CUI Stewart JA 2021_57 CVC Atlanta_Redacted.pdf

CUI

Control No.: MICC 2021-57

Contractor: Sheraton Atlanta Program/Equipment: Lodging, Meals, and Laundry Services

CUI

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR SUBPART 13.5 SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL

ITEMS – OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

Program/Equipment: The 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (ESC) has a requirement for lodging, transportation, meals, and laundry services for 222 Service Members who were mobilized to support the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 ("COVID- 19") Vaccination Center ("CVC") operating in Atlanta, Georgia.

Authority: 41 U.S.C. § 1903 Simplified Procedures for Special Emergency Procurement as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5.

Amount:

Prepared by: SFC Rafael G. Alameda Phone:

Contract Specialist Date: 30 MAR 2021 Email:

Contracting Officer: SFC Daryl D. Slate Phone:

Contracting Officer Date: 30 MAR 2021 Email:

Technical: Phone:

Date: 30 MAR 2021

Requirements: Phone:

Date: 30 MAR 2021

Lt Col Jeffery R. Brandenburg 15th U.S. Air Force Email:

MAJ Arika M. Austin 4th ESC Email:

Controlled by: U.S. Army Controlled by: MICC–Fort Stewart (CCMI-CBR-ST) C.U.I. Category: General Procurement and Acquisition Distribution/Limited Dissemination Controls: FEDCON POC: Karen Sorapuru

Contractor: Sheraton Atlanta Program/Equipment: Lodging, Meals, and Laundry Services uniformed services under sections 688, 12301(a), 12302, 12304, 12304a, 12305, or 12406 of title 10 of the United States Code." As such, these services qualify as supporting a contingency operation under FAR Part 13.5. This order was a result of the new National Command Authority's change in the execution of combatting COVID-19.

This whole of government approach involves the rapid mobilization of military medical providers and medical support personnel to these CVCs in order to assist in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. This order was almost a no-notice order because of the rapid reaction to the increase in vaccine availability. This is a vital time in our Nation's fight against COVID-19, as cases are still near all-time highs, and the mortality rates are still high. Rapid vaccine administrations are essential to the Federal Government's approach to this public health emergency. The 4th ESC was mobilized to assist in logistical support of supplies to aid in testing and containment of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to conduct the duties assigned, the Soldiers require lodging, meals, transportation, and laundry services to maintain personal protective measures by minimizing contact with the general population. The lodging must be as close as possible to the site of duty to limit the travel distance and risks involved with transmission of the virus, aid in minimizing the impacts, and increase social distancing practices. The lodging location must also provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner due to early report hours and late-night end of duty day and provide laundry services to ensure that Service Members have clean clothing that reduces their risk to COVID-19. In order to have a contract in place to support the 222 personnel given the few days’ notice, time limited the market research and number of vendors orally solicited. Of the vendors that could meet the full requirement and provided a quote, the Atlanta Sheraton quote was the lowest price technically acceptable.

In the execution of this mission, the 4th ESC must comply with executive orders, DoD orders, issuances, and policy to ensure compliance with directed force health protection measures (i.e., HPCON measures) throughout the area of operations in order to prevent further spread/outbreak of COVID-19 within U.S. personnel (Service Members, civilians, contractors, and dependents), or confine it to as small a population as possible. Further, the command has a public responsibility to comply with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance in furtherance of the same. In order to comply and put protective measures in place, the 4th ESC has an urgent need for lodging, transportation, meals, and laundry services.

This requirement will assist in the fight to "Flatten the Curve" and maintain social distances to sustain a healthy force in compliance with CDC policy while supporting the COVID-19 national emergency. Additionally, while engaged with the population supporting COVID-19 vaccination distribution, the lodging, transportation, meals, and laundry services will minimize additional interaction and decrease potential exposure.

With every day that passes, confirmed COVID-19 cases spike, and the death toll increases. It is imperative that these services are obtained as quickly as possible to protect public health. The U.S. Government cannot apply standard procurement times to an acquisition of this urgent nature. Even a short timeline of 30-60 days to award could result in hundreds of thousands more being infected and thousands more dying.

Individual occupancy will mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and provide the adequate social distancing parameters recommended by the CDC. Social distancing involves maintaining sufficient space, six feet between people, to minimize disease spread via airborne virus particles.

The United States has been infected with the COVID-19 virus causing extensive economic dislocation, loss of life, and presents an existential threat to the United States.

Local and State government's resources have been depleted. The President of the United States (POTUS) has issued a declaration of National Emergency and called for the partial mobilization of Reserve Forces and Title 32 Forces. FRAGORD 06

USARNORTH OPORD (AN-OPORD-21-010) FOR DOD VACCINE SUPPORT TEAMS

ISO COMMUNITY VACCINATION CENTERS dated 192100ZFEB21 was issued to help support the national call to support CVC.

Lodging, transportation, meals, and laundry is an urgent need of the mission to provide adequate health and welfare and safety of the 222 Service Members. Mission will dictate the need for more rooms or less as missions continue. The request for an initial 82 days mobilization order with options of extension, if needed, in aid of Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA), ISO COVID-19.

b. Alternatives.

1) Market Research was conducted on 8-10 March 2021 and revealed several hotels in the surrounding area of downtown Atlanta. However, only seven (7) hotels met the required distance from the CVC site. Of those seven (7), only five (5) were able to accommodate the estimated number of 222 personnel for the estimated 60 day period.

2) Hotels outside the minimal walking distance are alternative solutions based on the lodging, meals and laundry requirements. However, these hotels require an additional transportation requirements which will increase cost, commute time and exposure to COVID-19 when travelling between the CVC site and hotel.

c. Impact if not approved. If the J&A is not approved, Service Members are going to mobilize to a site with no lodging, transportation, meals, and laundry services available for them to use. The delay in finding suitable alternative solutions would gravely impact their mission timeline to set up an effective COVID-19 vaccine distribution site in support of the President's directive to stop the spread.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: In accordance with FAR 5.202(a) (2), this action will not be synopsized.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: In the event that additional lodging, meals, and transportation services in support of the COVID-19 Vaccination mission are required in the future, the Government will canvas the specified geographical area to identify as many sources as possible. This will allow for all sources with the required capacity to support the mission and an opportunity to support the subsequent requirements.

8. Market Research: Market research was conducted from 8 March 2021 thru 10 March 2021 by the requiring activity and contracting team: SSG Christina M. Helsham, and SFC Daryl D. Slate. Market research was minimal due to the urgent nature of this procurement and the lack of requirements package and historical data for this requirement. A total of 5 hotels within a two (2) mile radius of the CVC Atlanta site were found that could provide the required services of lodging, meals, transportation, and laundry.

9. Interested Sources: Of the vendors researched within a 2 miles radius of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, five vendors were able to fully meet the requirement and were orally solicited for quotes. These vendors were the Atlanta Marriot Marquis, the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center, The Westin Peachtree Plaza, and the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel.

These services are required urgently to ensure Service Members have adequate lodging within a vicinity that reduces travel time, minimizes COVID-19 exposure, and provides an opportunity to get adequate rest to support their mission. With the short notice for the task force to mobilize, these services are urgent in nature and can negatively affect the mission's success if not secured by the required timeline.

10. Other Facts: No other facts