D.1 J&A Determination - FAR Part 12 Acq Under SAT - Honda Motorcycles - Redacted.pdf

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO

3250 CATLIN AVENUE

QUANTICO, VIRGINIA 22134-5001

Justification for Restricting Competition – FAR Part 12 Acquisitions under the SAT

MEMORANDUM TO THE FILE

Subj: Justification for Restricting Competition for a FAR Part 12 Commercial Acquisition

1. Identification of the Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Contracting Activity is the Marine Corps Installations National Capital Region – Regional Contracting Office (MCINCR-RCO), located at 2010 Henderson Road, MCB Quantico, VA 22134. The Requiring Activity is the Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ) Safety Division, located at MCB Quantico, VA 22134.

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved.

The action submitted for approval is the procurement of three (3) brand-name, fuel-injected Honda Rebel 300 motorcycles. This requirement will be executed as a new, firm-fixed-price contract to support the United States Marine Corps (USMC) mandated Basic Rider Training courses conducted by the Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ) Traffic Safety Division.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The Traffic Safety Division at Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ) is requesting the acquisition of three (3) fuel-injected Honda Rebel 300 motorcycles to support the United States Marine Corps (USMC) mandated Basic Rider Training courses. These motorcycles are essential for fulfilling the requirements outlined in MCO 5100.29C, Safety Management Systems, Volume 3, Marine Corps Traffic Safety Program, which mandates that all Marine Corps installations provide Basic Rider Courses using contracted instructors.

Three motorcycles are needed to replace aging 2014 Honda Rebel models currently in use. The existing fleet presents increasing safety concerns and incurs high maintenance costs, making replacement both a practical and necessary measure.

This initiative directly supports the Marine Corps’ broader safety objectives by ensuring all service members have access to foundational motorcycle training. By maintaining a reliable and safe training fleet, MCBQ contributes to the reduction of motorcycle-related fatalities across the Marine Corps.

The Government intends to issue a single Firm Fixed Price (FFP) order with fixed-price award. The required delivery date of 60 days ADC.

The total estimated value for this procurement is $XXX. FY26 Marine Corps Operations and Maintenance (O&M) appropriations will be used to fund the base year of performance as outline in the table below: The total estimated value for this procurement is $XXX.

FY26 Total (Base Year Only)

O&M Funding $XX $XX

Base Year

Part Number Part Number/Description QTY Unit Price Extended Price

CMX300ACT Honda Rebel 300 3

TOTAL

4. Identification of the exception to fair opportunity and the supporting rationale.

Use 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) and FAR 6.104 when the requirement can only be met by one responsible source. This section must identify the exact statutory paragraph and explain why it applies. For this acquisition, the applicable authority is 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), implemented by FAR 6.104, because MCB already has several Honda Rebel 300’s used for training. The MCB Quantico (MCBQ) Safety Division requires the procurement of brand-name Honda Rebel 300 fuel-injected motorcycles to maintain standardization within its existing training fleet.

• Logistical and Maintenance Efficiencies: MCBQ currently owns and operates an established fleet of Honda Rebel 300 motorcycles dedicated to mandated rider training. Introducing a different make or model would disrupt the established supply chain, parts inventory, and maintenance agreements. The MCBQ Garrison Mobile Equipment (GME) maintenance department is fully trained and equipped to service the Honda Rebel 300. Furthermore, the Government has established relationships with external vendors for proprietary Honda parts. Introducing an alternative brand would require the duplication of maintenance training, diagnostic equipment, and spare parts inventory, resulting in unnecessary costs and extended equipment downtime.

• Curriculum and Safety Standardization: The Honda Rebel 300 is the industry-standard training platform recognized and highly recommended by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) for the Basic Rider Course (BRC). Its specific size, physical configuration, and handling characteristics are optimized for novice riders. Standardizing the fleet with the Honda Rebel 300 ensures consistent, safe, and repeatable training conditions for all USMC and Department of War (DoW) students, mitigating safety risks associated with mixed-fleet instruction.

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires using the authority cited.

The specific nature of the Basic Rider Course (BRC) curriculum and student safety requirements at Camp Upshur necessitates the unique physical and mechanical characteristics of the brand-name Honda Rebel 300:

• Training & Curriculum Optimization: The Honda Rebel 300 is specifically designed with a low seat height, predictable fuel-injected power delivery, and lightweight maneuverability. These unique ergonomics are critical for novice riders, directly reducing student anxiety and improving course completion rates under the mandated curriculum.

• Safety & Standardized Instruction: Because the Honda Rebel 300 is the primary motorcycle platform utilized across Marine Corps installations, maintaining brand-name continuity ensures that transferring active-duty personnel receive uniform, standardized instruction. Introducing a different vehicle model with varying throttle responses or clutch friction zones would introduce unnecessary safety risks on the training range.

Immediate Mission Impact: This procurement is required to immediately replace aging, carbureted 2014 Honda Rebel units that present escalating maintenance liabilities and safety concerns. Introducing a non-conforming model at this stage would delay the decommissioning of these legacy assets, disrupt training schedules, and prevent the MCBQ Traffic Safety Division from maintaining compliance with the rider certification mandates in MCO 5100.29C.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as possible, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by part 5 and, if not, which exception under part 5 applies.

In accordance with FAR Part 5, a combined synopsis/solicitation will be publicized on the government-wide point of entry (SAM.gov) to ensure the requirement is visible to as many potential sources as possible.

Market research indicates there is a robust regional and national network of authorized commercial vendors and small business dealers capable of supplying brand-name Honda Rebel 300 motorcycles. By posting the solicitation publicly as a small business set-aside, the Government expects to receive competitive bids from multiple authorized resellers, thereby securing fair and reasonable pricing. The required Brand Name Justification will be posted along with the solicitation in accordance with FAR 6.302-1(c).

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer (CO) will determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for the brand-name Honda Rebel 300 motorcycles is fair and reasonable prior to award. Since this acquisition will be competed among authorized small business resellers via SAM.gov, the primary basis for establishing price reasonableness will be adequate price competition in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(i).

In the event that only one offer is received, the CO will verify and negotiate price reasonableness using established price analysis techniques under FAR 15.404-1(b). This will include:

• Comparing received quotes against published manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) and commercial price lists.

• Reviewing historical prices paid by the Government/USMC for identical or similar training fleet assets.

• Evaluating quotes against independent government estimates (IGE).

Based on current market research and the availability of multiple authorized commercial dealers, the anticipated pricing is expected to align with standard commercial practices, and the final cost to the Government will be determined fair and reasonable.

8. The market research conducted (see part 10), and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10 to evaluate the availability of commercial products and determine if sources exist to satisfy the Government's requirement. The research methodology included:

• Mandatory Sources & Existing Vehicles: A review of mandatory sources of supply and existing Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) procurement venues, confirming that the required training assets are not available through these channels.

• Industry Analysis: An analysis of commercial small engine specifications, commercial availability, and authorized dealership networks.

• Technical Evaluation: A review of the specialized physical requirements (low seat height, fuel-injected engine, specific weight distribution) mandated by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic Rider Course (BRC) curriculum.

The results of the market research confirmed that while multiple commercial motorcycle manufacturers exist, only the brand-name Honda Rebel 300 satisfies the technical, safety, and logistical requirements of the MCBQ Traffic Safety Division. Additionally, the research confirmed the existence of a robust market of competitive, small business authorized resellers capable of supplying the brand-name vehicles, supporting a 100% Small Business Set- Aside.

9. Any other facts supporting using other than full and open competition, such as:

There are no additional facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition. All relevant operational, logistical, and technical justifications—including existing fleet compatibility, specialized GME maintenance infrastructure, and safety standardization—have been fully detailed in Sections 4 and 5 of this document.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed an interest in the acquisition in writing.

To date, no sources have expressed an interest in this acquisition in writing. However, as noted in Section 6, the Government’s intent to procure brand-name Honda Rebel 300 motorcycles will be publicized on SAM.gov. It is anticipated that multiple authorized small business resellers will express interest and submit competitive quotes once the solicitation is formally posted.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the exception to fair opportunity before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

The Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ) Safety Division will continuously evaluate the commercial marketplace to identify opportunities to maximize competition in future procurements. To overcome barriers to competition for subsequent acquisitions, the requiring activity will:

• Monitor Curriculum and Industry Developments: Actively monitor updates from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) and the USMC Safety Division to see if alternative training curriculums or motorcycle platforms become authorized for the mandated Basic Rider Course (BRC).

• Evaluate Emerging Technology: Perform market research on emerging commercial motorcycle makes and models to assess whether alternative manufacturers can meet the unique ergonomics, fuel-injection, and safety standards required for novice rider instruction.

• Assess Fleet Cost-Benefit Metrics: Track the lifecycle, maintenance, and training throughput costs of the current standardized fleet against industry benchmarks to determine when or if transitioning to a different fleet platform becomes economically and logistically advantageous to the Government.