19TH2026D0010 - JOFOC - PriceSanond.pdf

RESTRICTING COMPETITION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED

ACQUISTION THRESHOLD

SECTION 1: IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING

ACTIVITY

Department of

State Contracting

Activity

☐ Acquisition Management

☐ Foreign Service Institute

☐ Office of Foreign Missions

☐ U.S. Mission to the United Nations

☒ Overseas Post, Bangkok, Thailand

Requiring

Activity

PriceSanond Limited will provide legal advice on matters pertaining to host government labor law and related human resources matters.

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

APPROVED

Approval is requested to award on a sole source basis to PriceSanond Limited.

Address: 29th Floor, Suite 2901, Q House Lumpini, 1 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Thailand, Tel. No. +662-679-1844 66-2680-9711, Email: kulnisha@pricesanond.com;

juchima@pricesanond.com, Website: www.pricesanond.com

HR is authorized by the Office of the Legal Advisor (L/DL) to enter into a new retainer agreement with PriceSanond Limited to obtain legal advice on matters pertaining to host government labor law and related human resources matters for the period of September 1, 2026

– August 31, 2027.

SECTION 3: DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE

AGENCY’S NEEDS

mailto:kulnisha@pricesanond.com mailto:juchima@pricesanond.com http://www.pricesanond.com/

The requirement is to provide (a) updates as they occur in local labor law which affect the U.S.

Mission to Thailand, (b) interpretation of local labor law to a foreign diplomatic mission, (c) disciplinary or termination cases, (d) retirement entitlements, (e) total compensation entitlements, (f) review of various HR policies and procedures; and (g) total review of the overhauled LE Staff Handbook and do the Thai translation. The estimated value for the entire period of performance is $ 27,000.

The HR Office requires PriceSanond Limited to provide legal advice with respect to Thai labor law and prevailing practice.

SECTION 4: IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.102(a), the Contracting Officer has deemed only one source reasonably available based on the following:

☐ Urgency

☐ Exclusive licensing agreements

☐ Brand-name

☐ Industrial mobilization

☒ Other: PriceSanond was established in Bangkok in 1969, and is one of Thailand's oldest and most respected independent law firms. It has a dedicated labor and employment practice with deep expertise advising multinational corporations and international organizations. PriceSanond offers highly specialized, partner-led expertise in local employment compliance, Personal Data

Protection Act (PDPA) workplace rules, and executive labor relations. Their status as the exclusive Thailand member of the Employment Law Alliance (ELA) provides a superior resource framework for our complex interagency workforce needs. Transitioning to

PriceSanond allows the Mission to maintain partner-level advisory services at highly competitive rates, while strictly adhering to the Department's preference to select a locally-headquartered, independent Thai firm to mitigate potential conflict-of-interest risks associated with international firms.

SECTION 5: DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S

UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES

USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED

Mission Thailand requires a change in local legal counsel to enhance our local legal support framework. Post conducted market research to identify qualified legal service providers capable of providing Thai labor and employment legal services. Two firms, PriceSanond and Baker

McKenzie, were contacted and evaluated based on their relevant labor and employment expertise, experience advising multinational organizations and foreign missions, proposed scope of services, and cost.

Both firms demonstrated the technical capability to provide the required services. PriceSanond is a local Thai law firm with a dedicated Labor and Employment practice and is the exclusive

Thailand member firm of the Employment Law Alliance (ELA). Baker McKenzie also demonstrated extensive Thai employment law expertise and experience advising foreign missions in Bangkok.

PriceSanond's proposed partner rate of approximately $305 per hour is substantially lower than

Baker McKenzie's proposed lead partner rate of approximately $878 per hour. In addition, PriceSanond Limited offers highly specialized, partnered expertise in local employment compliance, Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) workplace rules, and executive labor relations. Their status as the exclusive Thailand member of the Employment Law Alliance

(ELA) provides a superior resource framework for our complex interagency workforce needs.

Transitioning to PriceSanond allows the Mission to maintain partner-level advisory services at highly competitive rates, while strictly adhering to the Department's preference to select a locally headquartered, independent Thai firm to mitigate potential conflict-of-interest risks associated with international firms.

SECTION 6. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE

ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT IS FAIR AND REASONABLE

By signing the justification, the Contracting Officer makes a determination that the price to the

Government is anticipated to be fair and reasonable.

SECTION 7. CERTIFICATIONS

All reviews and approvals should be completed in the order listed unless otherwise authorized or required.

REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this Justification and its supporting acquisition planning documents, except as noted herein, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Requirements Cognizance:

SIGNATURE:

Bic H Leu Date

Regional Human Resources Officer

HR Office

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I certify that this submission is accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that it contains complete information necessary to enable other officials to make an informed recommendation for approval or disapproval.

SIGNATURE:

Ramon Menendez-Carreira Date

Contracting Officer

General Services Office, U.S. Embassy Bangkok