PSS_Extension_4_JA_10_FEB_16_PM_REDACTED.._Redacted.pdf

Limited Sources Justification and Approval (J&A)

Contracting Activity: AFLCMC/HNAK

Purchase Request / Local ID Number: FA8705-13-F-0004

Program / Project (and PE, if applicable): Air Force Wideband Enterprise Terminals (AFWET)

Program Type (PEO or Other Contracting): PEO Program

Authority: Multiple Award Schedule Program (FAR 8.405-6)

Estimated Contract Cost (including options):

Description of Limitation:

This Limited Sources Justification and Approval (J&A) is required to extend the current Product Support Services (PSS) contract from 14 February 2016 through 30 March 2016 with one month option to extend through 30 April 2016. This extension is required to avert a gap in services as a result of a protest file to GAO by the unsuccessful Offeror where the CICA stay is in place.

If there is a gap in services the Program Office will be unable to successfully accomplish its mission and could face major schedule delays. In accordance with IAW FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A) "An Urgent and Compelling Need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays".

COORDINATION (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

I. Contracting Activity.

The contracting activity that is responsible for this Limited Sources Justification and Approval (J&A) is the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, (AFLCMC) Space, Aerial & Nuclear Networks Division, (HNA). The Contracting Officer for this effort is

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

This contracting action is to extend the Period of Performance (PoP) for the Air Force Wideband Enterprise Terminals (AFWET) Product Support Services (PSS) Contract (FA8705-13-F-0004) from 14 February 2016 through 30 March 2016 with one month option to extend to 30 April 2016. This extension is required to avert a gap in services due to a current protest filed to Government Accountability Office (GAO). In accordance with FAR 8.405-6, Limited Sources(a)(1)(i)(A), an urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays. The Government requires continued performance of services, while the GAO issues its decision on the filed protest.

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

The AFWET program provides worldwide wideband anti-jam (AJ), anti-scintillation (AS) capable satellite communications in X-band frequencies (future capability -dual X / Ka with MET upgrade). AFWET sites provide long-haul satellite communications over Super High Frequency (SHF) satellites (Wideband Global Satellite (WGS), Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS), XTAR and UK Skynet) and serve as the primary Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) backbone for the DoD. To provide continued implementation project management, integration of diverse implementation efforts, and engineering expertise, a PSS contract must be established for the AFWET Program Office. The current contract in place, FA8705-13- F-0004, expires 13 February 2016. However, due to the filing of a protest by a bidder of the follow-on contract, the Government has determined that there is not sufficient time to award by 13 February 2016. The GAO deadline to issue a decision on the protest is 04 March 2016. Since there is uncertainty on the outcome of GAO decision the Program Office requests an extension from 14 February 2016 through 30 March 2016 with one month option to extend through 30 April 2016. This extension is necessary to ensure that the program does not experience a stop-work as the current extension ends on 13 February 2016 and the deadline for GAO decision is 04 March 2016. Additionally, GAO may require further corrections and or changes to current decision documentation which may result in a delay to award the PSS 2 contract. Furthermore, after award of the contract, there will be a minimum of two (2) weeks of transition time required before the Contractor is ready to begin performance of PSS 2. Extending the contract through 30 March 2016 with one month option to extend through 30 April 2016 will allow for the GAO decision and transition time, minimizing the need for another extension. Without the aforementioned support, the AFWET Program Office will lack contractor support.

Because of the importance of the PSS work, the absence of PSS significantly increases AFWET's risk of mission failure.

IV. Identification of the justification/rationale for limiting sources and demonstration of the contractor's unique qualifications to provide the required supply/service.

FAR 8.405-6 requires an ordering activity to justify its actions when restricting consideration of schedule contractors to fewer than required in FAR 8.405-1 or 8.405-2. In addition, DFARS 208.405-70 (c) requires that all orders exceeding $100,000 be placed on a competitive basis (by providing a fair notice of the intent to make the purchase) unless a written determination is justified and approved. The specific circumstance that justifies restriction for this acquisition is FAR 8.405-6 (a)(1)(A), "An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays." The current PSS contract has a current performance end date of 13 February 2016. However, the follow-on contract, PSS 2, currently cannot be awarded due to protest.

Therefore, an extension in services is necessary to ensure that there is no halt in services between the end of PSS and the beginning of PSS 2. The AFWET Program Office relies heavily on its contractor support and will be unable to complete its mission without the PSS contractors.

V. Determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer that the order represents the best value consistent with

FAR 8.404(d).

The services provided in this contract as well as its proposed extension are consistent with the original Performance Work Statement (PWS). The PSS Contract was awarded to the current contractor through a competitive source selection with many competitors based on best value. The proposed extension from 14 February 2016 to 30 March 2016 with the option to extend through 30 April 2016, is in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A) and is for the continuation of PSS until award of the PSS 2 contract. This extension is necessary to avert support services interruption leading to a mission impact. Based on all the facts it has been determined that extension of FA8705-13-F-0004 represents the best value to the Government.

VI. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or explain why market research was not conducted.

Since this action is to bridge the existing PSS contract number FA8705-13-F-0004 to continue performance during a protest filed to GAO by one of the unsuccessful Contractors, no Market Research was conducted specifically for this bridge. However, Market research was conducted for the PSS 2 contract selected for award which is currently under CICA Stay. The AFWET Program Office, located at Hanscom AFB, MA, has selected a practical sample from the General Services Administration's (GSA) Professional Engineering Services (PES) contracts regarding potential sources of experience and capability to provide Product Support Services (PSS) for the AFWET Program. Because the scope of work that will fall under this contract includes engineering, logistics, and technical work, the Program Office determined that it would search for companies within GSA's PES Schedule 871.6 (Acquisition & Life Cycle Management) that met all position requirements. When searching through companies under GSA's PES contract, most companies listed on Schedule 871.6 that the Program Office searched through offered engineering and technical positions, but not program management, while others would offer program management and engineering positions but not logistics. To search within the companies listed in the PES Schedule 871.6, the Program Office reviewed the labor category descriptions for companies listed under the Schedule 871.6 to ensure that the positions met the requirements of the AFWET PSS contract. In addition to meeting position requirements, the AFWET Program Office also looked for companies that were either listed as small business or supported small business. The PSS contract will provide the AFWET Program Office with the implementation and technical capabilities for the Modernization of Enterprise Terminals (MET) and numerous small modernization efforts. The Air Force is purchasing the MET as Government-Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) from the Army and as such does not have a dedicated prime contractor for implementation. AFWET uses its support contractors to perform this function, in lieu of a prime. As this type of support falls under direct product support versus Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS), it is outside the range of support provided by the PASS (Professional Acquisition Support Services) II and ETASS (Engineering and Technology Acquisition Support Services) II contracts. The Program Office determined to place the RFQ for the subsequent PSS Contract to compete for companies within GSA Schedule 871.6 that met all position requirements, based off the first iteration of the contract. Proposals in response to RFQ 964304 have been received and have been evaluated and award decision has been made and protested.

VII. Other facts supporting the justification.

In accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A), extending the Period of Performance of the current contract, FA8705-13-F-0004, from 14 February 2016 through 30 March 2016 with an option to extend through 30 April 2016 will prevent any unacceptable delays of support services resulting from the delay of award of the subsequent contract. If there is a gap in services, the Program Office will be unable to successfully accomplish its mission and can face major schedule delays. The cost estimate for this extension was derived using historical data from the current PSS contract. Based on the proposal submitted by the Contractor and results of the Program Office Technical Evaluation the cost for this extension

VIII. Actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services.

The AFWET Program Office must award the PSS 2 Contract before this PSS extension ends or another extension will be necessary. Every time an extension is awarded, the Government loses approximately $21,000 on contractor hours and travel costs as well on administrative costs linked to extending the period of performance of the contract; however, an interruption of the Product Support Services is unacceptable for the AFWET Program Office. Based on the outcome of the GAO decision to the protest which deadline is 04 March 2016, the plan is to award before the current PSS extension expires and avert another extension.

IX. 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.

X. 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.