A02_IST LSJ_Redacted.pdf

CUI//SP//FED Only

Control No.: 22-004 Contractor: Adeptus Solutions, Inc.

Requirement: IST Support Services

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR 8.405-6 LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

UNDER THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)

FEDERAL SUPPLY PROGRAM

Supply/Service: Army National Guard (ARNG) Incentive Support Team (IST) Support Services

Authority: In accordance with 48 CFR § 8.405-6 – Limiting sources, as implemented by FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(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.”

Amount: The estimated amount of this effort is $ for a five-month base period and one four-month option ($ ) (Total combined amount

Prepared by Typed Name: Mr. Larry Esposito Date: 20 JAN 2022 Title: Program Analyst Telephone: 703 607-7059 E-mail: Larry.w.espostio.civ@mail.mil

Contracting Officer Typed Name: Ms. Patricia Ankney Date Reviewed: ___________ Title: Contracting Officer Telephone: 309-737-4344 E-mail: Patricia.e.ankney.civ@army.mil

Technical Representative Typed Name: Mr. Larry Esposito Date Reviewed: 20 JAN 2022 Title: Enlisted Incentive Program Manager Telephone: 703 607-7059

Requirements Representative Typed Name: LTC Robert Aubuchon Date Reviewed: 20 JAN 2022 Title: Incentives Branch Chief Telephone: 703 601-7651

Controlled by: National Guard Bureau Controlled by: G1 / HRM CUI Category: General Procurement & Acquisition Distribution/Dissemination Control: FED ONLY POC: Mr. Larry Esposito; (703)607-7059

23 Mar 2022

Contractor: Adeptus Solutions, Inc.

Requirement: IST Support Services

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support procurement on other than a competitive basis.

Program Manager/Program Execution Office Typed Nam Telephone:703 601-7651 Signature: Date:____________

(Acting) Branch Chief Typed Name: Ms. Whitney Arkle Telephone:____________ Signature: Date:____________

Legal Counsel Typed Name: CPT Camille J Grathwohl Telephone:____________ Signature: Date:____________

Chief of the Contracting Office Typed Name: Ms. Candace Medina Telephone:____________ Signature: Date:____________

Chief of Compliance & Oversight Division Typed Name: Mr Jack K Mylan III Telephone:____________ Signature: Date:____________

23 March 2022

703-607-1661

24MAR22

763-226-1046

24MAR2022

571-389-3003 24 Mar 2022

586-876-3843 28 Mar 22

Contractor: Adeptus Solutions, Inc.

Requirement: IST Support Services

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR 8.405-6 LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

UNDER THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)

FEDERAL SUPPLY PROGRAM

1. Contracting Activity: National Guard Bureau (NGB), Operational Contracting Division (AQ-C), 111 South George Mason Dr., Arlington, VA 22204-1382

2. Description of Action: The Army National Guard Directorate’s Human Resources Management Division’s Incentives Branch (ARNG-HRM-I) requests a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) order to continue Incentive Support Team (IST) Services with Adeptus Solutions, Inc., located at 1818 Library St, STE 500, Reston, VA 20190-6274. The Government projects award for 30 MAR 22, using Fiscal Year 2022 Army Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funds from Management Decision Packages (MDEP) – Army Recruiting (FARC) funds to cover a period of performance of 30 MAR 22 through 29 AUG 22, with a four-month option to extend through 29 DEC 22. The total amount of this extension is not expected to exceed $ (including all options). This action is requested in order to provide continuity of services while the long-term effort is competed.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The Contractor shall provide incentives and bonus payment support services to the ARNG Incentive Branch, which requires established acumen in recruiting/retention occupational specialties, authorized bonus and incentive authorizations, and expertise in navigating the automated ARNG Guard Incentive Management System (GIMS). The Contractor will screen incentive contracts to ensure completeness and accuracy, and provide additional support for incentive eligibility validation against published policies at payment entitlement processing dates.

The contractor also provides liaison assistance to State Incentive Managers and Recruiting Commands within all 54 States, Territories, and District of Columbia upon identification of any discrepancies. Discrepancies may require an Exception to Policy (ETP) request to the ARNG Directorate, and contractor support services personnel verify required document submissions in support of ETP Requests.

Contractor personnel provide initial review/editing of exceptions to policy memorandum for signature by the appropriate level of ARNG Directorate official. They provide regional support services for technical and policy questions within GIMS, while providing proper responses to appropriate agencies, Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS), State Headquarters, Recruiting and Retention offices, and Education and Incentive Management offices relating to incentive programs. The Contractor provides services supporting NGB in discharging functions and tasks in a manner to ensure successful accomplishment of the overall ARNG Military support missions. The Contractor shall use experienced/proficient acumen to assess incentive eligibility

Contractor: Adeptus Solutions, Inc.

Requirement: IST Support Services

Many ARNG Soldiers receive Non-prior Service Enlistment Bonuses, Prior Enlistment Service bonuses, Retention/Extension Bonuses, Enlisted/Officer/Warrant Officer Affiliation Bonuses, Officer Accession Bonuses, MOS Conversion Bonuses, and Student Loan Repayment Program payments. The IST is an active partner to the ARNG for processing these payments. Any break in these services would delay payment processing and potentially lead to unexpected financial hardships to ARNG Soldiers, their families, and severely, negatively affect morale in addition to end-strength. Although the Government recognizes that there may be other potential contractors who can perform the same services, the time and effort needed to acquire trained contractors, with the ability to perform at the current work rate, would be too costly and lengthy of a process and would cause a significant disruption in service.

This conclusion is supported by the fact that the current vendor has the experience with the incentive management system, GIMS. This course of action saves the Government time and money while providing continuing services without the need for retraining. As an example, GIMS provides an electronic web-based means of submission, receipt, storage, processing and tracking of incentive payment and exceptions to policy request for all 54 States, Territories and District of Columbia.

GIMS provides user roles and workflows that are intricate and detailed, thus demanding a lengthy course of instruction. Transitioning to a new contractor would require a minimum training period of 30 days creating a backlog of incentive payments and exceptions to policy request. The new vendor would need continued Government oversight for 30 additional days to determine proficiency. Without this contract action, a break in service and disruption in processing incentive payments is absolute and could lead to improper payment amounts or to no payments. This break could lead to improper adjudication and result in Congressional and/or Inspector General (IG) complaints for delay in/missed payments. The Government has determined this extension to be in the best interest of the Government in terms of economy and efficiency as it will allow for continued uninterrupted services while the program transitions and the new contract awarded.

Therefore, the award of the proposed 5-month base period and 4-month option period to support the subsequent competition for the IST services eminently reasonable and consistent with FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B).

6. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition: The Contracting Officer published a sources sought of the proposed contracting action on SAM.gov and GSA e-Buy from 17 through 23 SEPT 2021 seeking potential offerors for the new award. Subsequent to this action, a 100% small business set aside is planned to be solicited in April 2022, with a planned award date of August 29, 2022. The Contracting Officer will also issue a Draft Request for Task Order Proposal (RFTOP) prior to the final RFTOP approval and release. The proposed 5-month base period and 4-month option period to support the subsequent competition for the IST services is a stop-gap measure to prevent the loss

Contractor: Adeptus Solutions, Inc.

Requirement: IST Support Services

9. Technical Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Mr. Larry Esposito Date: ____ Title: Program Analyst Signature:

10. Requirements Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: LTC Robert Aubuchon Date: ____ Title: HRM Incentives Branch Chief Signature:

11. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I hereby determine that the order represents the best value to the Government in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(v). Additionally, I hereby determine that the anticipated price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

This determination will be made using proposal analysis techniques under FAR 15.404-1. Certified cost or pricing data is not required in accordance with FAR 15.403- 4(a)(1), when a prime contract is below the $2 million threshold; however, the Government may require data other than cost or certified pricing data to support a determination of a fair and reasonable price.

Typed Name: Patricia E. Ankney Date: ____ Title: Contracting Officer Signature:

12. Contracting Officer Certification:

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

Typed Name: Patricia E. Ankney Date: ____ Title: Contracting Officer Signature:

24 Mach 2022

25 March 2022

Contractor: Adeptus Solutions, Inc.

Requirement: IST Support Services

Approval Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of Incentive Support Team Support Services for the amount of $ in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B), subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Date: ___________________ Signature Mr. David M. Vanuch Command Advocate for Competition

3/29/2022