Helo_Bridge_JA_Redacted_Final.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

INTERIOR BUSINESS CENTER

Washington, DC 20240

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

AUTHORITY: FAR 6.302, 41 U.S.C. 253(c)

Extension to Contract: D13PC00222

Pursuant to the requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) as implemented by FAR 6.3 and in accordance with the requirements by FAR 6.303-1, the justification for the use of the statutory authority under FAR 6.3 is justified by the following facts and rationale required under FAR 6.303-2 as follows:

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Justification for other than full and open competition.”

This document is a justification for other than full and open competition for the Department of the Interior (DOI), Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD), on behalf of the U.S. Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems Test and Evaluation Division (NAVSEA

PEO IWS 1TE).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The Department of the Interior (DOI), Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD) is requesting authorization to extend the current ID/IQ contract six months with two (2), three (3) month options periods for a potential total of one (1) year.

The action being approved is for an extension to contract: D13PC00222. This contract utilizes Firm Fixed Unit Price (FFUP) task orders in order to fulfill the Navy’s need for continued Rotary Wing flight services support for the U.S. Navy’s ship test and evaluation program. The current contract ceiling is $11,705,992.00

Therefore, because of this extension and considering the estimated IGCE, the new estimated contract ceiling will be $15,989,201.00.

The contract extension will be issued to:

Air Center Helicopters, Inc. (ACHI) 308 East Renfro Ste. 104 Burleson, TX 76028-3943

Period of Performance:

Base Period – February 1, 2019 – July 31, 2019

Option 1 – August 1, 2019 – October 31, 2019 Option 2 – November 1, 2019 – January 31, 2020

Additionally, a full and open competition after exclusion of sources, IAW FAR 6.203 Set- Asides for small business concerns, is in process with an anticipated award date of no later than January 31, 2020. If awarded earlier than August 1, 2019 or November 1, 2019, Option periods for will not be exercised on contract D13PC00222. Ultimately, the full and open, competitive solicitation is the long-term solution for this requirement. The sole source action specific this justification, is necessary to fill the gap between the current ACHI contract ending January 31, 2019 and the forthcoming award of the competitive solicitation.

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

NAVSEA PEO IWS 1TE requires commercial flight and support services, utilizing fully functional helicopters equipped to meet specifications that are to be operated and maintained by qualified personnel. The contractor shall provide the necessary management, facilities, labor, and equipment for –

• One "exclusive use" (EU) medium lift turboshaft helicopter based in Norfolk, VA.

There are two principal services provided under this effort (1) aircraft transportation of personnel and cargo between ship and shore and (2) the recovery of exercise lightweight torpedoes and target drones during the conduct of Navy or Navy-sponsored (i.e. another agency, military department, or foreign government) testing of ship-based or ground-based systems in support of the U.S. Navy's ship test and evaluation (T&E) program managed by NAVSEA PEO IWS 1.0.

Other important mission activities include performing tracking support missions by flying aircraft profiles for radar calibration, operator training, and testing of shipboard equipment. The contractor shall provide pilots and aircraft mechanics.

4. An Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

FAR 6.302-1 -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1).

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

The nature of this acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above for the following reasons.

The NAVSEA PEO IWS 1TE supports the USN mission by providing Enterprise level T&E planning and execution to meet combat systems test requirements across the surface ship Navy. Primary T&E functions support land-based and at-sea combat system testing for the AEGIS, Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS) and Enterprise Programs. The T&E mission heavily depends on commercial aircraft to meet test objectives since fleet assets are not reliably available during the Navy’s test schedules. The Navy PEO IWS 1TE Program Office has contracted for commercial rotor wing services for 30+ years and continuance of those services is essential for the NAVSEA PEO IWS 1TE to fulfill their mission as discussed below.

Currently, there are no other aircraft vendors or military squadrons on the East Coast that can fulfill the specific T&E requirements due to the specialized pilot training qualifications, aircraft configuration, and troubleshooting capabilities of equipment required to complete mission requirements. Air Center Helicopters, having been awarded this contract for the past 30 years, provides the Navy with the only source of trained, experienced pilots and configured helicopters that meet the strict requirements (OPNAVINST 3100.8 for US Navy ship deck landings and PEO IWS Torpedo/Drone Recovery Manual for recoveries) to conduct the services essential for successful ship weapon system T&E. To allow a new vendor to take over these requirements without a sufficient transition period, increases risks of unfamiliarity of missions, as well as the potential lack of proper crew experience and the time to complete necessary training, would be risking personnel safety and would be a disservice to the Navy.

Transporting essential personnel and cargo between ship and shore is required as the amount of free berthing on ships is very limited. The personnel requiring transport are normally test team members/subject matter experts (SME) required during the particular phase of testing for the system element that they are responsible to support. Testing could not be conducted without them onboard to assist with the underway support functions, system troubleshooting, etc. for that respective element. The only other option for passenger and cargo transfer would be via multiple small boat transfers but this is insufficient and dangerous due to the time consuming and hazardous nature of this option. Transport via small boat would be approximately 10 times longer than transport by helicopter. Transit times to and from shore via boat are several hours and very inefficient use of ship, crew, range and test team’s resources, including the risk of schedule limitations. Testing events are tightly scheduled throughout the day at the test range and a delay on one affects all others that follow. A delay is likely to result in the need to reschedule. Quick transport of personnel and cargo significantly increases the likelihood of events staying on schedule even when unknowns are encountered, thus, reducing the need to reschedule. In both cases, major costs would be incurred for unutilized range services with a greater possibility of test cancellation due to range scheduling constraints.

The current vendor’s medium lift helicopter, Bell 412EP, has a lift capacity, cabin size, range, speed, and dual engine safety feature makes it the best choice to support all program requirements. The B412EP is also a military equivalent to the USN UH-1N which makes it compatible with small deck operations and a familiar aircraft for the flight deck crews. Aircraft meets payload lift and cabin configuration requirements of both the logistic and drone recovery missions while allowing up to nine (9) passengers with personal baggage and sufficient space for qualified Recovery Mission Specialists (RMS) to complete drone/target recoveries from the aircraft.

the B412EP has the sufficient range to support logistics and drone recoveries and sufficient speed to clear the range to allow test commencement.

The requirement for rotor wing services has increased in the past year and is anticipated to continue to increase as the Navy has expanded its shipbuilding program to meet growing real world challenges and adhere to Presidential guidance for the Navy fleet. Dedicated rotor wing services have been key in assuring that essential passengers and cargo are delivered promptly to the ship during multi-million-dollar test events and reduces risk to the program objectives and ship deployment capabilities.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

A Notice of Intent to issue an extension to contract D13PC00222 to Air Center will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.201(b)(1) and (2) will be posted immediately following approval of this J&A.

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

The Contracting Officer will make a fair and reasonable price determination by conducting a thorough and detailed price analysis. This analysis will include a comparison of the offered price to market pricing, as well as the Government estimate and historical contract rates to negotiate a fair and reasonable price.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see Part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was not conducted specifically for the sole source requirement discussed in this document for reasons discussed in Section 5 of this document;

however, the Government has reviewed the current contract with the identified vendor, ACHI, to include performance and pricing considerations.

For the forthcoming competitive solicitation, market research was conducted for this requirement to include a Sources Sought Notice. responses were received and it was determined the acquisition would be appropriate for a competitive, open market, small business set

In addition to the source sought notice, market research is built upon technical and industry experts. Individuals who are very well versed in this specific aviation market.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition;

such as:

A full and open competition after exclusion of sources, IAW FAR 6.203 Set-Asides for small business concerns, is in process. The government has prepared an acquisition to award a competitive small business set-aside

ACHI is currently providing the required services under contract D13PC00222, which expires January 31, 2019. For this reason, ACHI is the only company capable of providing the required service with the limited lead-time available prior to contract expiration as discussed in detail in Section 5. In summary, ACHI is the only source of trained, experienced pilots and configured helicopters that meet the strict requirements (OPNAVINST 3100.8 for US Navy ship deck landings and PEO IWS Torpedo/Drone Recovery Manual for recoveries) to conduct the services essential for successful ship weapon system T&E

Additionally, the contractor’s performance under D13PC00222 has been favorable to date. The Government has reviewed the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS

Any gap in services would cause incomplete test objectives for the ship weapon systems due to non-existent logistical support and a rapid depletion of the Navy’s drone inventory which equates to a significant delays and increases in cost for that testing to be conducted with the possibility of having to reschedule testing (if even possible). The potential delay in ship deployment due to lack of weapon system certifications and/or deploying with an unknown weapon systems status substantially increases the risk to the lives of our Navy sailors and to our country’s ability to project forces essential in supporting national interests and those of our allies. .

Therefore, AQD must pursue this Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition on behalf of the US Navy.

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

During the market research phase of the current competition,

11. A statement of any actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

The bridge contract itself will serve to remove several barriers, and enhance competition, by allowing sufficient time for a competitive awardee, particularly a small business, to prepare a competitive proposal and ensure an adequate transition period onto a new contract without any gaps of services to the government.

12. Contracting officer certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief.

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer

DOI IBC ASD, D.IV B.II

13. Requirements personnel certification.

I certify that the technical data which forms a basis for this justification is complete and accurate and meets the Government’s minimum needs.

Date

Contracting Officers Representative

NAVSEA PEO IWS 1TE

14. Reviews and Approvals

Concur

Branch Chief

DOI IBC ASD, D.IV B.II

Concur

Division Chief

DOI IBC ASD, D.IV

Approve

Competition Advocate DOI IBC ASD, Policy Division