Benning JA B2026_03_GM Bridge FINAL_Redacted.pdf

Control No.: 2026-3

MICC Office of Counsel:

Small Business Professional:

Director, MICC-Ft Benning:

and no other types of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for.

The current grounds maintenance contract, held by BJD Services, LLC, is set to expire following a six-month extension that was executed to allow the Directorate of Public Works (DPW) to pursue an Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA). After determining that an IGSA was not in the government's best interest, the DPW began pursuing a new follow-on contract. However, delays caused by personnel turnover and requirement revisions have delayed the award of the competitive follow-on contract until December 2026, creating an immediate need for a short-term bridge contract to prevent a lapse in service.

A lapse in grounds maintenance service would lead to the overgrowth of vegetation, creating fire hazards and unsanitary conditions that would be detrimental to the health, safety, and mission of the Fort Benning community. The incumbent contractor, BJD Services, LLC, is the only source reasonably available to provide the required services without a period of disruption. BJD Services, LLC has the established personnel, equipment, and procedural knowledge to ensure the continuity of operations.

Transitioning to a new contractor for a short-term bridge would introduce unacceptable risk of increase in vectors, fire hazards, and nuisance and also is not feasible given the time required for a competitive procurement and transition period. Therefore, a sole-source award to BJD Services, LLC is the only viable option to ensure uninterrupted services while the follow-on competitive contract is finalized.

a. Background: Contract W911SF21D0002 was solicited in October 2020 via System for Award Management (SAM) and was a 100% Small Business (SB) set aside.

A Firm-Fixed-Price contract consisting of a 12-month base and four 12-month option years was awarded to BJD Services, LLC on 30 December 2020, with a total contract ceiling of $14.3M. To potentially optimize operational efficiency and resource allocation, the Fort Benning Directorate of Public Works (DPW) elected to pursue an Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) for comprehensive grounds maintenance services with the Columbus, Georgia municipality. This initiative aimed to ensure cost-effective, high-quality installation upkeep while strengthening collaborative partnerships with local government entities.

FAR Clause 52.217-8 was executed on W911SF21D0002 to provide additional time for DPW to pursue an IGSA contract for grounds maintenance services on 13 January 2026. DPW later concluded that it was not in the best interest of the Government to establish an IGSA for Grounds Maintenance services and would pursue a new follow-on FAR-based contract.

The Fort Benning DPW submitted the complete requirements documentation on 11

March 2026 for the new follow-on requirement; however, personnel turnover and continuous revisions to the original requirements documentation have delayed the follow-on award which is now projected for December 2026.

b. Alternatives.

1) Allowing suspension of services until the IGSA is finalized. This is not a viable option. Failure to award a short-term bridge contract would be catastrophic as there would be no grounds maintenance on the installation. The overgrowth of vegetation would be detrimental to the health and welfare of the entire Fort Benning community.

MICC-Fort Benning will need adequate time to modify and transition requirements once the IGSA has been fully executed.

2) Use of In-House Resources. The current contractor employs adequate staff to perform the grounds maintenance functions at the current level of effort. It would take a minimum under exceptional circumstances 90-120 days to recruit and hire through the civilian personnel system and then an additional 90 days to train the personnel necessary to support the current requirement. This several-month delay renders this alternative as not a logical solution.

3) Award a bridge contract to the incumbent. The incumbent contractor is the only source reasonably available to provide the required labor and services for the requested period of performance at the best value price to the government. BJD Services, LLC has the labor structure in place that will ensure the continuity of operations of services, thereby not jeopardizing mission success.

c. Impact if justification not approved: Failure to approve this action would significantly impact the core mission of Fort Benning to train active, reserve, and multinational units and service members and jeopardizes their life, health, and safety.

The overgrowth of grass, weeds, and brush would invite vectors, create fire hazards, and create a nuisance, which would be catastrophic to the Fort Benning community.

7. Efforts to Obtain Competition: In accordance with FAR 5.101(a) (DFARS CD 2026-O0003), a pre-solicitation notice will be posted to the GPE.

a. Effective competition: Because this is a sole source action, effective competition is not applicable.

b. Subcontracting competition: The incumbent contractor is a small business and a subcontracting plan is not required.

8. Actions to Increase Competition: Competition for this bridge contract is not possible given the time constraints. The purpose of this bridge is to provide for immediate services during the time necessary for DPW and MICC to establish and finalize the follow-on contract for these services.

9. Market Research: In accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement DFARS 206.103-170(d), and DFARS Procedures, Guidance and

12. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

13. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

14. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. This determination will be made using a combination of price analysis techniques found in FAR 15.404-1(b) by comparing historical prices paid and the IGCE.

15. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.