A16_JOFOC_Robson_Ranch_ORP_Final_Redacted1_1.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

https://www.blm.gov

SOLE SOURCE (INCLUDING BRAND NAME) JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR ACQUISITIONS UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by 13.106-1(b).

1. Identification of the Agency and the Contracting Activity:

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Division of Wild Horses and Burros, requests Headquarters Acquisitions, Wild Horses and Burro team, to contract on a limited or sole source basis.

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

This request is to award a service contract to Robson Ranch, LLC for the purposes of providing off-range pasture (ORP) services to approximately 1,800 wild horses at an existing ORP contract near Catoosa, OK. This contract would cover a period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 (365-days).

Robson Ranch, LLC owns the private lands comprising this ORP and has been leasing these lands to the current ORP contractor (Hughes Cattle Co.) for the purposes of ORP services since 2001. The current ORP contract with Hughes Cattle Co. expires on December 31, 2024 and Hughes does not intend to renew a land lease with Robson Ranch, LLC to continue providing ORP services after this date, nor enter into a 6-month extension on his expiring contract. The requested action is necessary to continue to provide ORP care to the approximately 1,800 wild horses until Robson Ranch, LLC has an opportunity to compete for a multi-year IDIQ contract for ORP services under RFP No. 140L0123R0007.

Robson Ranch, LLC has indicated their interest in submitting a proposal in response to the forthcoming RFP, at the conclusion of the contract with Hughes Cattle Co. However, this situation became urgent as BLM was recently informed by Hughes Cattle Co that they would not be renewing their land lease with Robson Ranch to provide for a 6-month extension in services until awards are made off the next RFP.

3. A description of the Supplies or Services required meeting the Agency’s needs, including the estimated value:

The expiring ORP contract with Hughes Cattle Co. provides ORP services for up to 2,100 wild horses (+10%). The requested award for a one-year contract to Robson Ranch, LLC is for a total of 1,800 wild horses, which is the approximate current inventory of horses at this ORP facility. The estimated total cost for this contract is $

This will be a one year firm fixed price bridge contract with a period of performance of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. To ensure a continuation of services, the BLM WH&B Acquisitions requires a 1 year bridge contract. The 1 year bridge will allow for:

Step 1: Re-procurement cycle (Solicitation & Award) of requirement estimated at approximately Step 2: NEPA EA -although this is a "new" awardee, a new environmental assessment is not required because it runs with the land (used by the current contractor). NEPA approval for new contractors can take up to 1 year for NEPA process as well as site visits to each area.

Step 3: Procurement cycle (Solicitation &Award) of contract to move horses from Robson Ranch to alternate contracted locations - required if incumbent is not the awardee.

Step 4: Relocation of approximately 1,800 horses at 35-40 horses per truck - required if incumbent is not the awardee.

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

X 41 U.S.C. 1901 – Simplified acquisition procedures (use when the simplified procedures for purchases of property and services for amounts (1) not greater than the simplified acquisition threshold.

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

This facility has provided ORP services to maintain the current inventory of horses since 2001.

The requested action is to continue providing ORP services to the horses presently at the facility until a longer duration contract can be competed in a forthcoming RFP. The horses presently at this facility have become acclimated to the forage, water, and environmental conditions specific to this ORP.

There are no existing facilities available to receive all the animals currently at this facility. If a new contract cannot be awarded to Robson Ranch, LLC to continue providing ORP services, the government would need a minimum of 6 months lead time before the animals can be moved.

This accounts for finding existing facilities that can take the animals, scheduling a veterinarian, arranging trucks, staff, etc. It would cost approximately to relocate these animals to a pasture facility. At the current inventory of 1,800 horses, this equates to an

Assessment process for new contractors takes a minimum of 6 months.

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

The new RFP for future off‐range pasture services is being developed. The new RFP will provide open competition for other potential vendors interested in providing ORP services. Robson Ranch, LLC fully intends to submit a proposal in response to the new RFP to continue ORP services beyond the 1-year period of performance of this requested action.

Because this facility has operated as an ORP since 2001, NEPA compliance has been completed. There would be no delay regarding NEPA compliance associated with a contract to Robson Ranch, LLC.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed in writing, an interest in the acquisition:

On September 27, 2023, Robson Ranch, LLC submitted a written response to a Sources Sought Notice expressing interest in submitting a proposal to RFP 140L0123R0007 Off Range Pasture Multi-State IDIQ. Any new sources for off-range pasture services would be eligible to submit a proposal in response to the pending RFP.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the Supplies or Services required:

The pending RFP for new off-range pasture services will provide full and open competition for any potential vendors to submit new proposals. The current request is specific to continuing pasture care services until award of new services can be made.

12. Certification:

I certify that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (i.e. verifying the Government’s minimum needs or schedule requirements or other rationale for other than full and open competition) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate: