70-21800-26-CP396_sole-source-determination-form NCSC FY27-FY28 revised Signed JDG (2).pdf.PDF

2026 Sole Source Form

STATE OF NEW MEXICO

SOLE SOURCE REQUEST AND DETERMINATION FORM

A sole source determination is not effective until the sole source request for determination has been posted for thirty (30) calendar days without Protest and subsequently approved in writing by the State Purchasing Agent. The foregoing requirement is regardless of whether the sole source request for determination has been signed by the Agency.

I. Name of Agency: Administrative Office of the Courts Agency Chief Procurement Officer: Jose D. Gallegos Telephone Number: 505-819-1993 Agency Contact for this request: Jose D. Gallegos Email Address: aocjdg@nmcourts.gov

II. Name of prospective Contractor: National Center for State Courts

SHARE Vendor Number (must be active):0000019512 Address of prospective Contractor:

300 Newport Avenue Williamsburg, VA 23185

Contact Name, Telephone Number and Email Address: Kestner Sirena, 757-259-1827, skestner@ncsc.org Amount of prospective contract before tax: $360,000.00 Estimated tax amount (tax is subject to change): $00.00

III. Term of prospective contract: 2 Fiscal Years. FY27, FY28.

Note: Please refer to §13-1-150 for contract term limits.

If this is an amendment request to an existing contract, include current sole source posting number issued by SPD:

IV. If this is a Sole Source for new or existing IT software licensing subscription(s), Agency is required to upload the Contractor’s draft Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Sole Source online submission. This prospective expense not for IT Software.

V. Agency is required to provide the detailed scope of work (or amendment) for this sole source. Scope of work must match the scope included in the services determination and Horizon’s declination. NCSC is leading national efforts to strengthen the administration of justice at a time when state courts must have a voice in addressing many of society's most significant challenges. New Mexico’s Judicial Branch success depends on collaboration, shared learning, and strong partnerships. Among NCSC’s many goals are expanding public education and legislative efforts on judicial security, and strengthening NCSC's capacity to provide enhanced support to the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators, leadership, committees, and shared strategic priorities. NCSC provides research, policy recommendations, and promotes collaboration between state courts to solve common problems. NCSC’s work is supported by our state assessments, paid by each member state. These approved assessment schedule through 2028, and the enclosed invoice reflects our state's 2027 assessment. New Mexico Courts’ partnership with NCSC is essential to advancing the interests of the New Mexico judiciary and the state courts generally. Together, we drive innovation and advancement in our courts and justice systems. NCSC serves a similar function for the Judicial Branch of state government as the National Conference of State Legislatures serves for the Legislative Branch, the National Association of Attorneys General serves for the Attorney General, and the National Governors Association serves for the Governor.

Payment of the annual assessment entitles New Mexico Courts to participate in national training events, receive technical assistance on a variety of areas impacting courts (security, language access, court statistics, court case management, emergency technology involving courts, etc.) receive continuing education for judges and court staff, as well as participate in conferences connecting subject matter experts from around the county.

VI. Provide a detailed explanation of the criteria developed and specified by the agency as necessary to perform and/or fulfill the contract and upon which the state agency reviewed available sources. (Do not use “technical jargon;” use plain English. Do not tailor the criteria simply to exclude other contractors if it is not rationally related to the purpose of the contract.)

The New Mexico Judicial Branch aims to effectively and efficiently adjudicate court cases in New Mexico. The Judicial Branch also aims to effectively administer justice and partner with other agencies (e.g. public defender, prosecutors, state bar association, etc.) to advance the practice of law and ensure availability of justice for all New Mexicans. To do this, New Mexico’s Courts must provide a range of programming and services including language access, treatment court and behavioral health programming, assistance to self-represented litigants, jury services, court security, data governance, and more. AOC seeks national expertise in these areas to assist in the courts’ mission.

VII. Provide a detailed, sufficient explanation of the reasons, qualifications, proprietary rights or unique capabilities of the prospective contractor that makes their company the only source capable of providing the required professional service, general service, construction or item(s) of tangible personal property. (Please do not state the source is the “best” source or the “least costly” source. Those factors do not justify a “sole source.”) NCSC is a nation-wide partnership with all 50 states and us territories’ judicial systems. NCSC’s efforts aim to support a fair and impartial judiciary. Their programming and expertise help ensure that judiciaries are accountable and transparent. NCSC also exists to promote courts’ constitutional role as indispensable to preserving and protecting justice, the rule of law, and the individual rights of all. To ensure its ability to act fairly and impartially, courts must have adequate resources to address the public's needs, the best tools and resources to ensure the effective and timely resolution of legal matters, the right data to solve problems, and the professional know-how and support to deliver on these expectations. NCSC supports that mission with national experts in these fields. The annual dues paid to NCSC support these activities.

VIII. Provide a detailed, sufficient explanation of how the professional service, general service, construction or item(s) of tangible personal property is/are unique and how this uniqueness is substantially related to the intended purpose of the contract. NCSC provides professional services related to effective operation and administration of courts.

NCSC provides national expertise to advance courts’ mission nationally, and within each state. In particular, NCSC provides the only accreditation of court translators in multiple languages, provides data collection and evaluation expertise, leads national efforts to promote security in courts, leads efforts to identify trends and challenges in technology impacting courts, and provides staffing and support to the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators. The Chief Justice of New Mexico is a member of the first group, and the AOC Director is a member of the second group. NCSC is the only national organization providing these services and expertise. NCSC performs a similar function for the Judicial Branch as the National Conference of State Legislatures provides for the Legislative Branch, the National Association of Attorneys General provides for the Attorney General, and the National Governors Association provides for the Governor.

IX. Provide a narrative description of the agency’s due diligence in determining the basis for the procurement, including procedures used by the agency to conduct a review of available sources such as researching trade publications, industry newsletters and the internet; contacting similar service providers; and reviewing the State Purchasing Divisions’ Statewide Price Agreements. Include a list of businesses contacted (do not state that no other businesses were contacted), date of contact, method of contact (telephone, mail, e-mail, other), and documentation demonstrating an explanation of why those businesses could not or would not, under any circumstances, perform the contract;

or an explanation of why the agency has determined that no businesses other than the prospective contractor can perform the contract.

Web searching reveals no other organizations performing the scope of work that NCSC provides. Conversations with individuals at the National Judicial College (NJC) reveal that NJC’s work is focused on educating judges and not the other aspects of service provided by NCSC. Additionally, conversations with staff at the State Justice Institute (SJI) reveal that SJI exists to receive federal funding and provide it to state court systems in the form of grants. In fact, SJI often funds projects that use NCSC staff as experts to provide the technical assistance or implementation needed to accomplish the goal of the grant. NCSC is the only organization providing a broad scope of services to support state courts.

Agency certifies this sole source submission complies with NMSA 1978, Sections 13-1-28 through 13-1-199, the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) and Governmental Conduct

Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 10-16-1 through 10-16-18.

Certified by: Date: ____________________

Agency Chief Procurement Officer

Certifying Legal Sufficiency by: Date: ____________________

Agency General Counsel

Agency Approval by: Date: ____________________

Cabinet Secretary/Agency or Entity Head or Designee

If this sole source is being submitted by a governmental agency or governmental entity not under the authority of the State Purchasing Agent, the State Purchasing Agent’s signature is not required. The signature line may be removed from this form or marked as N/A. Hard Copy Documentation for Courtesy Postings do not need to be submitted to SPD for approval.

9/14/2026 for Karl Reifsteck, AOC Director

9/14/2026

9/14/2026

I. Name of Agency: Administrative Office of the Courts