JOFOC - 1232SA24D0001 Extension.pdf

awarded the new contract, a continuation of services will be needed to ensure there are no gaps in performance due to a short time between contract award and the starting period of performance date.

6. System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Announcement/Potential Sources

This requirement is exempt from posting on SAM in accordance with FAR 5.202(a)(4). This requirement has been accepted by the 8(a) program well before the current contract was awarded and therefore the requirement must remain in the program unless the Small Business Administration (SBA) releases the work. The new IDIQ is currently being competed on SAM.gov.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost The price offered for the additional months was reviewed at the time of the award of the short-term IDIQ. The contractor’s offered rates were compared to the rates which were received in the competed but protested award off solicitation 1232SA23Q0036.

The prices offered for this short-term contract were determined fair and reasonable using the adequate price competition in the protested award.

8. Market Survey Market research was only done to verify that this contractor had been recertified by the SBA, due to the nature of the need for a short-term contract to prevent a lapse in service while the requirement was recompeted after the protest of the first award.

9. Additional Support On 2/26/2024, solicitation 1232SA24Q0028 was posted on SAM.GOV as a competitive 8(a) set aside per the corrective action plan in response to the protest received on 10/1/2023 for purchase order 1232SA23P0003 as noted in the approved Bridge Contract Approval Request_1232SA23Q0004. The close date for 1232SA24Q0028 was originally 3/12/2024 with questions due 3/1/2024. Within a few days of the posting of the solicitation, questions from several vendors were submitted about the availability of a site visit of the NAL facility. 1232SA24Q0028 was amended on 2/29/2024 to include a site visit for vendors on 3/7/2024 which delayed all question submissions until 3/8/2024. After reviewing question submissions, there were several questions addressing extending the quote submission due date from one week to three weeks. Since this action was previously protested and included a short timeline for quote submissions, the quote submission due date was extended by two weeks to ensure the timeline of the current solicitation is fair to all interested parties. The solicitation submission date was extended to 3/26/2024 within the amendment posted on 3/12/2024. All submitted questions and the government’s answers were posted on 3/12/2024.

10. Other Interested Sources

The current solicitation for the long-term contract has garnered other interested parties and their submitted quotes will be evaluated in accordance with the solicitation 1232SA24Q0028.

11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Future Competition The new solicitation has already been posted, and quotes have been received. This short-term extension will provide additional time to properly review those quotes, make and award, and possibly allow for transition to a new contractor.

12. Certifications Requirements/Program Office:

I certify that facts and representations under my cognizance included in this justification form are complete and accurate basis for the justification.

Paul Wester Director, National Agricultural Library (NAL)

Contracting Officer/Chief of the Contracting Office:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Lorrie Leedy Contracting Officer, Chief, Contracting Operations Branch (COB)

Acquisition Ombudsman:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

John Chadwick Acquisition Ombudsman

Mission Area Senior Contracting Official:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Hilary Erickson Head of Contracting Activity (HCA)

REVIEW/APPROVALS:

Head of Contracting Activity Approval:

I hereby approve this justification.

Don Baker Senior Procurement Executive (SPE)