A.3 JA Brand Name PT Shorts FY26 redacted.docx

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO

3250 CATLIN AVENUE

QUANTICO VIRGINIA 22134 5001

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J&A No. XXXXXXXXX

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A) FOR USE OF BRAND NAME OR EQUAL DESCRIPTIONS, OR PROPRIETARY SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS, IN SOLICITATIONS

1. Contracting Activity.

The Contracting Activity is the Marine Corps Installations National Capital Region – Regional Contracting Office (MCINCR-RCO), located at 2010 Henderson Road, MCB Quantico, VA. The requiring activity is Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MCJROTC) Program, Training and Education Command (TECOM) located at, MCB Quantico, VA 22134.

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

The action is being approved as an exception to fair opportunity to fulfill a sole source requirement for a follow-on physical training (PT) short for MCJROTC for a total of twenty-five thousand three hundred and thirty (25,330) physical training (PR) shorts ranging in various sizes from XSmall thru 4XLarge.

This action is intended to result in a sole source award to Winter Bee, DBA (LA Speedy) Inc., the only source capable of providing the required products.

3. Description of the Supplies/Services.

The Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program has a follow-on requirement for twenty-five thousand three hundred and thirty (25,330) physical training (PT) shorts. The requirement is for the procurement of U.S.–manufactured mesh athletic shorts meeting the specifications outlined below. All items must be produced in the United States.

Sizes: The shorts shall be provided in eight sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, and 4XL.

Material and Construction:

· Fabric: 100% polyester mesh, 160 gsm.

· Weight: Finished shorts shall weigh between 8 and 12 ounces (240–360 grams), depending on size.

· Leg Length: Between 19.5 and 22.5 inches, measured from the bottom of the waistband to the top of the knee, varying by size. A tolerance of ±0.5 inch applies.

· Drawstring: White, closed‑loop cotton drawstring located on the interior front of the waistband.

· Interior Pocket: One small mesh pocket located approximately 4.5 inches to the right of the drawstring, with a tolerance of ±0.5 inch. Pocket dimensions are approximately 2 inches (width) by 4.5 inches (length).

Embroidery Requirements: All shorts shall include the embroidered text “MCJROTC” on the front left leg.

· Placement: Centered on the left leg, positioned 2 inches above the bottom hem.

· Font: Arial, capital letters.

· Letter Size: 0.5 inch in height and 0.25 inch in width.

· Thread Color: Gold.

Color: The shorts shall be produced in olive drab.

The Government intends to award a Firm‑Fixed‑Price (FFP) contract with fixed‑price CLINs. The total estimated value of this requirement is $XXX,XXX.XX. Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funds will be utilized to support this procurement, as detailed in the table below:

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition.

This document meets the regulatory requirement at FAR 13.501(a)(ii) states, “Prepare a sole source (including brand name) justifications using the format at 6.302-2, modified to reflect that the procedures in FAR subpart 13.5 were used in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901 or the authority 41 U.S.C. 1903.”, using 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

The MCJROTC program requires all cadets to maintain a consistent, professional, and regulation‑compliant appearance. Uniformity is fundamental to the program’s mission, reinforcing discipline, esprit de corps, and adherence to Marine Corps standards. To preserve this uniformity, the physical characteristics of the PT shorts—including shape, size, color, weight, and overall quality—must be identical across all MCJROTC units nationwide.

For the past two years, LA Speedy has supplied these PT shorts, resulting in complete standardization across the program. Their established manufacturing processes, consistent dye lots, and proven quality control systems have produced a uniform product that meets MCJROTC’s strict appearance requirements. Introducing a new vendor at this stage would jeopardize that uniformity and undermine the program’s ability to maintain a consistent standard of dress.

Even vendors capable of producing similar items cannot guarantee exact matches in color, material weight, stitching, or sizing. Minor deviations—imperceptible in commercial markets—would be immediately noticeable in a military training environment and would compromise the program’s uniform standards. Such inconsistencies would have a significant negative impact on cadet appearance, unit cohesion, and compliance with Marine Corps uniform expectations.

In addition, transitioning to a new vendor introduces substantial administrative and operational risks:

· Administrative Burden and Compliance Risks: Using multiple vendors would require instructors to manage separate inventories to distinguish between compliant and non‑compliant shorts. This diverts time away from instruction and increases the likelihood of uniform inconsistencies among cadets. Each school would also be required to conduct additional quality control checks to ensure compliance with MCJROTC uniform regulations. Any deviations discovered after distribution would necessitate corrective action.

· Risk of Costly Re‑Issue: If a new vendor’s product fails to meet uniform standards, the program would be forced to conduct a full re‑issue of compliant items. This would effectively double procurement costs, impose unplanned financial strain, and generate additional logistical expenses related to redistribution, collection, and disposal of non‑compliant items. Such an outcome represents an inefficient use of taxpayer funds and would negatively affect the program’s ability to support other mission‑critical needs.

LA Speedy’s existing tooling, dye lots, and quality control processes eliminate these risks and ensure continued uniformity across all MCJROTC units. The cost, disruption, and risk associated with transitioning to a new vendor far outweigh any potential savings. Based on these factors, LA Speedy is the only responsible source capable of meeting the Government’s requirement for standardized PT shorts, consistent with the statutory authority permitting other‑than‑full‑and‑open competition.

Market research indicates that while numerous apparel manufacturers produce athletic shorts, most commercial vendors do not specialize in producing items that meet the strict uniformity, durability, and appearance standards required by the MCJROTC program. Vendors in the general marketplace typically offer mass‑produced athletic shorts with variations in dye lots, fabric weight, stitching patterns, and sizing tolerances. These differences are acceptable in commercial retail environments but are incompatible with the MCJROTC requirement for a standardized, regulation‑compliant uniform item.

By contrast, LA Speedy has already established production processes, tooling, and quality controls specifically aligned with MCJROTC specifications. Their existing patterns, dye lots, and embroidery standards have produced a consistent product across all units for the past two years. This proven ability to deliver uniform, repeatable results distinguishes LA Speedy from other vendors who would require new setup, calibration, and testing to attempt to meet the same standards.

The following table summarizes the key differences between the current vendor and other marketplace sources and demonstrates why transitioning to a new supplier would introduce significant risk to program uniformity, cost, and compliance.

In summary, the MCJROTC program’s requirement for strict uniformity, proven performance from the incumbent vendor, and the substantial risks associated with transitioning to a new supplier collectively demonstrate that only one responsible source can meet the Government’s needs. Market research confirms that alternative vendors cannot replicate the established consistency in color, sizing, material weight, and embroidery required to maintain a standardized appearance across all units. Introducing a new supplier would create significant administrative burden, increase the likelihood of non‑compliant items, and expose the program to unnecessary financial and operational risk. For these reasons, limiting competition is justified under FAR 13.501(a)(ii), consistent with the statutory authority at 41 U.S.C. 1901/1903 and aligned with the principles of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). Awarding to the incumbent ensures continuity, compliance, and the preservation of Marine Corps standards across the MCJROTC program.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable.

Over the past two years, the Government has engaged with multiple companies (list companies) to evaluate their ability to meet MCJROTC’s detailed uniform requirements. Despite these efforts, no vendor came close to producing samples that matched the established standard; most demonstrated inconsistent color patterns, fabric weights, embroidery quality, or sizing accuracy. These inconsistencies can fundamentally compromise the program’s requirement for strict, standardized uniformity across all cadets. Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10 and included reviewing government‑approved vendor databases and conducting commercial market searches to identify potential sources. While several vendors expressed interest, none were able to demonstrate the capability to replicate the precise, repeatable uniform characteristics currently achieved by the incumbent supplier.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

The Contracting Officer will determine the anticipated price under this sole‑source action to be fair and reasonable by reviewing the contractor’s quoted pricing against published price lists, historical pricing, and other commercially available information. If market research identifies more advantageous pricing available through commercial channels, the Contracting Officer will apply the procedures outlined in DFARS PGI 208.7403 to ensure the Government receives the best value.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

For the reasons outlined in Paragraph 4, MCJROTC does not anticipate competing future procurements for these supplies or services. Should a viable alternative source emerge, the program will evaluate whether competition is appropriate for future requirements.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this justification and its supporting acquisition planning documents, except as noted herein are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Technical/Requirements Cognizance:

_____________________ Paulette Howard XXX-XXX-XXXX See Signature Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

_____________________ Kellie Holley XXX-XXX-XXXX See Signature Signature Name (Printed) Phone No. Date

V1.4, 26 September 2024

DISTRIBUTION: DoD COMMUNITY ONLY

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