Exception_to_Fair_Opportunity_-_140G0125F0220_Redacted_1.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Justification for Exception to Fair Opportunity (FAR 16.5)

1. Contracting Agency and Activity.

The Department of the Interior (DOI), United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Acquisition Branch plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for use of one of the exceptions to full and open competition allowed under the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) of 1984.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved.

This action is for a logical follow-on to Task Order (TO) 140G0122F0016 awarded to Ardent Management Consulting, Inc. for the National Geospatial Program Facilitation in support of the Office of the Federal Geographic Committee Secretariat. The task order will be issued under the Geospatial Shared Services II multiple-award Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract, 140G0120D0001, and will have a total duration of one-year.

3. Description of Supplies or Services.

This requirement serves to support the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and National Geospatial Program compliance under 43 U.S.C. Ch 46 §§ 2803-2809 and 43 U.S.C. Ch. 49 §§ 3102-3104 include the establishment of interagency coordination and advisory committees comprised of federal, state, local, tribal, academia, and industry to support development and execution of a national strategy; facilitation of planning, management, budgeting, standards development, reporting and execution of landslide activities.

The results ensure crucial data is publicly available to officials, responders, and citizens to support emergency management planning and response.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

The task order will consist of a three-month base period followed by three-month option periods. The estimated price for the base period is and the estimated price for the option periods are each for a total estimated price of .

5. Authority.

Federal Acquisition Regulation 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C) – The order must be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency because it is a logical follow-on to an order already issued under the contract, provided that all awardees were given a fair opportunity to be considered for the original order.

6. Rationale

Ardent has demonstrated knowledge in managing, coordinating, resourcing, supporting and timely delivery of these services pursuant to 43 U.S.C. Ch 46 §§ 2803-2809 and 43 U.S.C. Ch. 49 §§3102-3104 in performance of TO 140G0122F0016 for the same Facilitation service. The introduction of a new vendor at this time would significantly reduce the likelihood of timely and accurate reporting as statutorily required. In the interest of economy, efficiency, and continuity of services; sustaining support utilizing the existing contractor is in the best interest of the Government.

7. Other Information.

None.

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

Fair opportunity was given to the three contract holders of the IDIQ, and resulted in an award to Ardent Management Consulting, INC.

Additional sources were not considered as a result of the fair competition completed in awarding the Geospatial Shared Service II IDIQ contract number 140G0120D0001 and task level competition. The IDIQ is still in place and the logical follow-on will be awarded under 140G0120D0001.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition.

The Geospatial Shared Service III recompete is currently being developed with anticipated award in FY26.

The follow-on requirements to acquire these services will again be competed as a new task order under the

GSS III IDIQ.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on the basis of other than full and open competition. I certify that technical data which form a basis for this justification that are the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel are complete and accurate.

Eldrich Frazier Senior Advisor Geospatial Technology

11. Certifications from the Contracting Officer:

The task order will have firm-fixed-prices for the period of performance which will be calculated based off the fully burdened labor rates from the parent IDIQ and an anticipated skill mix and level of effort.

The IDIQ labor rates were evaluated and determined fair and reasonable at the time of contract award. As such, the basis for fair and reasonable determination primarily lies on an evaluation of the contractor’s proposed skill mix and level of effort which will be evaluated based on a comparison of the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) and the current task order for the same services. If the proposed skill mix and level of effort is not determined to be in line with the scope of work, the contracting office will hold discussion with the contractor to align the proposed effort to the required scope of work.

All of the requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act, (41 U.S.C. 253), as implemented in the Federal and Interior Acquisition Regulations, have been considered in preparing this justification. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Ty DeHart Contracting Officer

13. Approvals

Douglas Hill Acting Bureau Competition Advocate