36C10X19Q0140-001.pdf

LIMITED-SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

Partnership for Public Service- Excellence in Government Fellows Program

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs Strategic Acquisition Center – Frederick 321 Ballenger Center Drive, Suite 125 Frederick MD 21703

2. Description of Action: The proposed action is for an award of a new General Services Administration (GSA) task order for Veteran Affairs (VA) employees to attend a leadership development program with the Partnership for Public Service. The program is known as the Partnership for Public Service – Excellence in Government Fellows Program (PPS- EIG). In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6(a) (1)(i)(B), only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized.

3. Description of Supplies or Services: The goal of the PPS-EIG is to prepare leaders to be more than managers through a combination of innovative coursework, best practices benchmarking, challenging action learning projects, executive coaching and networking. Eligible employees are GS14 and GS15 (or equivalent) leaders with a record of strong accomplishment and demonstrate high-potential in OPM’s Executive Core Qualifications. Exceptional GS13s may also be considered. The selection process complies with merit systems principles and supports succession planning within VA organizations. The cost of the PPS-EIG Program is $11,400 per student for a total cost of $684,000 with no options anticipated. In addition to the program cost, VA will fund travel for participants to attend seven face-to-face training events During the year-long program, fellows remain at their jobs, meet every six weeks and spend a total of 24 days in session. Fellows also devote up to five hours per week to their projects.

Partnership for Public Service (PPS) is the only institution that offers the trademarked Excellence in Government (EIG) Fellows Program. The course includes a combination of innovative coursework, best practices benchmarking, challenging action-learning projects, executive coaching and government-wide networking. This is an intergovernmental effort that will allow VA leaders to collaborate with and share ideas and viewpoints in an educational setting across Government. PPS is the only institution that offers the EIG Fellows Program. The course includes a combination of innovative coursework, best practices benchmarking, challenging action-learning projects, executive coaching and government-wide networking This training will be used to train up to 60 candidates, who are Federal employees. Each participant will also be responsible for bringing VA-specific knowledge to the face-to-face program that will enrich classroom discussion and field activities. Upon program completion, participants will apply their experience and lessons learned to inform and shape strategic planning and integrated policy at VA.

4. Tentative training schedule:

May 7, 2019 – May 10, 2019 June 17, 2019 – June 19, 2019 July 22, 2019 – July 25, 2019 September 9, 2019 – September 12, 2019 November 18, 2019 – November 20, 2019 January 13, 2020 – January 15, 2020 March 3, 2020 – March 5, 2020

5. Statutory Authority: This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Multiple-Award Schedule Program. The specific statutory authority permitting this limited source action is FAR Subpart 8.405-6 (a)(1)(i)(B) “Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized”.

6. Rationale Supporting: Use of Authority Cited Above

Partnership for Public Service is a private institution and is held in highest regard as being a premier institute that can provide exclusive Senior Executive Training for the past 30 years. Partnership for Public Service (PPS) is the only institution that offers the trademarked Excellence in Government (EIG) Fellows Program. The EIG Fellows Program provides senior executives with new skill sets to be leaders and managers.

Functional expertise is overshadowed by the need to build coalitions, drive results and performance, and guide organizational change. The course includes a combination of innovative coursework, best practices benchmarking, challenging action-learning projects, executive coaching and government-wide networking. This is an intergovernmental effort that will allow VA leaders to collaborate with and share ideas and viewpoints in an educational setting across Government. PPS is the only institution that offers the EIG Fellows Program.

The PPS shows participants how to leverage a proprietary blend of strategic hands-on strategies and scalable training approaches that gets to the root of culture and the beliefs held throughout the organization and the experiences that cause those beliefs to take shape. Participants will learn how forward-thinking leadership can shape those beliefs and how that ultimately helps governmental organization achieve results.

The curriculum in this course encompasses the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Executive Core Qualifications which include Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, and Building Coalitions. Furthermore, the program provides executive one-on-one coaching, learning projects and government-wide networking. This program of instruction is designed for federal government employees at the high functioning GS-13 level and above to include Title 38 Equivalents.

Although other vendors could provide customized training in accordance with OPM Executive Core Qualifications, the vendors did not indicate the aspect of Inter-agency collaboration at high-level leadership development educational program.

No other vendor has been found to provide this level of rigorous training program that encompasses all of the ECQ’s as stated by OPM. Those courses are either too short, do not detail that they are at least 10 months in length (as EIG), or they do not detail on personnel capacity over the several months of training. The other courses seem to require employees to be out of the office for an extended time period versus a short period of time where they would have to be out of the office.

Based on market research and responses received from a Sources Sought posted on Federal Business Opportunities (FBO), the CO has come to a determination that no other training is currently provided that is on par or better than EIG Fellows Program. Although there are other leadership training programs, no other programs currently exist that provide the unique services offered by the EIG Fellows Program, based on market research. EIG Fellows Program is a year long program that establishes, reiterates, and improves the ECQ’s face-to-face and in a virtual setting. It has been determined that vendors who have responded to the sources sought along with the review of existing schedules, again have been found to not being able to fulfill the need of this type of training.

The various vendors who have responded are proposing to submit customized training; however, we are seeking this well-established program that has been proven over the years to be successful to the employees of the VA.

PPS provides a unique service that MR has found that no other vendors include, which is:

An orientation for VA’s participants and their supervisors; a kick-off session with all EIG fellows and coaches; and a synthesis session at the end of the program Participation in the program via four VA-specific cohorts designed to build stronger networks within the Department. Customize the program curriculum by including VA speakers to address questions and provide learning opportunities about VA operations and internal organizations. Having VA-specific cohorts will also provide the Secretary and leadership team an opportunity to assign up to twenty mission-critical projects to some of the Departments’ highest performers.

Pre- and post-program assessment data shows that VA fellows demonstrate a clear improvement across all leadership competencies as a result of their participation in the program.

o Example, 90 percent of supervisors indicated that their employees were effective or very effective in that competency after attending EIG. Beyond the improved leadership capacity to their staff, VA has seen a direct impact through EIG results projects.

7. Efforts to Obtain Competition: There is only one responsible source for the Partnership for Public Service – Excellence in Government Fellows Program. There is no competition anticipated for this acquisition.

Procurement data does not include any unnecessary requirements that may inhibit competition.

8. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will continue to conduct market research to ascertain if there are changes in the market place that would enable future actions to be competed. All future requirements will be handled on a case-by-case basis to determine any future acquisition strategy.

9. A listing of the sources, if any that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition: Market research was performed which found sources but did not meet the specific requirements nor have the reputation of the EIG Fellows Program that would garner a response.

10. Market Research: Market research revealed that there is only one source capable of fulfilling this need. No other contractors are providing the training and the available dates that the employees need. See market research memo for additional information.

11. Determination of Best Value: In accordance with FAR Subpart 8.404(d), the prices for services offered on FSS have already been determined to be fair and reasonable by GSA. This represents best value to government because PPS is the only one that provides what is needed and they already have an established GSA vehicle which task orders can be executed off of.

12. Technical and Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

I CERTIFY THAT THE FACTS AND REPRESENTATIONS UNDER MY

COGNIZANCE, INCLUDED IN THIS JUSTIFICATION, WHICH FORM THE

BASIS FOR THIS JUSTIFICATION, ARE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE.

TECHNICAL COGNIZANCE:

Signature/Title: ________________________________ Date: ___________

Dr. Vijay Kumar Program Manager Healthcare Leadership Talent Institute

REQUIREMENTS COGNIZANCE:

Signature/Title: _________ Date:

Christina Heller Contracting Officer

Christina Heller 1130994 Digitally signed by Christina Heller 1130994 Date: 2019.05.02 09:03:43 -04'00' vhahtmkumarv Stamp vhahtmkumarv Typewritten Text 05/02/2019