21P3007_JNA_inal_Redacted_100621.pdf

SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION - SEE FAR 2.101 AND 3.104

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FAR 13.5

1. Contracting Agency: Department of Defense Education Activity

2. Description of Action: A firm fixed price contract, using Simplified Acquisition Procedures under FAR Part 13.5, is planned for a period of performance of 3-month with a total estimated value of $ . The period of performance is 1 July 2021 through 30 September 2021. FY21 Operating and Maintenance (O&M) funds are available in an estimated amount of $ .

3. Description of Services:

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) requires information technology support services for the schools and facilities located in Korea, Okinawa, and mainland Japan, including the DoDEA Pacific Director’s Office (DPDO).

The DoDEA Information Technology (IT) Division manages, directs, and oversees all planning, support, and operations for all aspects of the DoDEA Pacific information technology domain. The DoDEA IT Division maintains a US Government employee staff at the DPDO and also manages computer field support personnel at the schools and District Offices. The computer field support personnel, known as Administrative Technologists (AT), provide direct support to end-users, end-user computing device management, and rudimentary system administration at the schools and District Offices. US Government employees assigned to the Pacific IT Division, located at the DoDEA Pacific Director’s Office, Torii Station, Okinawa, Japan perform all higher level activities related to defining hardware and software requirements, defining elements of server and network architecture, network design and component configuration, business systems support, and develops overall support processes and standards.

This effort is to provide Tier 1 support for end-user customer technology, to include, but not limited to, hardware and software support, desktop and laptop management, server and network support, handheld device support (tablets, other) and critical aspects of proactive customer relationship management (CRM) in 48 K-12 DoDEA schools and offices in Korea and Japan. The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and other items necessary to provide Tier 1 Information Technology Support personnel as required by DoDEA.

4. Authority: 10 U.S.C.2304(c)(1); FAR 6.302-1 and 13.501(a).

5. Demonstration of Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or Nature of Acquisition Requiring the Authority Cited:

The required services are currently provided under contract , which expires on 30 June 2021. MIPR number in the amount of was accepted by DITCO on 16 March 2021 for a new contract that consolidates Europe and the Pacific IT Services. Award was awarded by DITCO on 9 April 2021, but a protest was filed 20 April 2021 causing a stop work order on 21 April 2021. A decision on the protest is not due until the end of July 2021. Due to the magnitude of the requirement, and the geographic locations, a phase-in period of 60 days is required for a new contract. Until the protest is resolved, any disruption would significantly impact DoDEA’s mission in providing information technology support services to DoDEA Pacific end users.

. is the incumbent performing the current requirement in the Pacific under contract number and can start performance immediately, therefore preventing any gaps in service.

Awarding a bridge contract to for a period of 3 months, will ensure continuity of services until the resolution of the ongoing protest and ensure enough time for phase-in, SOFA designation, receipt of installation and base passes, and the obtainment of credit checks on contractor employees.

It is not feasible for the Government to compete and award a contract for services outside the United States with a performance start day of July 1, given the time necessary to compete a contract and onboard contractor personnel. In accordance with USFK Regulation 700-19, once a contract is awarded, a request has to be sent to HQ, USFK to designate the contract/contractor for SOFA status. This can take between 30-45 days. Contract personnel must also obtain installation/base passes, which takes between 14 to 28 days for completion. Further, the performance work statement requires all personnel to have a National and Local Agency Check with a Credit Check. This process takes up to 90 days. Finally, as a practical matter, it is unlikely that a contractor will provide a quote for a 3-month contract in an overseas environment based on what it would take to mobilize personnel by July 1 and meet the requirements of the host nation policies and procedures involved. Obtaining approval from host nations for employees to work overseas takes a minimum of 30 days and another 45 to 60 days reasonable time to obtain housing.

This probability is reinforced by sources sought notice DoDEA posted, as described in Section 8.

Even if DoDEA could compete a contract for this three-month period, doing so would impose costs non-recoverable through competition is another concern. There are other contractors who can provide similar service/support, however, no other source can meet DoDEA requirement in time, based on the lead time needed to not only make an award, but to train new contractors and transition to meet DoDEA’s school mission requirements.

These services are mission essential and any disruption would significantly impact DoDEA’s mission in providing information technology support services to DoDEA Pacific end users to include students and teachers.

6. Effort to Obtain Competition: DITCO has competed this requirement. As described in Section 8, DoDEA issued a sources sought inquiry for this three-month period of performance.

7. Fair and Reasonable Determination: . has agreed to honor the prices of the last option period on the current contract for this bridge contract. These prices were evaluated for fairness and reasonableness at time of award, February 2020.

8. Market Research: A Sources Sought inquiry was posted on SAM.Gov on 10 May 2021 and closed 17 May 2021. No response was received.

9. Other Supporting Facts: A bridge request authorization was approved by the Chief of the Procurement Division on 10 May 2021.

10. Interested Sources: None

11. Effort to remove barriers to/increase competition: DITCO has already competed this requirement.

Once the protest is resolved, there will no longer be barriers to competition.

CERTIFICATION

12. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance and which forms a basis for this justification is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature: ___________________________________ Date: _________________

Print Name:

Contracting Officer: I certify that the facts and representations included in this Justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Signature: ________________________________ Date:

Contracting Officer

APPROVAL

Approval is granted subject to the availability of funds and provided that the products/services described herein have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Signature: ________________________________ Date:

Contracting Officer, IT Procurement Branch