DandF Consolidation -- AFIMSC IT.docx

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND (AFMC)

AIR FORCE INSTALLATION AND MISSION SUPPORT CENTER (AFIMSC)

AIR FORCE INSTALLATION CONTRACTING CENTER (AFICC)

DETERMINATION AND FINDINGS

CONSOLIDATION OF CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

AFIMSC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SUPPORT SERVICES

1. Contracting Activity: 772/773 Enterprise Sourcing Squadron (ESS) 1517 Billy Mitchell Blvd., Bldg. 954 Joint Base San Antonio -- Lackland, TX 78236-9861

2. Regulation/Authority: This Determination and Findings (D&F) support the consolidation of requirements previously performed under separate contracts and is prepared in accordance with (IAW) Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) 1.504, RFO 7.107-2, and 15 U.S.C. 657q.

3. Requirement: AFIMSC requested the AFICC 772/773 ESS award a contract to support a single Air Force (AF) authority for installation and mission support. It is responsible for delivering globally integrated management, resourcing, and combat support operations for a wide range of AF programs.

This acquisition will be awarded as a direct 8(a) Alaskan Native Corporation (ANC) award to support enterprise-level IT service requirements. The period of performance includes a six-month base period, four 12-month option years, and a six-month extension, all structured under Firm Fixed Price (FFP) CLINs to ensure cost stability and predictable execution. The requirement is properly aligned under NAICS 541513 – Computer Facilities Management Services, with PSC DA01 – IT and Telecom: Business Application/Application Development Support Services (Labor) identified as the appropriate product service code.

This encompasses the full range of methods, technologies, and supporting activities necessary to conduct the full scope of IT Services and Solutions at AFIMSC installations and other locations across the United States in accordance with technical, legal, and policy requirements. The scope of IT services and solutions shall include Network Operations Enabling Capabilities, Network Systems Administration, System Administrative Services, Project Engineer Services, Network Engineering Services, LAN Support Services, Information Assurance Services, IT Help Desk Operations, Telecommunications Programmer/Systems Analyst, Documentation, SharePoint development and administration, and Cloud migration services.

In carrying out work assignment(s) issued under this contract, the contractor shall furnish the personnel, services, equipment, tools, materials, vehicles, facilities supervision and other requirements necessary for, or incidental to, the performance of work set forth herein; assure any and all program and/or project related information is secured, as directed by the Contracting Officer (CO); and be responsible for safeguarding proprietary, classified, and other sensitive information.

FINDINGS

Background: The AFIMSC contract FA80023C0004 was awarded as a direct 8(a) ANC award to Cherokee Nation System Solutions, LLC, with a total contract value of $35,379,722.40 and a period of performance from 24 February 2023 through 31 August 2026. The AFSFC contract FA805224P0019 was awarded directly to the 8(a) firm Digital Consultants, LLC, with a total contract value of $4,017,056.64 and a period of performance from 23 September 2023 through 29 September 2027. Consolidating these two IT contracts will eliminate redundant services and optimize resource allocation.

The consolidation of these two requirements is determined to be in the best interest of the Government, as it yields a minimum of 10% in direct cost savings. From a financial standpoint, consolidation produces measurable cost savings by reducing the number of contract actions, minimizing administrative processing time, and eliminating duplicative program management and reporting structures. A single contract vehicle also allows the Government to leverage economies of scale, streamline labor categories, and reduce overhead costs that would otherwise be embedded in two separate contracts. Additionally, consolidation increases opportunities for small business participation by creating a unified requirement with a stable period of performance, enabling long-term-planning and investment in workforce capability.

Secondarily, this consolidation enhances the effective utilization of small business capacity and eliminates duplicative contract administration across multiple organizations. By merging the efforts into a single enterprise requirement, the Government reduces parallel oversight activities, separate quality-assurance surveillance plans, multiple contracting actions, and redundant invoice reviews—each of which imposes substantial administrative workload on both the Government and industry. Consolidation also lowers vendor proposal development burdens by eliminating the need for two separate proposal submissions, reducing bid and proposal costs, and enabling small businesses to focus resources on performance rather than repeated acquisition cycles.

The primary justification for this consolidation is the realization of a substantial and quantifiable 10.36% direct cost savings to the Government. Secondarily, this consolidated structure enhances the Government’s capability to respond rapidly and consistently to critical Department of the Air Force (DAF) mission requirements. A single contract structure enhances coordination, standardizes service delivery, and ensures consistent performance metrics across the enterprise. This unified approach strengthens accountability, reduces operational friction, and provides a more agile and responsive support framework for mission partners.

The consolidation of previously separate AFIMSC and AFSFC IT requirements is justified primarily by a direct, quantifiable cost savings of 10.36% to the Government. Secondly, this consolidation achieves critical secondary benefits, including enhanced mission efficiency, reduced administrative burden, and improved standardization of IT service delivery. The consolidated contract structure enables unified management of labor and travel CLINs, streamlined oversight, and consistent performance metrics across the enterprise. Additionally, consolidation reduces duplicative contract administration, eliminates overlapping functional support, and enhances the Government’s ability to implement enterprise-wide IT strategies.

4. Description of Procurement Action:

a. AFIMSC requires a flexible, performance-based contract to deliver continuous, worldwide IT operations support, network engineering, and cybersecurity services for approximately 4,000 personnel across JBSA Lackland, JBSA Randolph, Tyndall AFB, and other remote sites. The contractor must provide all personnel, management, and technical expertise—utilizing Government-Furnished Equipment and facilities—to support everyday operations on both unclassified (NIPRNet) and classified (SIPRNet) systems, as well as the Defense Research and Engineering Network (DREN).

b. The scope of work encompasses comprehensive Tier 1 and Tier 2 Help Desk operations, systems administration, LAN/WAN support, telecommunications/VTC systems, SharePoint administration, cloud migration, software license management, and IT Asset Management (ITAM). Because these operations are mission-critical, all services must strictly comply with stringent Department of War and Air Force cybersecurity frameworks, including the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs). This continuous support will be executed over a 4.5-year Period of Performance, starting with a six-month Base Period (01 September 2026 – 28 February 2027) followed by four twelve-month Option Years extending through 28 February 2031.

5. Market Research (MR): While the team identified seven capable ANC vendors on STARS III, the procurement schedule presented a critical risk. The current contract expires on 31 August 2026, and performance must begin on 1 September 2026.

a. The GSA Consultation: Discussions with GSA STARS III Program Branch Chief, Jean E. Fluevog, confirmed that running a competitive acquisition under STARS III could not be completed in time to meet the 31 August 2026 award deadline.

b. The Solution (ANC Sole-Source): To bypass the time-consuming competitive "fair opportunity" process, the team pivoted to a standalone, direct 8(a) sole-source award to an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC).

c. The Regulatory Justification:

· Under DoW partnership rules (RFO 19.208-2 and 13 CFR 124.506(b)(1)), direct sole-source awards to ANCs, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) can be made up to $100 Million without requiring a formal Justification and Approval (J&A).

· This drastically shortens the lead time while keeping the requirement firmly within the 8(a) program.

6. Analysis and Rationale for Rejection/Acceptance of Alternatives: It has been determined through an analysis that consolidating this procurement is necessary and justified.

7. Small Business: Historically, the procurement of these two contracts was accomplished through the SBA 8(a) program. This requirement will be solicited within the 8(a) program unless it is removed from the 8(a) program in the future. The approach in the 8(a) program will continue to benefit from their designation, ensuring maximum practicable participation by SB. An award will be given to a qualified 8(a) ANC SB.

8. Coordination with the Office of Small Business Programs: This determination was coordinated with the Secretary of the Air Force Small Business Office (SAF/SB) as required by 13 CFR 125.2 and RFO 7.107-2, in addition to the AFIMSC/SB. Additionally, the acquisition strategy was discussed with the SBA and they accepted the strategy of a sole-source award to a 8(a) ANC firm as they did not accept this requirement as a competitive requirement.

9. Bundling: The Government has determined through MR that multiple SBs are willing and capable of performing as prime contractors for the consolidated requirements under a single contract; therefore, this is not a bundled requirement as defined IAW RFO 2.101.

DETERMINATION

Based on the findings stated above and pursuant to DAF Part 7, Consolidation and Bundling, I hereby determine that the benefits of the proposed acquisition strategy are critical to the agency’s mission success, and the procurement strategy provides for maximum practicable participation by small business. Following a comprehensive review of the project requirements and potential benefits, a firm determination has been reached to designate the consolidated AFIMSC IT contract as an 8(a) set-aside. This decision is deemed both necessary and justified, offering significant advantages over the alternative approach, and ultimately serving the best interests of the Government.