels, and future mobility, as well as access to the UC Davis STEPS advisory board. This procurement is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. NAICS Code 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, applies to this procurement and the size standard is 1000 employees. University of California, Davis, is classified as other than small business concern. This procurement consists of acquiring a one-year sponsorship of UC Davis STEPS+ (Sustainable Transportation Pathways) consortium as well as three of the STEPS centers (Plug-In Hybrid & Electric Vehicles, 3 Revolutions Future Mobility, and Energy Modeling & Alternative Fuels.) Specific tasks and deliverables are as follows: Tasks Task 1 - UC Davis shall conduct STEPS+ Consortium research via the following STEPS centers: Plug-In Hybrid & Electric Vehicles, 3 Revolutions Future Mobility, and Energy Modeling & Alternative Fuels. Task 2 - UC Davis shall provide the EPA with a customized engagement plan which will include meetings on transportation topics selected by the EPA - 2 meetings per year via teleconference to ensure UC Davis takes into consideration EPA research and policy objectives - Other teleconference meetings as needed based on EPA needs and priorities, not to exceed 3 calls per year. Task 3 - UC Davis shall place up to two (2) EPA staff members (to be chosen by the EPA) to serve on the STEPS+ advisory board for both the overarching STEPS+ program and the specific STEPS+ centers for which EPA sponsorship is provided. EPA advisor shall be invited to attend the annual STEPS+ board meeting and shall be provided updates on latest STEPS+ research and an opportunity to provide feedback on the programs research and direction. Deliverables - Access for several EPA employees (typically 2-3 employees and not to exceed 6) to attend the STEPS+ invitation-only research symposia. These are held biannually at UC Davis, dates are TBD and will be announced during the Period of Performance. - Access to all STEPS+ briefings, reports, and webinars, including early review of draft documents. - Free invitations for 2-3 employees to a STEPS workshop. - Password-protected access to all conference and workshop proceedings. This notice sNOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE The US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Acquisition Management, Cincinnati Acquisition Division intends to negotiate a sole source contract to provide the Transportation and Climate Division (TCD) of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) with full access to UC Davis STEPS+ research products for transportation technologies, fuels, and future mobility, as well as access to the UC Davis STEPS advisory board. This procurement is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. NAICS Code 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, applies to this procurement and the size standard is 1000 employees. University of California, Davis, is classified as other than small business concern. This procurement consists of acquiring a one-year sponsorship of UC Davis STEPS+ (Sustainable Transportation Pathways) consortium as well as three of the STEPS centers (Plug-In Hybrid & Electric Vehicles, 3 Revolutions Future Mobility, and Energy Modeling & Alternative Fuels.) Specific tasks and deliverables are as follows: Tasks Task 1 - UC Davis shall conduct STEPS+ Consortium research via the following STEPS centers: Plug-In Hybrid & Electric Vehicles, 3 Revolutions Future Mobility, and Energy Modeling & Alternative Fuels. Task 2 - UC Davis shall provide the EPA with a customized engagement plan which will include meetings on transportation topics selected by the EPA - 2 meetings per year via teleconference to ensure UC Davis takes into consideration EPA research and policy objectives - Other teleconference meetings as needed based on EPA needs and priorities, not to exceed 3 calls per year. Task 3 - UC Davis shall place up to two (2) EPA staff members (to be chosen by the EPA) to serve on the STEPS+ advisory board for both the overarching STEPS+ program and the specific STEPS+ centers for which EPA sponsorship is provided. EPA advisor shall be invited to attend the annual STEPS+ board meeting and shall be provided updates on latest STEPS+ research and an opportunity to provide feedback on the programs research and direction. Deliverables - Access for several EPA employees (typically 2-3 employees and not to exceed 6) to attend the STEPS+ invitation-only research symposia. These are held biannually at UC Davis, dates are TBD and will be announced during the Period of Performance. - Access to all STEPS+ briefings, reports, and webinars, including early review of draft documents. - Free invitations for 2-3 employees to a STEPS workshop. - Password-protected access to all conference and workshop proceedings. Without these leveraged resources (discussed below) the EPA would not be able to address OTAQ's broad research questions. With the STEPS+ institute, EPA's contract sponsorship provides it with access to over $3 million in research in sustainable transportation technology and policy per year - an amount no other research organization can provide in these areas of expertise. Additionally, because the project is a multi-year research program and continues to be supported by several government agencies, contracting with other organizations to duplicate previously completed work in order to address these current research areas would not be an efficient use of public resources. Therefore, OTAQ has determined that the Institute is the only entity currently capable of successfully addressing the content and scope of this contract, thus justifying a single source acquisition. No other organization possesses all of the following resources: 1. Multidisciplinary Research Team and Organizational Structure focused on Sustainable Transportation The Institute was founded in 2006 with research focused in three areas: - Travel behavior and transport systems modeling - Vehicle technologies and fuels - Emissions, air quality, and other environmental impacts The Institute carries out research in these areas through its mission-specific centers within the institute. They include: - Plug-in Hybrid & Electric Vehicles - Energy Modeling & Alternative Fuels - China Center for Energy and Transportation - 3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program - Sustainable Freight The Institute has developed a research team comprised of faculty, research leaders, and PhD/graduate students from diverse academic fields: vehicle engineering and design, systems analysis and operations research, chemical and mechanical engineering, lifecycle cost and emissions analysis, market research, sociology and anthropology, economics and business strategy, and policy analysis. No other organization has developed a program with an organizational structure that draws on such a broad range of academic fields for a comprehensive analysis of sustainable transportation issues and policy options. Given the broad scope of EPA's ongoing transportation projects to reduce impacts on public health and welfare, a large multi-disciplinary research team is necessary to address these topics. By reviewing academic literature focused on low-emission transportation and reviewing in detail the academic focus and organizational structure of other university transportation programs, we determined that no other program has a similar level of expertise in the relevant areas necessary for this project, specifically, research, modeling and analysis of technology and policy options that can address emissions and energy use from transportation. 2. Selection to lead the National Center for Sustainable Transportation The Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis (ITS-Davis) is widely regarded by experts in the field as the leading university center on sustainable transportation, leading to its selection by the U.S. Department of Transportation to head the National Center for Sustainable Transportation (NCST) in September 2013. The NCST was originally two-year $11.2 million research, education, and outreach consortium to help federal, state, regional, and local agencies reduce the emissions from passenger and freight travel that contribute to climate change and enhance the sustainability of the national transportation system. Additional funding was provided to the Institute by the California Department of Transportation, the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and sources from Georgia and Vermont. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation re-authorized this national transportation center as part of the FAST (Fixing America's Surface Transportation) Act. The Institute is able to draw upon this ongoing work from its role as the NCST to support research under the STEPS+ Program. By funding the Institute, EPA is able to leverage a significant amount resources that are not available at other organizations. 3. Completion of First Three Phases of STEPS Program (2007 to 2018) The Institute has developed an extensive knowledge base from its previous three STEPS research programs (2007-2010, 2011-2014, 2015-2018) that produced transparent comparisons of alternative energy and vehicle technology pathways. The previous research, funded by over 20 organizations including EPA, focused on addressing uncertainty that governments and companies face when making transportation policy/business decisions. Moreover, this analysis supports EPA's efforts to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. The proposed fourth phase of the STEPS+ Program builds upon the three previously completed studies. Without this extensive knowledge base, other organizations/programs would require a significant amount of time and funding, which EPA is unable to provide, to attain the necessary baseline knowledge needed for the completion of the proposed fourth phase of the STEPS Program. 4. Existing Consortium of Public & Private Organizations Over the past several years, the Institute has established a consortium of organizations that include major energy & automotive companies, government agencies, environmental NGOs, and partner academic institutions. The EPA is able to leverage the years of research outcomes from the consortium's backing for its own contribution. In addition to producing valuable insight that helps shape EPA policy, the Institute also convenes industry leaders, government decision makers, and academic experts at symposia, workshops, and public policy events to formulate potential solutions for transportation development. The Institute's consortium serves as a venue for EPA to discuss key policies with major stakeholders directly impacted by the Agency's actions. No other research program allows EPA to leverage such a large amount of research with a relatively small contribution of funding. Additionally, no other university has established as broad of a consortium of key stakeholders to fund and support its research on the environmental impacts of transportation. Finally, the Institute's leadership in exploring approaches towards a more sustainable system is unique among transportation institutes. This notice satisfies the requirement at FAR 5.201(b)(1), to publicize the proposed contract action. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTATIONS. No solicitation documents are available; however, any firm that believes that they can meet the requirements may give written notification to the Contracting Officer, Erin Ridder, within 5 calendar days from the date of publication of this notice. Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance. Information must be sent electronically to ridder.erin@epa.gov. Telephone requests will not be honored. Any responses received will be evaluated; however, a determination by the Government as to whether to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. tisfies the requirement at FAR 5.201(b)(1), to publicize the proposed contract action. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTATIONS. No solicitation documents are available; however, any firm that believes that they can meet the requirements may give written notification to the Contracting Officer, Erin Ridder, within 5 calendar days from the date of publication of this notice. Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance. Information must be sent electronically to ridder.erin@epa.gov. Telephone requests will not be honored. Any responses received will be evaluated; however, a determination by the Government as to whether to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.