A2 Justification FAR Part 12 Sole Source (JUNE 2025)_RA-KO-JA_redacted.pdf

This is a Justification Review for Approval of Other Than Full and Open Competition for a sole-source bridge contract. The document justifies awarding an EXORD 290-25 Catered Meals Bridge Contract to Sardi's Catering, Inc. for the District of Columbia National Guard supporting emergency operations from 15 May 2026 through 28 June 2026.

The requirement is for procurement of catered meals to support Service Members at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and the DC Armory during the Make DC Safe and Beautiful and America 250 missions. The contract requires delivery of approximately 13,200 meals daily, consisting of 4,300 breakfast meals, 4,300 lunch meals, 4,300 dinner meals, and 300 midnight chow meals, prepared in commercial kitchens compliant with FDA Food Code and local health regulations. The estimated contract value is redacted, with a firm-fixed-price structure funded by Army O&M funds. The justification cites Title 41 U.S.C. §1901(c)(3) and §1903(b)(3) as authority for other than full and open competition, claiming emergency procurement authority is necessary to prevent a critical lapse in life-support services beginning 15 May 2026. Prior competitive procurement W912R1-26-Q-7002 resulted in sixteen offers evaluated between 07 January 2026 and 14 January 2026, with two vendors rated Highest Rated Acceptable and Sardi's Catering selected as the lowest-priced, highest-rated acceptable offer. The justification documents that Sardi's Catering is the only vendor currently capable of meeting the immediate 15 May 2026 start date without a critical service lapse, given prior contract performance and established supply chains. The Government published a notice of intent to sole source on SAM.gov on 05 May 2026 with responses due 11 May 2026. The Command Advocate for Competition approved the sole-source justification for this 45-day bridge contract pending a longer-term competitive procurement.