A16_-_JOFOC_Strategic_Planning_NPS_Redacted_1.pdf

ATTACHMENT 2

JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

for SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS OVER THE MICROPURCHASE THRESHOLD (See FAR Part 2)

UP TO SAT

(See FAR 13.106-1)

Date: January 23, 2025 PR Number: 44007034

1. Nature and/or description of the item/service being procured and its intended use (include the anticipated cost): The nature of the requested service is to provide facilitation services for the development of a strategic plan for the National Park Service All-Hazard Incident Management Program. The product produced will be a draft (final product, but not yet reviewed by leadership) Strategic Plan which provides the necessary elements to frame the current program state and provide management actions to improve program performance for a 5 year period.

2. Sole Source Justification rationale (Check one and explain below):

__X____ Only one responsible source.

______ Urgent and compelling circumstances exist. Include critical delivery or performance dates, and when you became aware of the requirement. Provide a specific statement of the impact on Government operations, financial or otherwise, if the required delivery or performance dates are not met.

______ Other _____________________________________________________

Explain:

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (i) Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.

Mission-Centered Solutions (MCS) is a contractor that specializes in and is considered the leading expert worldwide in emergency preparedness, all-hazard and wildland fire training, consulting, and facilitation services. They are found to be the only contractor that provides these services for the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), which is a partnership that consists of multiple federal agencies including the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Park Service (NPS), U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), the National Weather Service and the Department of Defense. They are the main service provider for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which includes the US. Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as, state, local, and international emergency response agencies around the globe.

MCS is one of the only approved training partners for the National Wildland Fire Coordinating Group (NWCG) and provides certified training, consulting and facilitation services that are approved by the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the partners located at NIFC. MCS is the only provider of specific training such as CA-010-PREV Incident

Leadership and CA-057-RESP Intent into Action in the State and Federal Sponsored Training Catalog that meets the L-381 – Incident Leadership & L-481 – Advanced Leadership for Command and General Staff certification standards that are required by NWCG.

This requirement is for a facilitated strategic planning workshop for the National Park Service’s All Hazard Incident Management Program. The deliverable is a draft strategic plan for the NPS All-Hazard Incident Management Program. MCS has delivered over 15 training courses to NPS all-hazard and wildland fire responders. In addition, the company has facilitated programmatic strategic planning sessions for the NPS Branch of Wildland Fire, Intermountain Region Wildland Fire Program, and several Parks. Many of the challenges facing the NPS All-Hazard Incident Management program surround training and development for incident response which MCS has significant experience in delivering training within the context of qualifications systems around the world. As such, they have a deep understanding of NPS culture, park operations, incident management capabilities and organizational limitations and constraints which uniquely positions them as the only vendor available who can meet the needed deliverables, particularly in a shortened time window for preparation. MCS’s familiarity with the NPS will also allow the planning session to occur in an efficient, short, 2-3 day period. Other vendors may hold some of the capabilities to meet the business need but would require significant background discussion and briefings/meetings to enable them to meet the NPS needs within the given timeframes.

3. Market Research. Please explain the results or why one was not performed. State whether any other offers were received or anyone expressed interest:

Extensive Market Research has been performed for similar needs in the recent past by a Contracting Officer (CO) in preparation for a similar requirement. While there are many approved NWCG emergency and wildland fire training partners with substantial amount of emergency and wildland fire experience many only provide wildland fire training services and do not have the portfolio of facilitating strategic planning efforts. Those who do have a portfolio which includes strategic planning do not have emergency response related experience much less familiarity with NPS emergency response operations.

There are also multiple vendors available on GSA Schedules, including Human Capital and Training Solutions 8A (HCATS 8A) under POOL1 – Professional & Management Development Training but none of the contractors were found to provide the specific emergency management and NPS experience that is required. This was also found true on the open market who provide professional consulting/facilitation type services, as only MCS has been identified as the leading expert and being capable of providing the specific emergency management and NPS related facilitation services that are needed for this requirement.

One other company the was found, International SOS was found to provide consulting services; however, the focus is on health and security related items versus emergency and planned event response and not found to be comparable.

The NPS issued a Special Notice – Intent to Sole Source for emergency planning workshops under solicitation 140PS124Q0031 on September 7, 2024, which allowed other contractors to state their qualifications and capability to provide similar services for wildland fire specialized facilitation, consultation, and training. No responses were received.

MCS has been determined to be the only contractor that has been found capable of facilitating this strategic planning workshop that is required to support the NPS All Hazard Incident Management Program within the narrow time window needed for this effort.

4. If this is a determination for sole source, the contracting officer certifies:

a. Only one source is available, or urgent and compelling circumstances exist.

b. The anticipated price will be determined fair and reasonable using the price analysis techniques described in FAR Part 13.106-3(a).

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date)__________________________

Type or Print Name: __________________________________________ Title:

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date) ___________________________

Type or Print Name:

Contracting Officer

Over $50,000:(if applicable)

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date) ______________________

Warranted Individual 1 Level Above Contracting Officer

02/18/2025

Program Analyst