M04 23C0082P00002_Rev-JA_3-Mos Ext_20231221_Redacted2.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

1155 DEFENSE PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1155

November 27, 2023 (Rev. 12/11/23) Control No. FY24-WHS-583

JUSTIFICATION FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC) UNDER FEDERAL

ACQUISITION REGULATION FAR SUBPART 6.3

1. AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: The Department of Defense (DoD), Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD), Enterprise Office of the Secretary of Defense Division (EOSD) on behalf of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security (OUSD(I&S)) Human Capital Management Office (HCMO).

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: HCMO has a continuing need for Analysis, Planning, and IT Support required for the advancement of Human Capital Management activities within the organization. These services are currently supported under Contract HQ003423C0082, which was awarded to Veterans Enterprise Technology Solutions (VETS) as a bridge contract to Contract GS02F0183X Task Order HQ003418F0066. The current bridge contract expires on December 31, 2023. However, the Government intends to extend the bridge contract an additional three (3) months for continuity of services while the Government works to award a competitive follow-on. The estimated value of the three-month extension is

(with a potential price variance of %). As a result, the total contract value will increase from $407,683.00 to . The action will be funded using Fiscal Year 2024 Operations and Maintenance funds. The period of performance for the extension will be from January 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024. The total contract value for the base period including an optional six-month extension under FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services is . This option was not previously included, priced, or evaluated as part of the initial award of the bridge contract. The Government also intends to evaluate an optional six-month extension under FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: HCMO has a requirement to obtain Analysis, Planning, and IT Support required for the advancement of Human Capital Management Activities. The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform services as defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS), except for those items specified as government-furnished property and services.

The Contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract. The contractor’s performance and deliverables shall support development of strategic plans, program and policy development and changes, implementation guidance and assessments, support workforce development and human capital working groups, and provide services to support programmatic reviews, analysis of collected data, and presentation of analysis and assessments.

4. AUTHORITY CITED: This action is authorized under provisions of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c), FAR 6.302- 1(a)(2)(iii)(B), "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." More specifically, “For DoD…services may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of follow-on contracts for the continued provision of highly specialized services when it is likely that award to any other source would result in [u]nacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.” HCMO requires continued, specialized support from the incumbent in order to fulfill its requirement for analysis, planning, and IT support services during the agency’s acquisition process of conducting a competitive procurement for services. If not, the Government would experience unacceptable delays in acquiring the necessary support for the on-going human capital initiatives within the Defense Intelligence and Security Enterprise.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED: The extension of this bridge contract avoids unacceptable delays in fulfilling the operational objectives of the HCMO and adverse impact on HCMO initiatives while the Government works to award a competitive follow-on.

Losing the support services of the VETS contract team would result in inexcusable delays that would derail or halt progress in which they provide support to the HCMO Office. HCMO resides in (OUSD(I&S) and is responsible for the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). DCIPS is a personnel management system that supports an approximately 60,000 member workforce consisting of civilian personnel. HCMO supports the Defense Intelligence and Security Enterprise, the Department of Defense, Congress, and works with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in support of human capital initiatives affecting the broader Intelligence Community (IC). HCMO is responsible for oversight of all human capital functions and initiatives within the Defense Intelligence and Security Enterprise. There are currently a number human capital functions and initiatives that are ongoing where a break in continued service from VETS would disrupt critical human resources and capital management functions within HCMO.

HCMO is responsible for being responsive to the Defense Intelligence and Security Enterprise, the Department of Defense, Congress, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Often times being responsive is tied to providing data or solutions in a prescribed method by a set deadline.

When the HCMO misses a deadline or inadvertently overlooks an inquiry, effecting human capital oversight in a consistent manner becomes strained. This can result in performance of unfair business human capital practices or uncheck violations resulting in an enterprise component being out of compliance with federal statutes and regulations. The current contract team has a depth and breathe of knowledge that cannot be easily replaced or duplicated without a significant gap in services. Without the support of the VETS contract personnel, significant experience and support will be lost jeopardizing HCMO’s ability to meet deadlines and answer inquiries from Congress, the Defense Intelligence and Security Enterprise components, ODNI, and broader DoD. The potential for a gap in services poses a serious and significant risk to HCMO effecting its mission. The existing VETS contract provides critical support to the daily operations of HCMO. The VETS contract team are embedded with federal HCMO staff and have special and current knowledge about the human capital program and initiatives happening in the Defense Intelligence and Security Enterprise.

In addition, HCMO OUSD(I&S) relies heavily on a multisector workforce comprised of Government civilian and contractor personnel. At this time % of HCMO’s Personnel and Readiness Division staff is contractor personnel. Of the contractor personnel, % are associated with VETS bridge contract number HQ003423C0082, which expires on December 31, 2023. Failure to extend this bridge contract to the incumbent, VETS, poses significant risk to HCMO’s ability to effectively perform its mission, as a gap in services to conduct a competitive bridge contract would result in approximately an immediate loss of % of the personnel supporting Personnel and Readiness Division in HCMO. On-going support by VETS personnel to perform services in the short period of time the Government works to execute a competitive long term contract will ensure HCMO continues to performs its important mission.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION: The Government issued a “Notice of Intent (NOI) to Sole Source” an additional three-month extension to this sole source bridge contract. The notice was issued on November 17, 2023 via SAM.gov and closed on December 2, 2023. The Government did not receive any responses to the notice.