JA GSA NEA-MELO -SAM announcement.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER FEDERAL SUPPLY SCHEDULE

SECTION 1: IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING

ACTIVITY

Department of

State Contracting

Activity

☒ Acquisition Management

Requiring

Activity

Near Eastern Affairs Monitoring, Evaluation, Leaning, and Analytic

Services (NEA MELA)

SECTION 2: NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING

APPROVED

Approval is requested to limit the number of sources for soliciting and awarding an order under a Federal Supply Schedule contract for the supplies and/or services described in Section 3 on behalf of the Requiring Activity. This action is necessary to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of highly specialized technical and advisory services in support of the Department of State’s critical foreign assistance programs.

The proposed acquisition will utilize a Time and Materials contract for an 18-month bridge period (12-month base period plus 6-month option period).

By restricting competition to a sole source, the Department will maintain continuity of critical monitoring, evaluation, learning, and analytics (MELA) services for foreign assistance programs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region while the Department of State develops a department-wide Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to issue task orders for regional MELA services. This approach is consistent with the principles of economy and efficiency and is essential to meeting the urgent and evolving needs of the

Requiring Activity as described in Section 3.

SECTION 3: DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET

THE AGENCY’S NEEDS

The Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination

(NEA/AC) requires professional services to provide staffing of technical experts and the provision of services that strengthen the planning, design, management, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and evidence-based decision-making of U.S. foreign assistance programs in the

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This acquisition builds upon the successful implementation of the MENA MELS Contract.

The primary objective of this order is to ensure seamless, uninterrupted services and support to

NEA and other Washington-based bureaus, as well as U.S. embassies, consulates, and field offices that manage or oversee foreign assistance programs in Washington, DC and throughout the MENA region. These services provide critical program support rather than the direct implementation of foreign assistance activities.

The contractor shall provide the following services:

1. Strategic Planning and Implementation

2. Program and Project Design Support

3. Performance Management

4. Third-Party Monitoring (TPM)

5. Evaluations, Assessments, and Research

6. Data Analysis, Data Management, and Visualization

7. Data Utilization, Learning, and Decision Support

8. Capacity Strengthening

9. Supplemental Technical Assistance (STA)

10. Embedded Staffing Services

Regional Office: The contractor shall establish and maintain a regional office in Amman, Jordan to serve as an operational and technical hub for service delivery across the MENA region.

This acquisition is designed to maintain program momentum and operational continuity during a critical transition period, while allowing sufficient time for the Department to conduct a comprehensive acquisition planning process for a department wide IDIQ for monitoring and evaluation services. The selected vendor will be requested to demonstrate proven experience and the ability to manage a complex, multi-faceted support program in diverse and challenging environments, ensuring that the Department’s objectives in the MENA region are met efficiently and effectively.

Period of Performance:

• Base Period: 12 months

• Option Period: 6 months

SECTION 4: AUTHORITY AND SUPPORTING RATIONALE

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple-Award Federal Supply

Schedule Program as implemented in FAR 8.401 using procedures set forth in GSAR

538.71. See GSAR 538.7104-3 Sole source justifications and cite the applicable justification.

GSAR 538.7104-3(b)(iii) - The order should be issued on a sole source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency because it is a logical follow-on to an FSS order already issued on a competitive basis.

This authority is directly applicable to the current requirement, as the proposed acquisition represents a seamless extension of ongoing work, ensuring continuity of operations and preservation of institutional knowledge critical to program success. The original MENA

MELS task order was awarded following a competitive procurement process conducted in accordance with applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures, satisfying the prerequisite for logical follow-on authority under GSAR 538.7104-3(b)(iii).

Continuity Requirements

NEA/AC manages billions of dollars in foreign assistance programming across the MENA region. In July 2025, active USAID programs transitioned to the State Department, substantially increasing NEA/AC's oversight responsibilities. Several MENA countries are experiencing conflict and ongoing instability where uncertainty, inaccessibility, and insecurity constrain operations. Any interruption in monitoring, evaluation, learning, and analytics services would result in loss of program oversight and accountability, inability to comply with Foreign Aid

Transparency and Accountability Act and other legal requirements, risk of assistance diversion due to lack of third-party monitoring, and disruption to ongoing activities supporting multiple operating units.

Unique Capabilities and Institutional Knowledge

MSI has developed unique institutional knowledge and capabilities over seven years of performance that cannot be replicated by another contractor within the required timeframe. This includes deep understanding of NEA/AC operations and established relationships with operating units across the MENA region, an operational regional office in Amman, Jordan with existing staff and security protocols and established subcontractor networks in non-permissive environments.

Bridge Contract Strategy

This 18-month limited sources task order serves as a bridge contract to maintain continuity while the Department of State develops a department-wide IDIQ contract for regional MELA services that will enable full and open competition. The Department is currently planning a comprehensive IDIQ that will consolidate MELA service requirements across all regional bureaus, enable multiple awards to create a competitive pool of qualified contractors, and facilitate task order competition among IDIQ holders. The 18-month bridge period provides sufficient time to complete comprehensive market research, develop standardized requirements suitable for multiple regions, conduct industry outreach and pre-solicitation activities, execute the full competitive procurement process, and implement an orderly transition from the bridge contract to the competitive IDIQ.

Vendor Selection and Market Research

This procurement will be a sole source award to MSI. While small businesses play a vital role in the federal contracting ecosystem, the operational scale and complexity of NEAs programs along with the instability and uncertainty in the MENA region exceed the capacity of most small firms, particularly without substantial reliance on subcontractors or teaming arrangements. Such reliance could introduce inefficiencies, dilute accountability, and jeopardize program outcomes. Awarding a sole source contract to MSI as a logical follow-on leverages the established capabilities of a proven vendor, ensuring continuity, reliability, and effective program delivery.

The logical follow-on is justified by the need to preserve program continuity, avoid unnecessary duplication of effort, and maintain the high standards required for successful implementation of the NEA MELA program.

Conclusion

This acquisition is fully aligned with the principles of economy and efficiency outlined in GSAR 538.7104-3(b)(iii). By pursuing a logical follow-on, the Department of State ensures uninterrupted support for critical foreign assistance programs, advances U.S. strategic interests in the MENA region, and achieves objectives effectively and efficiently. The recommended approach balances the need for high-performance with the realities of the MENA operating environment, safeguarding program integrity, and maximizing value to the government.

SECTION 5: DETERMINATION BY THE ORDERING ACTIVITY CONTRACTING

OFFICER THAT THE CONTRACT ACTION REPRESENTS THE BEST VALUE

CONSISTENT WITH FAR 8.305

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated contract action will represent the best value based on the Contracting Officer’s plan to follow the procedures in FAR 8.405. Although approval is requested to contract with one source, the Contracting Officer will not award the planned contract action unless the Contracting Officer evaluates and determines that the resultant price is reasonable.

STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE

OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS THAT LED TO THE RESTRICTED

CONSIDERATION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR

THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES IS MADE

Bridge Contract Strategy and Transition to Full and Open Competition

This task order is explicitly designed to maintain critical program continuity while the

Department prepares for a comprehensive, full and open competition for a department-wide

IDIQ contract for regional monitoring, evaluation, learning, and analytics (MELA) services anticipated to be awarded in FY27-28.

The Department is committed to maximizing competition and removing barriers to broader participation in future acquisitions. To achieve this objective, the following actions will be undertaken during the interim task order period:

1. Comprehensive Acquisition Planning: The Department will conduct thorough acquisition planning for the department-wide IDIQ requirement, including detailed market research, requirements analysis, and stakeholder engagement across all regional bureaus and functional bureaus to ensure the solicitation is structured to attract the broadest possible pool of qualified offerors.

2. Industry Engagement: The Department will host industry days, conduct one-on-one meetings with potential offerors, and issue draft solicitations for public comment to ensure that all interested parties understand the requirements and have adequate time to prepare competitive proposals. Special outreach will be conducted to businesses with regional expertise and MELA capabilities.

3. Requirements Refinement: The Department will work with the requiring activity to refine and clarify technical requirements to ensure they are clearly defined, objectively measurable, and do not create unnecessary barriers to competition.

4. Adequate Lead Time: By establishing this interim 18-month task order, the Department ensures sufficient time to conduct a thorough and deliberate competitive process for the long-term IDIQ requirement, avoiding the need for rushed or emergency procurements that could limit competition.

5. Lessons Learned: The Department will document lessons learned from the current contract to inform the design of the follow-on acquisition, ensuring that the competitive solicitation reflects best practices and incorporates improvements based on operational experience.

Timeline and Commitment to Competition:

The task order will have a limited period of performance consisting of a 12-month base period and a 6-month option period. The Department commits to issuing a full and open competitive solicitation for follow-on requirement, with adequate time provided for comprehensive acquisition planning, robust competition, and a smooth transition to the new contract vehicle.

The use of this limited source approach is strictly temporary and necessary to prevent disruption of critical foreign assistance program support and oversight in the MENA region.

The Department's commitment to full and open competition for the follow-on requirement demonstrates its dedication to maximizing opportunities for all qualified vendors and ensuring the best value to the government over the long term.

CERTIFICATIONS/APPROVALS