Scientific Services Program (SSP)

The Scientific Services Program (SSP) is an accelerated contract mechanism that enables all federal government organizations to obtain specialized scientific/technical services in order to accomplish organizational goals and mission objectives specifically related to research and development.

Through the SSP, non-government scientists, engineers, analysts, consultants and subject matter experts can be quickly subcontracted to perform short-term, well-defined efforts when the expertise required is not available at the requesting government organization. Edmond Scientific Company administers the SSP for ARO and is the prime contractor. Subcontracts are competitively issued to SSP task performers. Self-employed consultants, faculty, colleges & universities, small and large businesses may perform SSP tasks.

Please note: For FY23, complete packages (all required documents, funding, and a signed 7600 support agreement) should be submitted by 15 June 2023 to ensure award before the end of the fiscal year. Please speak with the program manager as early as possible to ensure sufficient time to assemble the required documents. If you have a requirement and cannot meet this deadline, please contact the program manager to discuss as soon as possible.

Points of Contact

Dr. Jennifer Becker, Program Manager
Commercial: 919-549-4261
Email: jennifer.j.becker.civ@army.mil

Ms. Jessica Harrington, Contracting Officer/Team Lead
Commercial: 919-549-4336
Fax: 919-549-4388, Email: jessica.m.harrington14.civ@army.mil

Mr. Christopher Justice, Contracting Officer/Team Lead
Commercial: 919.549.4388
Fax: 919-549-4388, Email: christopher.d.justice4.civ@army.mil

Ms. Christine Doss, Management Analyst
Commercial: 919-549-4306
Fax: 919-549-4388, Email: Christine.t.doss.civ@army.mil

Scope

SSP tasks can be performed for a federal government agency in almost any science and technology area. For example, SSP tasks are currently being performed in these areas:

  • Chemical Sciences
  • Life Sciences
  • Material Sciences
  • Physics
  • Medical & Health Sciences
  • Electronics & Computer Sciences
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Engineering Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Network Sciences
  • Modeling & Simulation
  • Psychology
  • Social Science
  • Operations Research

Work of a scientific and technical nature for the solution of specific problems related to research and development that can be described as a study, analysis, evaluation, assessment or interpretation may be conducted through the SSP. The scientific/technical problem to be solved should be clearly explained in the PWS and pertain to one of the science or technology areas identified above.

For example: The services of scientists or engineers, with technical support, are required to evaluate specific problems relating to the development of a sensor based redundancy resolution method for mobile manipulators. The operation of mobile manipulators in military applications offers significant opportunities for solving important battlefield, search and rescue, demining, and many other problems. Redundancy resolution is one of the most challenging problems in planning and control of mobile manipulators. Sensor based redundancy resolutions provide important task flexibilities for the operations of mobile manipulators, which can significantly improve the task efficiency, reliability and operation safety, thus enhancing the capability of the mobile manipulation to cope with both task and environment uncertainties.

Tasks may include analysis panels and workshops where the successful completion of these tasks are focused on solving specific problems involving research, development, or on-going scientific actions requiring studies, analyses, evaluations, assessments and interpretations. The completion of SSP tasks may include some administrative project support which is integral to the completion of scientific and technical analysis; however, these activities must be limited to a small percentage of the overall effort.

Please Note: The SSP is NOT designed to provide advisory and assistance services (e.g., program management activities, open ended advisory functions, market/business analytical activities, evaluation of agency operations, on-going support to internal operations, etc.). Nor is the program designed to fill agency staffing shortfalls or to circumvent personnel ceilings and competitive employment procedures. The same individual cannot be selected to perform repetitively on identical tasks. This will preclude the SSP task orders from becoming personal services contracts which are not authorized under the SSP.

Task Funding Rules/Requirements

The SSP program is a self-sustaining program which is funded entirely by the requesting Government organization. The cost to the government sponsor (per task) is the total of task performer costs (as proposed – which is inclusive of Edmond Scientific Company administrative costs for each task) plus SSP/ARO/ARL processing fees to cover the cost of contract administration. The SSP task ceiling – exclusive fees – $1.5M per task order with a maximum period of performance of 24 months. Advisory & Assistance (A&AS) or American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds will not be accepted.

Funding documents should be submitted to the procurement assistant for each new task or modification requested. In addition to funding submissions, a 7600 Support Agreement form MUST be completed for each action.

Fee Structure

Edmond Scientific Company task administration costs were agreed upon at a per task order cost. This is the cost for Edmond Scientific Company to administer each individual task order (including processing Task Order Requests (TORs), locating and competing potential performers, and executing and administering the task order). These costs are as follows and are to be added to the research performance amount of each task order awarded and should be included in the IGCE:

  • TOR issued 28 March 2022 through 27 March 2023: $7,334.14
  • TOR issued 28 March 2023 through 27 March 2024: $7,505.82

Example: A task order with a proposed research amount of $1,000,000.00 will have a total task order cost of $1,007,334.14 for TORs issued between 28 March 2022 and 27 March 2023. (Research Amount PLUS agreed upon task order administration amount). Funding does NOT need to be separated into these amounts, as the task order administration amount is considered part of task order performance.

Administration fees, including SSP support costs along with ARO, ARL and ACC processing fees are as follows:

SSP support3%
ACC processing fee1.6%
ARL 4123 fee4% of SSP support fee
Total fee amount~4.7%

Example: Following the previous example of $1,007,334.14 total task order cost, the fee breakdown should be as follows:

SSP support$30,220 (3%)
ACC processing fee$16,227 (1.6%)
ARL 4123 fee$1,209 (4%)
Total fee amount$47,546 (~4.7%)

***The program specialist will work with you to verify exact fee structure and amounts

Required Funding Documents

All funds should be sent as stated below:

  • Customers in GFEBS
    • SPS PR for the contract portion and list SSP fees. (IGCE amount) (Purchase Group 1NF)
    • Direct Charge (DRCH) Form for the SSP/ARO/ARL processing fees.
    • Signed 7600A support agreement is needed before funds  can be accepted
  • Customers NOT in GFEBS
    • Direct cite MIPR for the contract portion (IGCE amount)
    • Reimbursable MIPR for the SSP/ARO/ARL processing  fees
    • Signed 7600A support agreement is needed before funds  can be accepted

Please contact the Program Specialist to confirm fees prior to sending any funding documents.

Adjustments based on the IGCE amount estimated and the actual amount agreed upon/proposed can be made post-award.

The Contracting Office will not be able to process your order until ALL funds and fees discussed are received and identified and the aforementioned support agreement has been signed by both ARL and the requiring activity.

In the description section of the MIPR (Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request) DD Form 448 or Direct Charge Form, specify the total contract research amount and the assessed SSP administration fee, Task Control Number (TCN) if known, and the requesting organization’s physical location DODAAC or ALC. The paying office will be HQ0338, DFAS South Entitlement, for all Department of Defense (DoD) Agencies. However, the Army Corps of Engineers and all civilian agencies will need to specify the paying office DODAAC codes on the MIPR or funding documents. Define any special billing instructions on the MIPR for the total contract research. Otherwise, CORs are responsible for making internal distribution to comply with agency or department requirements for tracking obligations and disbursements. Please note that the prime contractor invoices for DOD task orders are uploaded into Wide Area Workflow (WAWF). CORs will have read only access and must establish an account to view invoices.

For example, identify the amounts to show:

  • Task Order Funding $XXX,XXX
  • Task order amount (inclusive of Edmond Scientific task order fee)
  • Assessed Fees (based on the fee structure described above)
  • DODAAC: (Your Physical Location)
  • Paying Office: (DFAS that Pays Your Invoices)
  • Billing Instructions: Send invoices to the Paying Office and to the COR

Regarding MIPRs or funding acceptance, please contact please contact Ms. Christine Doss at phone: 919-549-4306 or e-mail: christine.t.doss.civ@army.mil.

Flexibility

The sponsoring Government organization is represented on each SSP task by a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) who monitors the technical progress of the task performer toward completion of a PWS. Each PWS is prepared by the COR at the requesting organization and defines the specific objectives and tasks in accordance with their organizational requirements. The Government task requestor specifies:

  • Level of effort: The number of scientists or engineers is unlimited, and the number of working hours per scientist or engineer is unlimited. The use of technicians, graduate students, research assistants, clerical assistants, etc., is also unlimited.
  • Location of effort: Work can take place in the task performer’s facilities, a Government laboratory, etc.
  • Travel: Travel to conferences and/or other locations for the purpose of obtaining data or presenting research results is permitted to the extent it is described in the PWS.
  • Period of performance: Up to 24 months. Final report preparation must be completed within the period of performance.
  • Security Classification: Unclassified through Top Secret. Must be annotated on AT/OPSEC checklist and corresponding DD254 documentation.
  • Deliverables: At a minimum, monthly/interim reports and a final report are required upon the completion of every SSP task. Other deliverables such as a prototype or hardware item may be identified in addition to the required reports.

Recommended Source: SSP task sponsors may recommend a task performer by name having the required skill set to complete the PWS. Alternatively, the SSP can identify a performer from our database containing over 4,500 resumes with a wide range of scientific & engineering expertise. In either case, source selection is the sole responsibility of the prime contractor (Edmond Scientific Company) who is contractually required to obtain competition in the source selection process.

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