A-6 FAR 8 Limited Sources Justification CES Metropolitan Group.pdf

Limited Source Justification 12318724F0354

Limited Sources Justification United States Department of Agriculture

FAR 8.405 Federal Supply Schedules Multiple Award Schedule Program

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

USDA Forest Service.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

● This is a new order for an existing BPA.

● Requesting to purchase the services of the Metropolitan Group L.L.C. for an assessment and speaker series under the terms of a BPA and a GSA contract.

● This is a Blanket Purchase agreement (BPA) purchase. Metropolitan Group, L.L.C is under the BPA Contract 12344V19A 0003 and GSA Contract GS-07F-0224X.

● The period of performance for this purchase is 9/16/2024 through 9/15/25.

● This line-item purchase is a Firm Fixed Price of $150,000.00

● Funding amounts shall represent estimated dollar value of the procurement and shall be identified by fiscal year and appropriation. The current AP number for this funding line item is 1120734.

The Government anticipates awarding a firmed-fixed price order against a Federal Supply Schedule contract utilizing FY24 Operation and Maintenance funding to Metropolitan Group, L.L.C in accordance with GSA Schedule No. GS-07F-0224X / BPA No. 12344V19A0003 to provide subject matter experts to lead the development of an assessment framework and conduct the assessment as well as speak at virtual learning events in a follow-on learning series to the keynote presentation given by Metropolitan Group at the FS Equity Summit in March 2024.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The proposed order is to procure subject matter experts to design and lead a preliminary assessment of key Forest Service programs to identify opportunities to further programmatic equity and environmental justice. In addition to the assessment, the proposed order is also to continue a learning series initiated by Metropolitan Group at the 2024 Equity Summit.

The requested subject matter expert lead and key speaker for this event is Vernice Miller-Travis, Executive Vice President, Environmental Justice, and Social Justice for the Metropolitan Group.

Vernice’s mix of specialized experience and knowledge in Environmental Justice, Civil Rights and Equity, are key components of the programmatic equity and environmental justice assessment as well as the continuation of the learning series that she initiated at the FS Equity Summit. Specifically, Ms.

Miller-Travis has unique experience working with federal agencies to advance civil rights, environmental justice, and programmatic equity goals. In her role as a member of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, Ms. Miller-Travis worked to develop federal agency recommendations aligned with executive orders and departmental policy. This unique experience will assist in developing an assessment process that is grounded in knowledge of existing policies as well as experience in applying those policies within the federal government.

The combination of these specialized skills and subject matter expertise will catalyze the positive exchange and transformation required of key program areas (Office of Civil Rights, Wildfire Risk Reduction, and Recreation) to meet the agency’s needs in operationalizing key agency plans, such as the DEIA Action Plan and Equity Action Plan. The outcome is to expand staff awareness of the policy requirements and benefits/value of environmental justice, equity and civil rights, and provide a repertoire of recommendations, strategies, and tools that promote and cultivate the knowledge base needed to identify key policy, practice or training changes within these staffs. Inherent in conducting this assessment is providing additional education on the environmental justice and programmatic equity opportunities within these programs, hence the request for additional speaking sessions that build on the unprecedented discussion of Environmental Justice in the 21st century delivered by Ms.

Miller-Travis at the Equity Summit in March 2024. The total estimated value of the services is $150,000.00.

4. The authority and supporting rationale.

1) FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B), “Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized; or”.

The Contractor shall perform the required services in accordance with provisions and requirements contained in this contract.

Vernice Miller-Travis, Environmental Justice (EJ) expert, and the EJ team at Metropolitan Group, has been requested to design and conduct a preliminary assessment for environmental justice and programmatic equity in key Forest Service program areas, as well as deliver deep-dive learning sessions on these programmatic topics to further the learning she initiated during the 2024 Equity Summit.

Vernice Miller-Travis is highly sought after within federal, state, and non-profit organizations as a resident expert on environmental justice and is the best solution to assist the Forest Service in bridging the gap in EJ implementation as the subject is weaved throughout key agency plans. Metropolitan Group’s assessment framework will focus on the civil rights, environmental justice, and programmatic equity laws, regulations, policies, and guidance that apply to the identified program areas. Ms. Miller- Travis and her team’s accompanied presentations will focus on a deeper dive into the environmental justice principles, barriers and opportunities related to those program areas, to assist in identifying vulnerable communities near forest units that provide Washington Office program managers, as well as forest unit staff, planners, Equity Bridge Builders, and line officers clear recommendations on how to advance equity and environmental justice in their areas.

There are very few Environmental Justice experts who are as equipped to address the varying gaps in Environmental Justice implementation at the Federal level, with a focus on NEPA coordination, project design, and meaningful public engagement. Ms. Miller-Travis and Metropolitan Group’s knowledge and familiarity with the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool and Ms. Miller- Travis’ landmark work in creating analytical frameworks for evaluating and quantifying environmental injustices can help the Forest Service better understand possible outcomes in the processes to identify disadvantaged communities that are overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.

For more than thirty-eight years Ms. Miller-Travis has been among the primary experts on understanding federal government systems and their alignment with Environmental Justice and equity goals, as well as federal agency business and culture and has worked extensively with communities that have undergone economic disinvestment and environmental degradation. Ms. Miller-Travis is an Urban and Environmental Planner and trained as an environmental and cross-cultural conflict mediator. She has served on EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council – chairing its Waste and Facility Siting Committee where she helped to shape the concept of Brownfields redevelopment, to the environmental justice grantmaking she initiated at the Ford Foundation, to creating NRDC's EJ Initiative and advising the Clinton Whitehouse on the development of the 1994, Executive Order 12988 on Environmental Justice, and much more. She is a published author and frequent lecturer and featured speaker about environmental justice, civil rights enforcement, and integrating justice and equity into public policy. Vernice currently leads Metropolitan Group’s environmental justice and social justice focus areas, as well as projects for Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Environmental Defense Fund, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Georgetown Climate Center, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, The Kresge Foundation and The William Penn Foundation, among others.

Metropolitan Group (MG) was founded in 1989 with a mission to create a just and sustainable world. Its work lies at the intersections of environmental sustainability, health equity, environmental and social justice, and, with a keen focus on dismantling structural racism in systems, policies, practices, behaviors and narratives. As a social change agency focused on providing strategic communication and organizational transformation exclusively to foundations, nonprofit organizations and public agencies, MG is steeped in movement building to create large impact and innovation. MG has a specific focus on working with communities on the front lines of environmental justice issues and exploring the systems, policies and structures that influence how decisions get made, how they impact communities, and how to craft equitable solutions that address identified challenges.

Its staff members hold expertise and relationships within the environmental justice community across the country at the intersection of environment, public health and racial justice. Current and previous clients have given us the opportunity to work on affordable and lead-free housing, energy efficiency, transitions to clean energy, carbon reduction in regional transportation networks, green jobs and climate change initiatives. These clients range from social and environmental justice organizations to environmental and public health organizations and federal agencies, including: Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Energy Foundation, Georgetown Climate Center, Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control Agency, The Kresge Foundation, National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National League of Cities, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Forest Service, NASA, U.S. EPA, U.S. Geological Survey and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

5. A determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer (CO) that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

Although GSA-FSS has already determined prices under its Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts to be fair and reasonable, the Contracting Officer will ensure the proposed cost to the Government for the supplies or services covered by this justification are evaluated for price reasonableness and the contemplated order represents the best value to the Government. A best value determination will be based on a Government technical evaluation and price analysis of the contractor’s quote, which will include a comparison of the contractor’s quote to the Independent Government Cost Estimate, other quotations, or by comparison to established GSA or other published price lists.

6. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Describe results of market research conducted amongst schedule holders. If a sources sought notice was posted, include the results of the notice to include the number of responses received, the vendor name, along with their capability of performing the service or providing the supply.

Formal market research was not conducted. In researching other possible avenues to support this work, Forest Service was able to identify relevant consultant agencies. However, upon further research, the majority of these consultants work directly with communities in helping them prepare assessments that communities then take to the federal government. Vernice Miller-Travis and her team at Metropolitan Group are uniquely qualified to support this effort as they have worked for decades with federal government agencies to ensure understanding about the applicable civil rights, environmental justice and programmatic equity laws and policies that apply to the agency. Additionally, she and her team have worked with agencies to identify pathways to increase delivery on environmental justice outcomes, which is the explicit desired end result for this preliminary assessment process. Finally, Metropolitan Group has worked extensively with the Forest Service before, lending a deeper knowledge and awareness of agency culture and challenges of transformational change within a decentralized organization.

In addition, Vernice Miller-Travis spoke at the inaugural Forest Service Equity Summit in March 2024 speaking to the interconnection between the conservation movement and environmental injustice. This is the first and only session on environmental justice that has been delivered agency wide. Vernice Miller-Travis and others on her team are the requested Subject Matter Experts to continue the learning journey launched in March 2024, by providing topical deep dive learning sessions related to Civil Rights, Wildfire, and Recreation programs and their intersection with environmental justice.

7. Any facts supporting the justification.

Include any other supporting facts. For example, why specifications have not been developed or are not available; if a follow-on order, provide estimates of cost that would be duplicated if competed. If an urgency exists-explain the extent of harm if immediate action is not taken.

Vernice Miller-Travis and Metropolitan Group are uniquely situated with their blend of experience, expertise, and education, to lead the Forest Service through its preliminary programmatic equity and environmental justice assessment and related speaker series. They have unique knowledge of environmental justice principles and unique experience with conducting similar, informal assessments within other federal agencies.

The urgency in this work lies in administration priority. Within this moment, there is broad support for conducting this work and developing strategies to advance equity, environmental justice, and civil rights.

8. A statement of actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

Describe actions that may or can be taken to remove any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisition/orders are anticipated, including challenges to restrictive data markings, data rights, preparation of a performance-based work statement, etc.

There are no subsequent acquisitions anticipated at this time.

Certifications & Approval

Supporting data which form the basis for and included in this justification are certified accurate and complete.

Surina Singh Director, National Equity & Engagement Team Work Environment and Performance Office

The information contained in this Limited Sources Justification is certified accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Todd Mathie Contracting Officer