EFO_Redacted.pdf

ASSIST Award ID: GSQ0316DS0030

EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

United States Army – Project Manager Mission Command (PM MC)

PM MC Product Support

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity

The requiring activity is United States Army – Project Manager Mission Command (PM MC), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005.

The contracting activity is GSA/FAS, Mid-Atlantic Region, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

2. Nature/description of the action/contract type

The action being approved is a modification to the Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) task order and would consist of an approximate 61-day performance period extension, from 05/31/23 – 07/30/23. The Government will issue the modification to the current incumbent, Southeastern Computer Consultants, Inc. (SCCI), 5166 Potomac Drive, Suite 400, King George Virginia, 22485-5824, for PM MC Product Support services utilizing SCCI’s GSA Oasis Small Business Contract No. GS00Q14OADS333.

This requirement is currently being supported by SCCI. The current task order (GSQ0316DS0030) was awarded on May 5, 2016, and is currently administered by GSA/FAS, Mid-Atlantic Region. The order is currently due to expire on May 30, 2023. The follow-on task order was awarded on March 30, 2023, and is currently being protested. The GAO decision is scheduled for July 19, 2023. In the case the decision is in favor of the Government, the 61-day extension includes an 11-day transitional period following the GAO decision.

3. Description of supplies/services

Project Manager Mission Command (PM MC) needs contractor manpower to provide product support for the development, delivering, publishing, and maintaining of data deliverables/products for Mission Command Systems to include the Command Post and Platform-based Command, Control, and Situational Awareness systems covered under the Command Post Computing Environment (CP CE), Mounted Computing Environment (MCE) and PM MC portfolio. The above requirement contains many uncertainties that are involved in contract performance which do not permit costs to be estimated with sufficient accuracy to use any type of fixed price; therefore, a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract type was chosen in accordance with FAR 16.301-2. This extension will allow for an uninterrupted continuation of services with a transition-out period to a successor after contract expiration.

The total estimate of the forthcoming extension is $1,600,844.67.

4. Identification of the exception to fair opportunity

In accordance with FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(A), PM MC’s need for product support services is so urgent that providing a fair opportunity would result in unacceptable delays. The task order provides services that are vital to the development of training and technical documentation for systems that are and will be fielded to the warfighter. Without an extension of the current task order’s period of performance, PM MC’s mission would be adversely impacted because documents would not be delivered on time to meet warfighter needs, leading to a reduction of the readiness of the United Stated Army and a delay in delivery of New Mission Command Systems.

The extension continues services provided under the current task order which was awarded and is being administered by GSA. This extension is necessary to avoid a break in service until the GAO protest decision is finalized.

A key requirement of the Product Support PWS is to maintain the Mission Command Standard Management Asset Readiness Tool (SMART), which requires day-to-day maintenance to ensure PM MC can manage hardware and software assets throughout the logistics lifecycle and schedule field support personnel for key events. These include regular cyber updates, managing user access, and patching the system. This administration of the live database cannot afford downtime as it actively supports the warfighter and several other requirements including Global Fielding, System Engineering Testing and Analysis (SETA), and Sitaware Command and Control software and hardware. Allowing approximately 61 days will ensure adequate time to allow for knowledge transfer to the incoming awardee to sustain this operational system while mitigating downtime, as well avoid a break in service due to the protest.

The transitional period will also allow for adequate time for Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) transfer and setting up development environments with the incoming awardee. The several hundred pieces of GFE must be individually accounted for and transferred to the incoming contractor for accountability and familiarization with the unique equipment that is used in developmental environments. The transition will allow for a detailed review by both government and contractor stakeholders, and knowledge transfer so the contractor will have assets needed to provide successful performance.

SCCI is uniquely qualified to provide the ongoing services through protest resolution because they have provided the requisite product support since May 2016. SCCI brings satisfactory performance and a capability that is essential for fulfilling the mission-critical requirements.

Without significant delays in services, no other contractor could acquire sufficient knowledge and capability to allow them to support a 61-day timeline while the protest is being decided. The Government would incur substantial erosion of mission-critical capabilities and an unacceptable delay in fulfilling requirements if SCCI is not awarded this task order extension.

5. Determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable

The assigned GSA Project Manager (PM) will complete a technical evaluation on the contractor’s technical submission to ensure the labor mix and hours are appropriate for the work to be performed. A price analysis will be performed including the verification of rates as well as a comparison to prices paid under the current task order. It is anticipated that the rates proposed for the task order extension will reflect either a close similarity or the same rates as currently being paid to SCCI under the existing contract.

6. Any other facts supporting the justification

None

7. Statement of actions to remove or overcome barriers to exception to fair opportunity

The Government will solicit only SCCI for the current task order extension. No other contractor could provide the necessary services at requisite level of expertise within the extension’s timeframe without unacceptable delays in services.

Signatures on Next Page

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVALS

Requirements Personnel Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the Exception to Fair Opportunity, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: _________________

Contracting Personnel Certification:

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

__________ Date: _________________

Contracting Officer Certification:

I certify that this Exception to Fair Opportunity is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and

___________________________ Date: _________________ Eileen Flanigan Contracting Officer

Legal Counsel Certification:

I certify that this Exception to Fair Opportunity is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and

Special Advocate for Competition Certification:

I certify that this Exception to Fair Opportunity is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and