25C0501 JA_Redacted.pdf

J&A N32205-25-C-0501 T-AGS Bridge

The T-AGS vessels

Under this J&A, the incumbent contractor shall provide for the stated period of performance, the same personnel billet fills, operational and technical support (ashore and afloat), equipment, tools, provisions, and supplies to operate the Government-owned vessel as in the current contract.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition:

This justification is prepared under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority:

In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii), DoD 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 (A) substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition; or (B)

These delays to a new award by the current

There is not enough time between now and the end of the current bridge contract to complete the re-procurement or a competitive bridge contract, and even if that were possible, no other contractor could immediately assume full responsibility for all services currently being performed by the incumbent without resulting in unacceptable delays or potentially compromising the mission.

Awarding this bridge to a source other than the incumbent would result in substantial duplication of cost due to parallel mobilization, onboarding of cleared personnel, redundant training, and deployment infrastructure. These costs would not be recoverable through competition of the bridge action, especially given the limited period of performance. Our internal metric, Procurement Administrative Lead Time (PALT), estimates there is insufficient time to develop, compete, evaluate, and award a short-term contract before a lapse in service would occur. Such a gap in service would severely disrupt critical mission activities that rely on the uninterrupted availability and specialized services of the T-AGS vessels.

, if the bridge contract was competitively awarded, it could result in the turnover of all T-AGS vessels, This would be operationally burdensome, logistically complex, financially inefficient, and would likely require Government intervention to manage the safe and secure transition of assets between Operating Companies (OPCOs), even though the follow-on procurement is currently underway and nearing completion. Should a transition to a new operator be required, the Government estimates labor/per diem costs could

This estimate includes costs for both the incumbent and incoming contractors related to crew availability and support during turnover. These costs do not include travel, lodging, material turnover, commodities, overtime, and/or port and canal charges that would further increase overall transition costs. These in non-recoverable expenses, offering no long-term benefit to the Government and serving solely to enable a short-term continuity of service, are not expected to be recovered by the Government through competition.

Furthermore, in the event of a transition between OPCOs, MSC would be required to assume responsibility for the safety and security of the vessels during turnover. This would create additional operational risk, strain Government resources, and potentially interrupt

Given the ongoing competition, the time required to establish a separate competitive bridge, and the significant duplicative costs and the requirement is appropriately categorized as meaning of FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii). The incumbent remains the only source capable of continuing the effort without excessive cost, operational disruption, or increased risk to mission readiness, vessel safety, and duplicate substantial effort already invested in the ongoing re-procurement. Therefore, upon review, MSC has determined that executing a sole-source bridge contract under FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements is the only reasonable course of action.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Potential Sources as Practicable:

For reasons outlined in section 5, OSI is the only source capable of providing the required evaluation phase of the follow-on procurement, This bridge contract is necessary only to maintain continuity during completion of source selection and any potential transition activities.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost:

Before award of the sole-source action, the Contracting Officer will determine the rates to be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition:

A competitive procurement is currently underway for a long-term requirement. The source selection is nearing completion, and the Government intends to make award under FAR Part 15 competitive procedures. The bridge described in this justification is a temporary action necessary to ensure continuity of operations with the competitive procurement is completed.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this request for authorization of a bridge contract are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Technical/Requirements Cognizance:

Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW

I have determined this Justification is legally sufficient.

Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I certify that the facts and representations for this request for authorization of a bridge contract are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

HEAD OF CONTRACTING ACTIVITY, MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

Upon the basis of the information contained in this request, I hereby approve, as a Head of Contracting Activity, the negotiation of a bridge contract value greater than as described herein.

Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date