A16 JOFOC under SAT iaw FAR 13.106-1_1.pdf

SOLE SOURCE 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) &(2).

1. Contracting agency and activity.

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), North Central Montana District, Division of Fire, Lewistown MT, requests to contract on a sole source basis.

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

The NCMD Fire Program seeks to acquire the services of a fitness center for its employees.

3. Description of supplies or services.

Guidance and expectations for BLM employees from page 50 of the current version of the Interagency Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations are as follows: “Employees serving in wildland fire positions that require a fitness rating of Arduous as a condition of employment are required to perform physical fitness conditioning for one hour of duty time each work day…..BLM employees wholly funded by fire preparedness and/or fuels who maintain qualifications with a fitness rating of Arduous may be authorized one hour of daily duty time for physical fitness conditioning.

Employees serving in positions that require a fitness rating of Moderate or Light may be authorized up to three hours per week.” The BLM facilities in Lewistown are severely lacking in both size and applicability to meet the physical training demands of its workforce. For instance, there is no square footage allotted for exercise equipment, and only 1 shower/toilet in each (men and women) restroom. It is desired to provide access to a local fitness center for employees to maintain fitness/wellness, meet the requirements of their positions, and have access to more suitable locker rooms.

4. Estimated dollar value.

It is estimated this service will cost $60/month/employee. This equates to approximately $15,000/annually for permanent staff.

5. Statutory authority.

_XX_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

____41 U.S.C 1903 – Special emergency procurement authority (applies when in support of a contingency operation as defined in section 101(a) of title 10 or to facilitate the defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack against the United States).

6. Rationale supporting use of the authority stated in paragraph 5.

There are three vendors that provide this service in Lewistown.

• The Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at the Central Montana Medical Center. This facility is very small, does not increase the locker room capacity, and moderate sized groups of aggressively exercising wildland firefighters would be disruptive to those undergoing therapy for recent heart attacks.

• The Lewistown Civic Center. This facility is decent sized, but very outdated and dilapidated. The locker rooms are large but the fitness equipment is extremely outdated or inoperable.

• Fitness Central, which is a newer facility. It is specific to providing fitness/locker rooms to moderate sized groups of individuals. It is well maintained and organized and is staffed seven days a week from 0500 to 2100 and is accessible with a FOB 24 hours/day. This is the only facility in Lewistown that truly meets the needs of the BLM and is strongly recommended as the provider of a fitness center.

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR ACQUISITIONS UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

7. Other information.

The other sources described above were visited in person and determined by BLM Fire Staff to be unsuitable to meet the needs of the program. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Center is far too small, and our employees would be very disruptive. The Civic Center is very outdated and not maintained for working equipment and cleanliness.

The BLM, NCMD Fire Program is in the process of building a work-out facility, added on to its existing warehouse/office area. When this project is finished, access to a fitness center will not be needed.

8. The efforts to identify additional sources including the market research conducted.

The BLM visited all 3 facilities described in this document to research the local market to provide enhanced fitness/wellness/locker facilities for its fire program.

9. Future plans to permit competition.

The BLM, NCMD Fire Program is in the process of building a work-out facility, added on to its existing warehouse/office area. When this project is finished, access to a fitness center will not be needed. Project completion expected within two years.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a sole source (including brand name) basis.

Management/Program Analyst - Fire ___________________________ ______________ <Program/Project Officer Name> Signature Date <Title>

11. Certifications from the Contracting Officer:

I have visited the other vendors and do not see that they would meet the needs of the Fire Program. The cost for individual membership was between the two other vendors but the value far exceeds the cost. The BLM has obtained discounted pricing for the individual accounts and the vendor has worked with us in adding and subtracting members without charging regular fees for early termination. I determine the price to be fair and reasonable.

This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Approvals

< Contracting Officer Name> Signature Date Contracting Officer