GS-02F-0046M-007.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION –George Washington University-Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, Senior Leader 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: This sole source justification requests for the issuance of a sole source Purchase Order for Veteran Affairs (VA) employees to attend the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), George Washington University (GWU), Senior Leader Program (SLP). This training will be used to train up to 25 candidates, who are Federal employees, as one of the mandatory components to achieve the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) certification for SESCDP. The cost of the Senior Leader Program is $8,055.00 per student for a total cost of $201,375.00.

3. Description of Supplies or Services: The VA SESCDP is a formally structured, developmental program certified by the OPM. The program plays a critical role in equipping future VA Senior Executives to support the cascading leadership transformation efforts in the VA and Federal government. A cadre of GS-14/15’s and Title 38 equivalents are selected to participate in an intensive 4-week program, comprised of employees who have demonstrated a strong potential for executive leadership and possess the attributes necessary for becoming skillful and competent VA Senior Executives.

The GWU, Senior Leader Program was designed to meet the 80-hour, Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ), interagency training requirement, for OPM certification. The program focuses on delivering higher-level competencies needed for Federal Executives, while developing strategies to help balance demanding requirements resulting in effective change.

4. Training is tentatively scheduled from:

Mutually agreed upon dates by the CO, COR, and Vendor in June 2019.

Employees will receive CLPs for the executive training. The total estimated value of this requirement is $201,375.00.

5. Statutory Authority: FAR Subpart 8.405-6 (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

The SESCDP identifies individuals who have demonstrated strong potential for executive leadership and who possess the attributes necessary for becoming skillful and competent VA Senior Executives. The GWU/SLP provides senior executives with new skill sets to be leaders and managers. Functional expertise is built upon as a need to build coalitions, drive results and performance, and guide organizational change. The Healthcare Leadership Talent Institute (HLTI) recommended the GWU/SLP for inclusion in the list of executive leadership training offered under the SESCDP. This particular course was highly-received by previous attendees throughout the federal government, to include VA Staff Offices and Administrations. It was vetted by the VA SESCDP program office and recommended for approval and implementation by the HLTI and approved for inclusion in the SESCDP delivery by the VA Chief of Staff. GWU is a private institution and is held in highest regard as being a premier institution that provides exclusive Senior Executive Training. GWU is the only institution that offers the SESCDP, Senior Leader Program.

The curriculum in this course encompasses all of the OPM ECQ’s which are:

Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, and Building Coalitions. This program of instruction is designed for federal government employees at the high functioning GS-14 level and above to include Title 38 Equivalents.

7. Efforts to Obtain Competition: There is only one responsible source for the

George Washington University-Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, Senior Leader 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 reseach was performed which found sources but did not meet the requirements 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.

11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: The Contracting Officer has made a determination that the price is fair and reasonable. All schools on the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program present pricing that is the same for all attendees.

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: ___________ Victor M. Geary Program Manager

REQUIREMENTS COGNIZANCE:

Signature/Title: _________ Date:

Christina Heller Contracting Officer