36C78619D0179-001.pdf

Department of Veterans Affairs

“Justification for other than full and open competition.”

(1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, National Cemetery Administration, Great Lakes National Cemetery

(2) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

Sole source award of irrigation system maintenance to Marc Dutton Irrigation, Inc

(3) A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

Work consists of monthly inspection, reporting and minor maintenance of the irrigation system located at the Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Rd. Holly, MI.

48442, hereafter referred to as GLNC, Cemetery, VA, or Government. The irrigation system is comprised of Six Satellites and serves 75 acres of lawn and burial areas. The water source for the system is Fagan Lake which is located in the center of the cemetery.

The irrigation system is primarily supported by a main computer located in the cemetery maintenance area; however, it also includes six stand-alone satellite controllers located throughout the cemetery. Approximately $206,000.00

(4) An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

FAR 11.105(a)(a): Items peculiar to one manufacturer

(5) A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

This vendor has been performing this service at the cemetery without break for 10 years.

(6) A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

There was a Sources Sought notice posted in FBO which garnered zero responses.

http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/FAR2AFMCFARS/FARDFARS/FAR/05.htm#P55_9280 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/FAR2AFMCFARS/FARDFARS/FAR/05.htm#P66_10439

(7) A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The price is less that what was paid to the pass through SDVOSB who had the previous contract and subbed 100% of the work to Marc Dutton Irrigation.

(8) A description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

SAM, VIP, the cemetery, DSBS and past procurement history were queried as well as posting the Sources Sought. There is one other irrigation firm in the area, but they are not in SAM.

(9) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as:

This contract is mostly a once a month maintenance check with the odd emergency repair. Irrigation is a specialty service requiring different knowledge than a landscaping or plumbing firm would have.

(10) A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. None.

(11) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

The agency cannot require anyone to gain the certifications required to perform the work and giving the contract to non-irrigation firms has a trach record of those firms subbing out the work. The agency could try to convince the other firm to register in SAM.

(12) Contracting officer certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief.

Signed:

Contracting Officer, Date