Control Number: LRN-FY26-07

CUI

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Nashville District (LRN), 110 9th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203.

2. Description of Action: This justification and approval (J&A) is being prepared for a sole source service contract for parking spaces at the Convention Center Authority (Music City Center Garage). On 17 December 2023, GSA deemed the government parking facility for the Estes Kefauver Federal Building unsafe for occupation. The GSA parking garage has since been demolished and there are currently no suitable government-controlled parking facilities available in the area.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The USACE LRN has a requirement to lease three hundred and twenty (320) passenger vehicle parking spaces, two hundred seventy (270) Restricted (parking authorized from 0600-1800) and fifty (50) Unrestricted (parking available 24 hours/7-days a week) within the Convention Center Authority (Music City Center Garage) located at 701 Demonbreun Street in Nashville, Tennessee. The request to lease parking spaces at the Convention Center Authority (Music City Center Garage) is due to the parking garage’s proximity to the Estes Kefauver Federal Building.

This parking garage is approximately 878 feet from the Federal Building – which is the office of USACE LRN. Additionally, the Music City Center Garage has the capacity to provide up to three hundred and twenty (320) parking spaces for the Nashville District Corps of Engineers Employees.

Estimated Contract Value (including options): $ (base and one (1) option)

4. Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for this action is 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1901, as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.501(a)(1)(ii), sole source (including brand name) under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. Background: There are no suitable government-controlled parking facilities available in the area. Leasing of parking spaces at the Convention Center Authority (Music City Center Garage) is requested due to the parking garage's proximity to the Estes Kefauver Federal Building. Previous parking contracts have resulted in cancellations due to price increases, and non-renewal of contract for leased parking.

These contracts were for a limited number of parking spaces in the downtown Nashville area because at the time, there was a GSA controlled parking facility.

b. Justification: LRN has determined that parking is needed to ensure operating efficiency per Title 41 CFR Part 102-74, Subpart B. This decision is founded on a holistic assessment of various operational, logistical, and mission-centric factors that directly influence our agency's effectiveness and efficiency.

c. Alternatives: Based on the market research conducted, other parking garage/lot alternatives within the vicinity of the Estes Kefauver Federal building do not have the capacity required to accommodate 320 vehicles.

d. Impact: Failure to secure this sole-source contract for 320 parking spaces will have a significant and immediate negative impact on the operational effectiveness, personnel, and mission readiness of the agency. This situation is made more critical by the executive order signed by President Trump on 20 January 2025, requiring federal employees to return to full-time, in person work. This order created an unforeseen, large-scale demand for daily parking in downtown Nashville.

(1) Disruption to Mission-Essential Operations: The lack of a centralized and guaranteed parking solution will directly impede our ability to ensure that all 320 employees can report for duty in a timely and predictable manner. This will result in mission delays, decreased productivity, and an inability to guarantee operational continuity, which is critical for our agency's function.

(2) Negative Impact on Personnel: The daily struggle to find and pay for parking will create undue stress and financial hardship for our employees. This is particularly acute given that, due to the executive order signed by President Trump in 2025, a significant portion of our workforce who never anticipated a daily commute downtown are now mandated to do so. This policy change has forced employees into a congested and expensive parking market they were not prepared for, which directly and negatively affects morale and could lead to difficulties in retaining and recruiting essential personnel.

(3) Safety and Security Risks: Forcing employees to find parking in scattered, and potentially unsecured, locations throughout downtown Nashville introduces unnecessary safety and security risks. Employees, particularly those who work late or irregular hours, or those that often go TDY, would be more vulnerable to criminal activity. A single, monitored parking facility provides a much higher level of security for both personnel and their vehicles.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: A Notice of Intent (NOI) to Sole Source was posted on 22 December 2025 on SAM.gov for ten (10) calendar days. Only one (1) response was received from Industry stating they currently do not own any parking facilities in Nashville but are actively identifying and engaging parking garage owners for a sublease agreement.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Future competitive procurements for the same requirement are anticipated. To increase competition for future acquisitions, planned actions include early exchanges with Industry, e.g., industry day and Request for

Information (RFI). Additionally, LRN anticipates an office move in 2028; therefore, any future procurements for this requirement will have a different scope and potentially a different area of the city where parking will be needed.

8. Market Research: Market Research was conducted via the telephone and various internet sources to determine the availability and capacity of parking garage/lot options within the vicinity of the Estes Kefauver Federal Building. Below are the results:

a. Premier Parking Gulch Crossing: 1033 Demonbreun St, is approximately 1884 feet from the Federal Building. The monthly rate is $216 per parking space with 24-hour access. The Gulch Crossing garage currently does not have enough capacity available to accommodate 320 vehicles and has approximately 120 stairs between the parking facilities and the office.

b. Metropolis Parking Lot: Demonbreun St and 11th Ave South is approximately 1800 feet from the Federal Building. The monthly rate is $163 per parking space with 24-hour access. The Metropolis parking lot is not secured and only has capacity for 115 vehicles and stairs would have to be utilized to make it to the office building.

c. Nashville Yards: 130 10th Ave N. is 1250 feet from the Federal Building. The monthly parking rate is $230 per vehicle for 24-hour access. The Nashville Yards garage currently does not have enough capacity available to accommodate 320 vehicles.

d. Premier Parking 5th and Broadway Garage: 598B Broadway, is approximately 1584 feet from the Federal Building. The monthly rate is $350 per parking space with 24-hour access. The Premier parking garage at this location does not have the capacity available to accommodate 320 vehicles and is not wheelchair accessible.

e. Music City Center Garage: 701 Demonbreun St, is approximately 1584 feet from the Federal Building. Music City Center Garage has the capacity available to accommodate 320 vehicles. The monthly parking rate is $130 per space for restricted access and $150 per space for unrestricted.

Additional market research was conducted using the SBA Dynamic Small Business Search targeting small businesses under the NAICS 812930 for zip code 37203. The search yielded zero (0) results.

Market research was also conducted using the GSA e-library. Zero (0) Federal Supply Schedules exist for parking garages.

9. Interested Sources: The NOI revealed one (1) interested source who currently does not own any parking facilities in Nashville but is actively identifying and engaging parking garage owners for a sublease agreement.

of 41 U.S.C. 1901, subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

1/20/2026 Date: 2026.01.20 Date: Signature: 11:09:45 -06'00'

Samantha D. Bautch Contracting Officer