A16_JOFOC_Redacted_140L0125C0007_1.pdf

4. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited:

Contractor that has been providing both pasture and corral care for these animals under contract for 12 years. There are no existing facilities available to receive all the animals currently at this facility. If the bridge contract cannot be awarded to Despain to continue providing these services, BLM must remove the animals from the facility. Removing the animals will require considerable time and expense.

The bridge will allow for:

a) Re-procurement cycle (Solicitation & Award) of new requirement estimated at approximately . This represents a base year and 4 option years at per year.

b) NEPA EA - can take 6 months to 24 months for NEPA process as well as site visits to each area.

c) Relocation of approximately animals at 45 burros per truck - required if incumbent is not the awardee.

5. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable:

Despain submitted a price proposal in the amount of The proposed price is 1.3% higher than the current contract price ( .

The contracting officer determined that the price to be fair and reasonable. The determination is based on comparison of the increase from the current price and the most recent CPI data available. The CPI all items index rose 2.9 percent for the 12 months ending December 2024.

(unit price) x (animals) x 365 (days) = $2,328,700.00

6. A description of the Market Research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason Market Research was not conducted:

Very little market research was conducted for this effort. Conducting extensive new research and findings would not result in a new award due to the lengthy approval process for potential awardees. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) EA process for new contractors can take six to twenty-four months.

7. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition:

An RFP to fulfill this requirement is in progress and award is expected by March 2026 (140L0125R0005). The period of performance of this action aligns with the expected award of a new competitive contract. The timeline to achieve award includes site visits and EAs for multiple offerors which are time consuming endeavors. Presently, no other existing pasture or corral facilities have capacity to care for this inventory of burros. The requested extension is necessary to continue pasture care of these burros