Justification for OTFAO Comp 03 03 2026 Redacted.pdf

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition Byrne Service Elevator #25 Design Refresh & CA Services

Philadelphia, PA

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity:

This document constitutes a justification and approval for the use of other than full and open competition for the acquisition described herein. It is executed on behalf of the General Services Administration (GSA), Public Building Service (PBS), Office of Acquisition Management (OAM), Acquisition Project Delivery East Division.

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

GSA is in need of an A/E firm’s services in relation to the redesign and construction administration (CA) services efforts required for the design refresh of Service Elevator #25 in the James A. Byrne United States Courthouse, in Philadelphia, PA. The redesign would include updating a design completed by the selected A/E firm in February of 2021. Updates would include but not necessarily be limited to removal of excess elevators from the design documents, removal of non-relevant information from the design documents, updating the design with current codes, and elevator video communication updates, with an option for CA services. Service Elevator 25 was previously slated to be included in construction efforts for Elevators 7, 8, 9, and 10, but was separated from previous updates due to funding constraints.

Now that funding is available, the design completed in 2021 needs to be refreshed to be aligned with current requirements, and CA services need to be evaluated for construction which is slated for 2027 or earlier. The A/E must be available during the bidding period to resolve discrepancies, respond to questions, and other issues pertaining to the drawings and specifications and design intent, at no additional cost to the Government; review and provide action on all submittals, such as design submissions, schedules, shop drawings, equipment lists, material samples, certifications, warranties, etc.; Site visits, progress meeting attendance, and inspect all construction work and related activities performed by the general contractor on a period basis, or as requested by the government during the period of construction.

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

It is intended that the A/E would provide Pre-Design, Design, Procurement and CA Services, with CA services included as an option. The estimated costs to provide these services for the elevator redesign project at the Byrne Courthouse is .

4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition:

Contracting without providing full and open competition under this acquisition may be accomplished pursuant to the authorities described below:

Docusign Envelope ID: 3F7CF5EB-B154-46CD-B732-ED269F1E16AD

● 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

The A/E firm Henry Adams, LLC successfully designed the specifications and drawings for the original design which included Service Elevator #25 and have all supporting documentation of work.

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited:

Henry Adams completed the initial design which included Service Elevator #25 in February of 2021. Henry Adams, LLC has the most up to date information on the project and the final construction documents are sealed by their licensed professional engineer. Updates to their design documents can be performed by their licensed professional engineer. CA Services are to review and approve product submittals against the requirements in the construction documents, verify equipment installed onsite in accordance with those construction documents, respond to requests for information about the construction documents, and potentially provide addendums and revisions to the sealed construction documents. Their experience and familiarity with the site and the project are crucial to the successful completion of this project.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable:

Since the initial design that included Service Elevator #25 was completed by Henry Adams, LLC, the team felt that no other A/E firm possessed the firsthand knowledge nor would be inclined to take ownership of the A/E services in the same manner as Henry Adams, LLC. It is not typical industry practice for an engineering firm to review, approve, inspect, or revise another engineering firm’s sealed construction documents. Doing so would make them responsible for another professional engineer’s sealed construction documents they have not vetted or performed quality control on, and is typically not done across the industry. Another design firm’s engineer would require a completely new design to their preferences. It is expected that a new design would cost at least a similar amount to the already completed design contract; while the initial design was for multiple elevators and this design would only be for one, the majority of a design’s cost for repetitive items lies with the first item. Further, the initial cost was , initially awarded in 2017, with the need to account for inflation over a period of roughly 8.5 years from the initial award date to when the updated design would be awarded. Furthermore, a new outright design would take roughly 9+ months to complete, delaying construction by somewhere near a year to a year and a half beyond the current anticipated date. To use another firm would likely unnecessarily double the costs to the Government for only the design portion (not including the cost of CA services), which would include the cost of the original design.

7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable:

Per FAR 36.605 the Government Project Engineer/COR will prepare and provide an Independent Government Estimate (IGE) to the Contracting Officer prior to the receipt of a proposal or any negotiations taking place.

8. Description of the market research conducted:

Market research was not performed due to the fact that the A/E firm Henry Adams, LLC already provided a complete design for Service Elevator #25 in February of 2021, which only requires minor updates. The project team is confident that no other A/E firm possesses the level of expertise or extensive knowledge of the elevator and other related systems at the James A.

Byrne United States Courthouse, located at 601 Market Street, in Philadelphia, PA 19106. Other alternatives were discussed and the reduced knowledge, duplication of effort and costs, and increased risk would not justify pursuing a market survey.

9. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

The Government would realize savings associated with lead time, procurement and oversight of a contractor with less experience and design knowledge of the elevator and other associated items at the Byrne Courthouse. Administrative time lag during Procurement and CA Services will be reduced since Henry Adams, LLC is intimately familiar with the original design. The potential for costly, high-risk issues arising from inexperience with the building and unfamiliarity with the design should also be mitigated by use of Henry Adams, LLC.

10. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition:

No firms have been contacted nor have any expressed an interest in writing.

11. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition:

For future procurements of A/E services, GSA will attempt to procure procurement and CA Services prior to an IDIQ task order being closed.

12. Contracting Officer Certification:

I hereby certify that the above information is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Prepared and Reviewed by:

Erin Watson Date

3/10/2026 | 14:51:00 GMT

Contracting Officer

13. Technical/Requirements Certification:

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this justification, and which form a basis for this justification are complete and accurate.

Joseph Horton Date Contracting Officers Representative

3/10/2026 | 15:02:20 GMT