REDACTED_Final_JnA_Signed,_2018-11-06.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

March 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 2 of 4

I. Contracting Activity.

Base Infrastructure Section, 460th Contracting Flight, Buckley AFB, CO

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

This justification and approval (J&A) is for the 460th CES to award a contract to perform a one-year Grounds Maintenance bridge contract for Buckley AFB.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The contractor shall provide no more than one year of non-personal bridge services to ensure that grounds maintenance is performed at Buckley AFB in a manner that will promote the growth of healthy grass, trees, shrubs, and plants and present a clean, neat, and professional appearance.

Mow - The contractor shall mow all improved grounds to look well-manicured, with a neat and professional appearance at all times. Maintain grass height between 2 ½ and 5 inches uniform in appearance, free of skips, gaps, rutting, or scalping. The contractor shall be required to pick up debris, natural and man-made, prior to mowing any area. The contractor shall remove or mulch grass clippings when visible after mowing, before leaving work area.

Edge. The contractor shall edge sidewalks, driveways, street edges, curbs, and other hard surfaced areas located within the improved grounds, not less than twice per growing season, so that grass does not spread over hard surfaces.

Edging shall include removal of vegetation from expansion joints and cracks in sidewalks, driveways, curbs and other hard surfaces. Grass, vegetation and weeds shall be cut back no more than ½-inch from the surface edged, maintaining an even contour with the edged surface, uniform in appearance and free of scalping, rutting, and uneven or rough cutting.

Trim. The contractor shall trim grass and weeds around trees, shrubs, buildings, fences, poles, fire hydrants, parking lots bumper blocks, boulders, curbs, sidewalks, street edges and other fixed obstacles and temporary obstacles/objects on improved grounds. Trimming height shall match surrounding area grass height. The contractor shall remove or mulch grass clippings when visible after trimming, before leaving work area.

Irrigation - The contractor shall maintain, adjust, and repair existing lawn irrigation systems during the growing season.

The total estimated cost for this contract is $728K with a period of performance of 1 February 2019 to 31 January 2020.

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

In accordance with FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(B), this requirement can reasonably be fulfilled only by the original source because it is likely that award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements. Failure of not funding this bridge contract could cause potential health and safety issues.

Due to a steep decrease to the Air Force Common Output Level Standards (AFCOLS) levels that Buckley AFB must now work to (from Level 2 to Level 4), a subsequent redevelopment of the Buckley AFB Grounds Services Maintenance requirements has been initiated by AFCEC to ensure that Buckley AFB falls within the standards of AF regulation with regards to irrigation, water use, and landscape architecture. This change in AFCOLS level means Buckley AFB will have

March 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 3 of 4 to go from 85 acres of irrigated (sprinklers and drip systems) grounds to 52 acres of irrigated grounds. According to the current AFCOLS level, irrigation is limited to Improved Grounds only. Due to the arid and dry winters and summers at Buckley AFB, this reduction in irrigated grounds will have an enormous effect on the trees and plant life in the affected areas. AFIMSC is currently working with their GeoBase team to "right size" what the current Improved Grounds should be at Buckley AFB. Without these numbers, it would be difficult for contractors to supply accurate bids for a contract. In accordance with AFCEC guidelines and Buckley AFB's current requirements, Buckley AFB is currently incapable of properly competing our Grounds Maintenance services requirements within the mandated AFCEC PWS and CLIN structure for grounds contracts while staying within the required AF policy. Discussions were had with AFCEC and with AFICA to attempt to resolve the requirements issues before redevelopment was initiated, however it was determined the Buckley AFB's grounds requirement needed to be reviewed and a determination was made that a complete review of Buckley AFB grounds and redefine the spaces would be most advantageous for the government.

This redevelopment action is currently taking place at AFCEC and the current contract is expected to expire on 31 January 2019. Due to having inadequate time for AFIMSC/AFCEC/AFICA review of a new Grounds Maintenance contract, it was advised by AFCEC that a bridge contract utilizing the current PWS and AFCOLS levels would be our best option.

Although the contract expires in the winter season the grounds maintenance contract covers emergency services.

These emergency services would include removing downed trees due to heavy snow or ice events. Additionally the ground maintenance service contract covers the maintenance of surface drainage ditches. Maintenance of surface drainage ditches extend into the winter season to ensure the flow of storm water/snow runoff is in a manner that is not impeded and/or the water quality is not degraded by pollutants according to applicable regulations. If the redevelopment is not completed in a short period of time and the growing season starts back up before we move forward with awarding a competed acquisition other issue may arise to include health and safety hazards. Due to the arid climate at Buckley AFB, winter watering of trees and new growth areas is vital. If snow fall is below normal, trees are unable to survive during winter months without winter watering by the grounds maintenance contractor. Pests are a major concern during winter in Colorado. If not treated and/or mitigated immediately upon detection, mites and voles can damage and destroy grasses. Grounds maintenance contractors survey these areas on a routine basis to ensure these pests are removed. The cost to replace/repair improved ground areas is expensive and time consuming.

Buckley AFB is home to both prey and hunting animals. Grounds maintenance services is vital to ensure that these animals to not become a health an safety concern. Specific snakes which inhabit Buckley AFB, will thrive in an environment where their prey goes unchecked due to readily available food and habitat. Additionally, higher ground cover along the fence line of the base provides a security rick for all those associated with Buckley AFB. Our flight line is also the primary port of entry in Colorado for the President and Vice President of the United States of America.

The time it would take to get a new contractor on board to perform these same services would have a negative impact on the Buckley AFB missions given the complexity of Air Force project management processes. Roberts Treescaping, Inc. has successfully performed this service since 2013 and continuing to use them for this anticipated one-year bridge contract provides uninterrupted installation support critical to the various missions and partners at Buckley AFB.

Bringing a new contractor on for such a short time will not allow adequate training and on-the-job learning that is crucial for meeting performance standards.

Due to these potential issues and concerns a new contract may not be able to be developed, competed, and awarded in time to allow grounds maintenance services to continue without vital service disruption. After discussions with Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC) and Air Force Installation Contracting Agency (AFICA) personnel, it was decided the best course of action is to award a one-year bridge contract to allow time to develop a proper contract to meet this redeveloped requirement.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

See paragraph XI below.

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

The Contracting Officer anticipates the costs for this effort will be fair and reasonable. In accordance with FAR 15.403-4, March 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 4 of 4 the contractor will be required to provide certified cost and pricing data. The Contracting Officer will make a determination as to the cost fairness and reasonableness based on, but not limited to, the following recommendations:

Program Office technical evaluations; historical cost information, and the Independent Government Estimate (IGE).

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

See attached market research report.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

The anticipated award of this contract will ensure continuation of mission essential services at Buckley AFB, without delays or interruption in services. Roberts Treescaping, LLC holds all required certifications and clearances, is familiar with the mission and is fully capable of performing this anticipated 12 month contract bridge.

X. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Company Name: Roberts Treescaping, LLC.

Cage Code: 3BGL6

DUNS: 092254684

Address: 2520 Galena St Ste 2 Aurora, CO, 80010-1193

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

Contract award is required by 1 February 2019 due to the previous contract expiring on 31 January 2019. The period of performance (PoP) will be one (1) year. Buckley AFB is concurrently working a competitive acquisition for Grounds Maintenance Services requirement beginning 1 February 2020, which that requires a base-wide redefinition of the grounds maintenance scope. The concurrent acquisition is anticipated to be a solicited as a competitive HUBZone action. The market research has shown 16 HUBZone vendors submitted sources sought capability statements on FBO from across the US and there are 5 GSA HUBZone vendors nationwide that could accomplish this requirement .

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.