2AF4056_LSJ Final_Redacted.pdf

Enclosure FAR Part 8 GSA Order LSJ

Rev 8 dtd 22 Sep 2023

This action is being executed on the GSA Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) under the statutory authority of 41 U.S.C. 152(3), Competitive Procedures, and 40 U.S.C. 501, Services for Executive Agencies, as implemented under the Multiple Award Schedule Program (FAR 8.401).

The justification authority for this limited source action is FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B) (Limited Source).

5. Rationale Supporting Use of Cited Statutory Authority

SSP has determined the Peninsula Mediation Center is the only source capable of satisfying its requirement for customized facilitation and conflict management services. Peninsula Mediation Center’s Director and Project Manager, Merri Hanson, has been a facilitator at Strategic Systems Programs in recent years, during which she has acquired extensive knowledge of the enterprise, allowing her to apply her expertise to address mission, climate, communications, and trust needs.

Peninsula Mediation has insight into SSP’s unique challenges and is able to address these issues directly. This intimate knowledge of SSP is required in order to recommend, develop, and implement effective strategies and solutions to SSP’s most critical challenges. Since these services may only be requested by the Director, SSP or the Director-Plans and Programs or another member of the Director, SSP’s immediate staff, it is critical that these facilitations are conducted by an organization such as Peninsula Mediation Center because of their past performance and appreciation for SSP’s unique mission.Peninsula Mediation Center customized meeting facilitation and conflict management needs will continue to build upon the open and communicative relationship that has already been established.

Utilizing another facilitator who lacks a depth of familiarity with SSP's climate and culture will result in less timely, as well as, less effective facilitations. Other contractors would need to commit to significantly more hours of research in areas where Ms. Hanson has already developed expertise. This would result in additional funding to offset the hours needed to gather an understanding of the issues.

In addition, due to the design of facilitation exercises that involve conflict management, the use of a known and trusted facilitator positions SSP for a greater likelihood of issue resolution, to include the creation of action plans developed by the affected group. By leveraging Peninsula Mediation Center’s specialized knowledge and experience, SSP can ensure that its meeting facilitation and conflict management is not only effective but will also contribute to operational excellence and strategic success.

6. Market Research Conducted

SSP conducted market research, which included reviewing results of recent market research performed to meet similar requirements, obtaining source lists of similar services from other contracting activities, reviewing product literature available on-line, and conducting interchange meetings to involve potential offerors early in the acquisition process.

Rev 8 dtd 22 Sep 2023

SSP has utilized the services identified below of each of the individuals and/or the firms they represent during the past five years.

1. (Ms.) Merri Hanson Director, Organizational Consultant, & Project Manager - Peninsula Mediation Center Office@Peninsulamediation.com Urbana, VA

(757) 253-7677 Services Offered: Executive Consulting and Coaching Customized Group Facilitation U.S. Navy Mediation Instructor Conflict Management / Conflict Coaching & Diagnosis Constructive Conversations: Coaching, Collaborating, Giving and Receiving Feedback Assessments:

-Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP-I and 360)

- Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI)

2. (Ms.) Renée Yuengling, Ph.D.

Founder & Principal Consultant - CulturePoint Prince Frederick, MD

(571) 314-4671 info@culturepoint.org Services Offered:

Executive Consulting & Coaching Organizational Training / Adjunct Professor, US Naval Academy Barrier Analysis / EEO Training Research and Strategic Services

3. (Mr.) Bobby Gordon Regional VP, Enterprise Solutions - Talent Dimensions Email: bobby.gordon@talent-dimensions.com or http://www.talent-dimensions.com Factoryville, PA 18419

(570) 346-8840 Services Offered:

Organizational Assessment Training Programs Consulting Executive Interviews, Briefings, & Coaching Assessments & Career Development Employee Resource Group Advocacy

SSP has utilized the services of each of the above individuals and/or the firms they represent during the past five years or so. However, unlike the other proposed firms, Merri Hanson, with

Rev 8 dtd 22 Sep 2023

Peninsula Mediation Center, has been a frequently utilized facilitator at SSP in that period of time, and has acquired an extensive knowledge of the enterprise's mission and culture along with the requisite depth of understanding of organizational climate and engagement concerns. In addition, due to the scope of her prior facilitations at SSP, she also has acquired an essential foundation of knowledge of the technical deliverables expected of SSP along with the timeframes for their delivery.

While the other contractors identified in our market research have previously worked effectively with SSP, their services have consistently revolved around personnel training as opposed to addressing the organizational concerns that Ms. Hanson has previously facilitated at SSP.

Facilitators from both CulturePoint and Talent Dimensions would need to commit significantly more hours of research in arenas where Peninsula Mediation Center has already developed the required expertise.

In addition, due to the design of facilitation exercises that involve conflict management, the use of a known and trusted facilitator positions SSP for greater likelihood of issue resolution, to include the creation of immediately useful action plans developed by the affected group. Market research findings indicate that Peninsula Mediation is the only source capable of satisfying the subject requirement. Utilizing another service provider who lacks a depth of familiarity with SSP's climate and culture will result in less timely as well as less effective facilitations.

7. Best Value Determination

In accordance with FAR 8.404(d), GSA has determined the prices of supplies to be fair and reasonable for the purpose of establishing the schedule contract. The Contract Specialist will perform a price analysis using the proposal analysis techniques at FAR 15.404-1 to further validate and substantiate the reasonableness of proposed prices, and to ensure that the order represents the best value and results in the lowest overall cost alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government's needs.

8. Actions to Remove or Overcome Barriers to Competition

Based upon the aforementioned facts and details identified in Paragraphs 5 and 6 above, the Government does not foresee a feasible alternative to the selected source.