COM-F_JA_Sep_-_Feb_Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

I. CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, 763d Specialized

Contracting Squadron, 507 Symington Dr., Rm. W202, Scott AFB, IL 62225-5022. Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition. Purchase Request numbers: F3SF554143AC01, F3SF564143AC01, F3SF554157AC01, and F3SF564156AC01.

II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING PROCESSED

Through this individual Justification and Approval (J&A), 763 SCONS/PKB intends to issue a firm fixed price (FFP) modification to extend support for the existing Communications, Operations and Maintenance Functions (COM-F) contract FA4452-09-C-0001. The current contract expires 31Aug 14; this bridge effort for six months (1 Sep 14 – 28 Feb 15) will be accomplished via bilateral modification.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/ SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE

AGENCY’S NEEDS

Under the contemplated contract extension, NCI will provide technical and support tasks associated with help desk, applications support and configuration management, in support of the

Mobility Air Force Command and Control (MAF C2)/Business Systems. Tasks under the

Performance Work Statement (PWS) include support of the following programs: Advanced

Computer Flight Plan (ACFP), Consolidated Air Mobility Planning System (CAMPS), Commercial Operations Integrated System (COINS), Global Air Transportation Execution

System (GATES), Global Command and Control System (GCCS), Global Decision Support

System (GDSS). Technical support includes conducting in-depth troubleshooting and fault isolation, providing technical expertise on all systems, conducting repair and maintenance to preinstalled hardware/software and peripherals, performing user account maintenance, minor software upgrade and patches as directed by Program Management Office (PMO), auditing of system logs, and system metrics gathering/analysis. Support will be the same as provided under the contract which is scheduled to expire 31 Aug 14.

The Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) for the extension is

(six months support at /month for a total value of ). The period of performance for this effort will be from 1 Sep 2014 through 28 February 2015. The extension will be funded with FY14 (Sep 14) and FY15 (Oct 14- Feb 15) Transportation Working Capital

Funds (TWCF) and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funds. The current contract value is

IV. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2).

V. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

OR NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES THE USE OF THE AUTHORITY

CITED ABOVE (APPLICABILITY OF AUTHORITY)

The proposed extension of contract FA4452-09-C-0001 is for the continuation of highly specialized technical services, and will provide additional time necessary to award a competitive follow-on contract (scheduled start date 1 Dec 14), and allow for a three-month transition (1 Dec

14 – 28 Feb 15). This FFP contract was awarded under a full and open competition as an A-76 study, using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection approach. The six-month option to extend services provided under FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, was utilized for the period of 1 Mar 14 – 31 Aug 14. Due the unexpected number of proposals (11) received for the follow-on contract, the start date of the follow-on contract has been pushed back from 1

Jun 14 to 1 Dec 14 to allow adequate time for proposal evaluation. NCI has been providing uninterrupted service since November 2008. Due to the highly specialized nature of this requirement, NCI is the only contractor who can perform the duties required by the PWS during the time between the scheduled expiration of the current contract and award of the follow-on contract. This bridge action will eliminate serious potential impact and unacceptable delays to the mission of HQ AMC/A6.

The COM-F contract provides critical services supporting the HQ AMC/A6 Mobility Air Force

Command and Control (MAF C2) and business systems which are directly linked to the war fighter by providing airlift, air refueling mission planning, cargo tracking, passenger tracking, crew scheduling, and mission execution. It is difficult, if not impossible, for United States military forces to rapidly deploy or be supported effectively without the assets and expertise provided by NCI under the current COM-F contract. AMC MAF C2 and Business Systems processes, procedures, and services must be consistent and reliable in peacetime, during contingencies and throughout the full spectrum of war. The Information Technology (IT) resources enabling the efficient and effective management of this C2 and business systems capability must also provide these services at the highest levels of availability, integrity and confidentiality. The specific technical and functional knowledge needed to maintain these systems requires advanced skills in a wide array of hosts, network devices, protocols, communications, engineering, security and usage of these systems. Therefore, this extension is for continued performance of a highly specialized service.

NCI already has in place the experienced staff and tools necessary to complete the current service it is performing in accordance with the program schedule, which requires uninterrupted service through 28 Feb 15. Continuing the services provided by NCI is critical to ensuring the integrity of the mission critical systems. Due to the complexity and diversity of system requirements, and to minimize risk to the mission systems, transitioning these skills at the end of this contract is estimated to take three months. This transition period allows for NCI to phase-out and the new contractor to phase-in. The transition will include the tasks, materials and knowledge imperative in ensuring continuity of mission to the supported AMC systems and programs in fulfilling their requirement to provide C2 and Business Systems information technology.

The Government has determined that award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Air Force’s requirements. Award to a new contractor for this six-month time period would result in a gap in service and not allow for a phase-out period by the incumbent contractor. To have a new contractor supply this support during the proposed extension without the incumbent contractor phasing out would cause system support shortfalls and would negatively affect program schedules. It would be impossible for a new contractor to provide the services required in an uninterrupted manner for the short performance period described. Furthermore, it would be difficult for a new contractor to acquire the technical knowledge and specific program expertise to pick up the contract work without a delay or unacceptable drop in performance, resulting in unacceptable risk to the A6 mission. GATES is one of six IT systems supported by NCI. The following GATES events will be negatively impacted from lack of expertise and the initial time to understand the system (learning curve):

1) Scheduled cutover from GATES Central (Scott) to Alt Location (DECC, St. Louis).

2) Operational equipment upgrade (Oracle 25K to M9000).

The start date of the follow-on contract is not anticipated until 1 Dec 14, three months after the current contract expires, and phase-out by the incumbent contractor is estimated to take an additional three months, for a total of six months. Accordingly, NCI is the only firm capable of providing the services described in Section III above without the U.S. Air Force experiencing unacceptable delays in fulfilling its requirements.

VI. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE

SOLICITIED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS DEEMED PRACTICABLE

In accordance with FAR 5.201, a synopsis (synopsis number COM-F) was posted on

FedBizOpps (FBO) on 5 Jun 14. The posting notified all interested parties of the Government’s intention to extend the current contract six months. Interested parties were given the opportunity to identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement, or submit proposals. Only one vendor, NES Associates, LLC (address not provided), responded to the synopsis, however, they were interested in the follow-on effort and not the advertised bridge effort.

VII. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE

ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE

The Contracting Officer will determine the price fair and reasonable based on price analysis as described in FAR 15.404-1(b) (2)(ii), and (vi), comparison of proposed prices to historical prices paid, and comparison of proposed prices with prices obtained through market research for the same or similar items. Current contract prices were determined fair and reasonable based on adequate price competition.

VIII. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE

RESULTS, OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT

CONDUCTED

As described in Section VI above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, was conducted by synopsis of the proposed extension, advising industry of the pending justification, and soliciting inquiries from interested parties. Only one vendor, NES Associates, LLC, responded to the synopsis with questions. NES Associates, LLC was interested in the follow-on contract and not the bridge effort.

A sources sought synopsis for the follow-on contract was posted to FedBizOpps on 5 Feb 13.

This posting, and market research for the COM-F follow-on contract revealed additional companies that may be able to perform the required services, however there is not enough time remaining before the current contract performance ends to allow a new contractor to stand up the required support services for this highly specialized requirement. Transition time for this requirement took 120 days and is anticipated to be 90 days for the follow-on contract. NCI, Inc.

is the only contractor qualified to perform successfully during the six months from contract expiration through a 90 day transition by a new contractor without substantial unacceptable delays and risk. None of the interested parties to the follow-on effort identified an interest in the six-month extension.

IX. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND

OPEN COMPETITION

None.

X. LIST OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE

ACQUISITION

See section VI above.

XI. A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO

REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE MAKING

SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITIONS FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED

No action taken. This six-month bridge effort is required to allow adequate time for evaluation of the 11 proposals received in response to the follow-on COM-F II solicitation.

XII. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION

The Contracting Officer’s signature on the Coordination and Approval Document is evidence that she has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of her knowledge and belief (FAR 6.303-2(b)(12)).

XIII. TECHNICAL/ REQUIREMENTS PERSONNEL’S CERTIFICATION

As evidenced by his signature on the Coordination and Approval Document, the Program

Manager has certified that any supporting data contained herein, which is his responsibility, is both accurate and complete (FAR 6.303-2(c)).