CUI_FSH LSJ 2023_40_ REDACTED_Redacted.pdf

CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

Control No.: MICC 2023-40

6(a)(1)(i)(B) - Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. Background: The General Services Administration issued a Blank Purchase Agreement (BPA) ) to on 14 June 2021 for the SaaS IT infrastructure with two (2) 1-year options to support the E-EFMP program. Due to funding constraints with the BPA issued, the GSA truncated the final option year from 31 December 2023 to 15 May 2023. This prompted HQDA to engage MICC-FSH to request a follow-on contract with multiple option years to be awarded immediately.

During Market Research, MICC-FSH discovered that the U.S. Air Force was working to implement the joint JEEP contract which would potentially support the Army’s E- EFMP program but would not be executed until on or around 1 October 2023. In order to prevent a break-in-service, it was determined that a 1-year bridge contract would best support HQDA to continue services until the JEEP contract was executed.

To the KO’s knowledge, this is the first time this authority (FAR 8.405- 6(a)(1)(i)(C)) is being utilized for this requirement. Various databases, (SAM.Gov, FPDS-NG, EDA) were researched in an effort to determine the previous authority utilized for the BPA.

Inquires to the GSA KO were non-responsive and database queries produced no results.

b. Rational. Headquarters, Department of the Army, G9 with support of developed the U.S. Army Enterprise-Wide EFMP cloud-based SaaS solution. Military families with special needs face a unique set of challenges due to their frequent relocation to installations inside the United States and overseas. With each relocation, a family with special needs must often find new specialized medical care providers or a new school with appropriate special education services. The E-EFMP is the DOD program designed to support military families in identifying their medical and/or educational needs, ensuring these needs are considered during service member assignment nomination.

c. Alternatives: A Request for Information (RFI) was conducted by HQDA and noted that other contractors could potentially support an E-EFMP SaaS infrastructure, but due to time constraints of the truncated contract, cost impacts of revising the IT infrastructure, and program impacts to military families in the permanent change-of-station (PCS) season (spring to fall), HQDA determined it was not in the best interest of the government to pursue a new IT solution.

An additional RFI was conducted by MICC-FSH and responses were received from four (4) potential contractors, one who noted some experience in E-EFMP IT solutions.

Control No.: MICC 2023-40

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of Enterprise - Exceptional Family Member Program (E-EFMP) System services under Title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (Title 41 U.S.C. 251, et Seq.)

and Title 40 U.S.C. 501, Services for Executive Agencies, as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B) - Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. The estimated value of the contract is for a one-year period of performance from approximately 16 May 2023 through 15 May 2024 and includes a six-month extension of services in accordance with FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, from 16 May 2024 through 15 November 2024. The approval is subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Alternate Advocate for Competition U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX