ANNEX 1 - Justification and Approval Bridge III MEF SMB Training.pdf

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS PACIFIC-MCB CAMP BUTLER

PSC 557 BOX 2000

FPO AP 96379-2000

J&A No. 26-JNA-0002

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity. Marine Corps Installations Command Pacific, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler (MCIPAC – MCBB) Regional Contracting Office (RCO).

2. Description of the Action Being Approved. This Justification and Approval (J&A) seeks approval to award a six-month bridge contract, with an option to extend services for an additional six months, to the incumbent contractor, Patriot Group International, Inc.

(PGI). This bridge contract will address the continuing requirement for specialized individual skills and collective unit training for the Maritime Raid Force (MRF), MRF enablers, reconnaissance and surveillance teams, and scout snipers assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), in support of the III MEF Expeditionary Operations Training Group (EOTG).

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

Estimated Dollar Value

Supplies and Services to Be Acquired. Contract M67400-20-C-0002 was awarded to PGI on June 30, 2020, for a total amount of $6,311,338.50. The contract provides services primarily at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan, with additional off-island exercise planning support for III MEF EOTG. This unrestricted requirement was awarded as a Firm-Fixed-Price contract with a separate Cost CLIN for Travel expenses. The contract included a one-year base period, four one-year option periods, and an option to extend services for six months in accordance with FAR 52.217-8. The current contract, with all options exercised, ends on January 31, 2026.

This J&A authorizes and approves the award of a bridge contract to PGI to ensure continued services as detailed in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). These services include classroom and practical application instruction in Close Quarters Tactics (CQT), Urban Reconnaissance and Surveillance (R&S), opposed Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS), and Urban/Aerial Sniping. Contractors will also provide subject matter expertise, planning support, and Position Safety Officer support for Realistic Urban Training Exercise (RUTEX), Certification Exercise (CERTEX), and Interoperability Exercise (INTEROP).

O&MN Period of Performance FY26 Total Six (6) months continued services 01 February 2026 – 31 July 2026 $572,000.00

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition.

41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2) – a sole source acquisition under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority. Pursuant to the authority cited above, PGI is the only source of services that can satisfy the Government's immediate needs. Contract performance occurs Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS), specifically in Okinawa, Japan. PGI has demonstrated expertise and experience in providing these specialized training services at this location under the current contract.

These services require a deep understanding of the local environment, established relationships with local support entities, and expertise in providing classroom and practical application instruction in Close Quarters Tactics (CQT), Urban Reconnaissance and Surveillance (R&S), opposed Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), and Urban/Aerial Sniping.

The limited time available to re-compete the requirement reduces the ability to transition these services to a new contractor without a significant disruption to mission-critical training. Given the specialized nature of the training and the OCONUS location, it is highly unlikely that a new company could successfully recruit, hire, vet, and deploy qualified personnel with the necessary qualifications and experience within the required timeframe.

A lapse in these services would negatively affect the requiring activity's mission, particularly given recent shifts in exercise requirements stemming from emergent needs within the MEU's pre-deployment cycle. A major exercise is scheduled from 28 January 2026 to 7 February 2026, where contractor support is critical to successful execution. A lapse in contractor services during this period would severely impact the activity's ability to conduct effective training and meet mission objectives.

The MCIPAC RCO is actively pursuing a competitive procurement through GSA eBuy for the follow-on contract. However, the urgent need to maintain continuity of services and avoid mission degradation during the critical period leading up to and including the exercise. For these reasons, it is determined that PGI is the only source reasonably available to meet the Government's immediate need for these specialized training services.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable. This bridge contract is only an interim contract for six months to avoid a break in service. The new five-year contract will be solicited using competitive procedures and posted on GSA eBuy to promote competition. Therefore, additional offers will not be pursued for this bridge contract. In addition, ADC I&L (Contracts) issued a blanket waiver of the requirement at DFARS PGI 206.302-1(d) for bridge contracts on 23 December 2020 (SUBJ: Blanket Waiver of DFARS PGI 206.302-1(d) for Bridge Contracts). This memorandum applies to this action and waives the requirement to issue a request for information or sources sought notice when utilizing the authority at FAR 6.302-1.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost. The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government for the services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable. This determination is based on the following factors:

• The proposed bridge contract prices will be directly compared to the prices currently being paid for equivalent services under the existing contract, during its current 6-month extension. This comparison will serve as a baseline for assessing the reasonableness of the proposed costs.

• The Contracting Officer will engage in negotiations with PGI to establish fair and reasonable prices for the bridge contract. The Government will propose that prices remain at the current levels already determined to be fair and reasonable under the existing contract. While maintaining current pricing is the initial objective, the Contracting Officer will also explore any potential opportunities for cost savings or efficiencies without compromising the quality or performance of the required services.

• An Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) will be developed to serve as a benchmark for evaluating the contractor's proposed costs. The IGE will be based on an analysis of the Government's internal resources, historical data, and any available market research information.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition. The MCIPAC RCO was in the process of soliciting a new contract competitively using GSA eBuy, in accordance with FAR Part 8.4 procedures, to fulfill the continued services currently performed under M67400-20-C-0002. The Market Research Report and Acquisition Plan were finalized and routed for review and signatures just prior to the government shutdown. There was already a delay in the timeline to issue the solicitation due to additional services being included into the follow-on contract and funding not being approved to cover the full estimated cost of the base year. This factor coupled with the recent government shutdown has further delayed the ability to solicit and award the follow-on contract without a break in service. The bridge contract authorized by this J&A provides the necessary time to resolve these funding issues and ensure that sufficient resources are available to support a competitive solicitation for the full requirement. To avoid the issues encountered with the initial procurement, we will ensure a realistic solicitation timeline is in place to allow a potentially new contractor to properly transition.

J&A No. 26-JNA-0002

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this Justification and its supporting acquisition planning documents, except as noted herein are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Technical Cognizance:

Maj Arthur A. Johnson

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW

I have determined this Justification is legally sufficient.

Kristin C. Hendrick

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Angela J. Dash

Upon the basis of the above justification, I hereby approve, as Chief of the Contracting Office (CCO), the solicitation of the proposed procurement(s) described herein using other than full and open competition, pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2).

Maj Erich G. Lamm