The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Acquisitions and Grant Services intends to award a sole source, firm fixed-price contract to Brightfield Group for the Cannabidiol and other Cannabis Products - Online Data Subscription and Specialized Analytic Services. In FY20, the FDA paid for a 1-year subscription to the marketplace portal data from the Brightfield Group to facilitate market analysis in support of the FY20 appropriations requirement to perform a marketplace sampling study. Our Economics subject matter experts determined that, as compared to other third- party marketplace data, the Brightfield Group’s data was not only the most comprehensive but the most specialized to this sector and included third party analytical support. This request aligns with on Alert 2020-08 for "HHS Class Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition COVID-19 Response", Issued 21 MAR 2020. Based on a myriad of factors, Brightfield Group was the only company who offered a highly specialized Cannabis data set to meet FDA’s immediate data needs. As FDA’s public health mission is being pressure tested, CBD and cannabis-derived products present a real-time use case for regulatory examination. This particular marketplace is largely unregulated and there are no requirements for data reporting at the federal level. FDA’s data infrastructure is currently evolving and often relies on third-party data experts for access to specialized data sets. These specific data are required for deeper understanding of details that may inform future regulatory actions.

The proposed simplified acquisition action is for services for which the government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b). Interested parties may identify their interests and capabilities to respond to the requirement prior to the response date of this notice. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed simplified acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive requirement. No further solicitation is available.

FDA will consider all responses received prior to the closing date of this notice and will use responses in determining whether it is necessary to use full and open competition for this requirement. Reponses shall be emailed to Rodney D. Aytch at [email protected] no later than 3:00pm EST on July 9, 2021.