FY26 AWB SoleSourceJustification.docx

Sole Source CONTRACT Filing Justification Template

Use the following justification template for preparing to file sole source contracts in the Sole Source Contracts Database (SSCD). Once completed, copy and paste the answers into the corresponding SSCD question and answer fields. You will also need to include a copy of this completed form in the documents you post to your agency website and in WEBS.

What is a sole source contract?

"Sole source" means a contractor providing goods or services of such a unique nature or sole availability that the contractor is clearly and justifiably the only practicable source to provide the goods or services. (RCW 39.26.010)

Unique qualifications or services are those which are highly specialized or one-of-a-kind.

Other factors which may be considered include past performance, cost-effectiveness (learning curve), and/or follow-up nature of the required goods and/or services. Past performance alone does not provide adequate justification for a sole source contract. Time constraints may be considered as a contributing factor in a sole source justification, however will not be on its own a sufficient justification.

Why is a sole source justification required?

The State of Washington, by policy and law, believes competition is the best strategy to obtain the best value for the goods and services it purchases, and to ensure that all interested vendors have a fair and transparent opportunity to sell goods and services to the state.

A sole source contract does not benefit from competition. Thus the state, through RCW 39.26.010, has determined it is important to evaluate whether the conditions, costs and risks related to the proposal of a sole source contract truly outweigh forgoing the benefits of a competitive contract.

Providing compelling answers to the following questions will facilitate DES’ evaluation.

Specific Problem or Need

· What is the business need or problem that requires this contract?

Per State Board for Community and Technical College Policy 4.40.20, “each community and technical college or college district is required to have an industry advisory committee for each program and to follow approved College Advisory Committee Procedures”, as adopted under policy 4.40.20. These procedures require that, “advisory committees must be comprised of equal numbers of employees and employers representing local business, labor, and industry.” These policies and procedures exist to implement RCW 28B.50.252 Districts offering vocational educational programs – Local advisory committees – Advice on current job needs. The state’s 34 community and technical colleges have approximately 1,000 professional and technical programs, general advisory committees, and worker retraining committees.

As a result of the above-cited statute, policy and procedures, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges has a vested interest in partnering with Washington businesses to help community and technical colleges develop relevant and high quality education programs that meet the needs of the State’s employers and help place Washington residents in sustainable-wage jobs. Without input from business and industry, the colleges lack the necessary relevant information needed to revise curriculum, implement new education/training programs, close non-relevant programs, purchase industry specific equipment, or develop new modes of instruction that enhance student participation and the quality of instruction.

Colleges also require support and facilitation by business to build and sustain work-based learning opportunities for students. Successful and sustainable work-based learning experiences require deep relationship building between employers and specific college instruction programs. This is labor-intensive work that is beyond the capacity of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to facilitate. The State Board also does not possess the trusted business-to-business relationships that are most effective when recruiting employers to commit to ongoing work-based learning programs. A business liaison is most effective at this work.

Sole Source Criteria

· Describe the unique features, qualifications, abilities or expertise of the contractor proposed for this sole source contract.

The Association of Washington Business (AWB) is the State’s Chamber of Commerce and manufacturing and technology association, with a membership of over 7,000 businesses representing employers from key industries across the state and a 115+ year legacy of advocacy. Its membership spans major employers like Boeing and Microsoft, but also small businesses and microenterprises, with 90 percent of members employing less than 100 workers. The State Board has maintained a contract with AWB in conjunction with its non-profit AWB Institute, for several years. The AWB Institute’s mission is to provide information and services to bolster a world-class workforce and maximize productivity for a successful state economy. The Association is familiar with the community and technical college system and has partnered with SBCTC on many initiatives pertaining to workforce development. No other state business association includes such a wide spectrum of businesses and industries or the high number of members. AWB connects employers directly to the individual colleges for customized contract training, professional/technical program information and access to potential employees who are completing programs of study. AWB staff has consulted with numerous colleges on employer engagement strategies and provides assistance to colleges needing business representatives to serve on program advisory committees. The college presidents and AWB leadership meet frequently to discuss and implement actionable steps to support and strengthen workforce training programs offered by community and technical colleges. SBCTC calls upon AWBI to provide subject matter expertise on grant funding review committees. AWBI has a track record of facilitating sustainable and successful work-based learning opportunities for community and technical college students through its Workforce Portal. This platform is unique to AWBI in its employer-facing orientation and scalability via AWBs large member base.

· What kind of market research did the agency conduct to conclude that alternative sources were inappropriate or unavailable? Provide a narrative description of the agency’s due diligence in determining the basis for the sole source contract, including methods used by the agency to conduct a review of available sources. Use DES’ Market Research Template if assistance is needed.

SBCTC completed a DES Market Research template (DES 140-00), and yielded unsatisfactory results. It included internet searches, reviewing WEBS, past solicitations, and DES Statewide contracts.

There are no other associations in the state that represent businesses across the full spectrum of fields and industries. AWB is aligned with local and regional chambers of commerce representing the varied interests of thousands of employers. Other business associations represent only one industry or a sub-section of an industry.

· As part of the market research requirements, include a list of statewide contracts reviewed and/or businesses contacted, date of contact, method of contact (telephone, mail, e-mail, other), and documentation demonstrating an explanation of why those businesses could not or would not, under any circumstances, perform the contract; or an explanation of why the agency has determined that no businesses other than the prospective contractor can perform the contract.

Statewide Contract No. 01620 Business Consulting Services These contracts focus on 3 types of business consulting services: Org Change, Change Management, Business Analysis. These services are not aligned with the relationship-driven, all economic sectors type of business liaison services sought by SBCTC.

Statewide Contract No. 20422 Communications and Marketing Services This contract is for creating and delivering messages that promote a product, service or brand. These services are not aligned with the relationship-driven, all economic sectors type of business liaison services sought by SBCTC.

07615 Business and Economic Service This listing is for information sharing purposes only and does not have an associated contract. Western WA University offers an array of economic and business research services under contract or MOU with agencies. These services are not aligned with the relationship-driven, all economic sectors type of business liaison services sought by SBCTC.

· Per the Supplier Diversity Policy, DES-090-06: was this purchase included in the agency’s forecasted needs report?

No.

· Describe what targeted industry outreach was completed to locate small and/or veteran-owned businesses to meet the agency’s need?

SBCTC conducted internet searches, reviewed WEBS, looked at past solicitations, and looked into DES Statewide contracts. We found a small number of DES contracts that were not able to meet our service needs. Otherwise we did not find other vendors of any sort - veteran or small - who can meet our needs.

· What considerations were given to unbundling the goods and/or services in this contract, which would provide opportunities for Washington small, diverse, and/or veteran-owned businesses. Provide a summary of your agency’s unbundling analysis for this contract.

The services here are not appropriate for unbundling as all the tasks are interrelated and interdependent and will be done by a relatively small team to begin with - the writing, interviews, meetings, analysis work, etc will be done by AWB alone.

· Provide a detailed and compelling description that includes quantification of the costs and risks mitigated by contracting with this contractor (i.e. learning curve, follow-up nature).

SBCTC has contracted with the Association of Washington Business for over 18 years. We have developed a performance-based contract and AWB has met contract deliverables consistently. Because of the long-standing relationship SBCTC has had with AWB, there is a good understanding of the college system and business structures between the organizations, communication channels are well defined, AWB has developed a good relationship with the leadership teams at the colleges, and AWB continually strives to find new avenues to encourage meaningful¬¬ discussions between business and higher education.

· Is the agency proposing this sole source contract because of special circumstances such as confidential investigations, copyright restrictions, etc.? If so, please describe.

.No

· Is the agency proposing this sole source contract because of unavoidable, critical time delays or issues that prevented the agency from completing this acquisition using a competitive process? If so, please describe. For example, if time constraints are applicable, identify when the agency was on notice of the need for the goods and/or service, the entity that imposed the constraints, explain the authority of that entity to impose them, and provide the timelines within which work must be accomplished.

No.

· What are the consequences of not having this sole source filing approved? Describe in detail the impact to the agency and to services it provides if this sole source filing is not approved.

There would be negative consequences if this filing is not approved. The community and technical colleges are located across the state. Without input from businesses from around the state, the colleges would have difficulty obtaining relevant information about what employers are seeking as they recruit to fill positions that will enhance Washington’s businesses’ competitiveness and expansion. Individual colleges would be required to utilize resources to replicate the kind of services AWB provides through its contract with the State Board. Individual college efforts would be less cost-effective and potentially less valuable because the colleges would no longer have access to a large number of employers. It would also put smaller colleges with fewer resources at a disadvantage for accessing business input. The SBCTC’s contract with AWB is intended to “raise all boats” by linking the State’s employers with all 34 community and technical colleges..

Sole Source Posting

· Sole Source Posting on Agency Website - Provide the date in which the sole source posting, the draft contract, and a copy of the Sole Source Contract Justification Template were published on your agency’s website.

6/23/2025

· If failed to post, please explain why.

· Provide the date in which the sole source posting, the draft contract, and a copy of the Sole Source Contract Justification Template were published in WEBS.

6/23/2025

· If failed to post, please explain why.

· Were responses received to the sole source posting in WEBS?

· If one or more responses are received, list name of entities responding and explain how the agency concluded the contract is appropriate for sole source award.

Reasonableness of Cost

· Since competition was not used as the means for procurement, how did the agency conclude that the costs, fees, or rates negotiated are fair and reasonable? Please make a comparison with comparable contracts, use the results of a market survey, or employ some other appropriate means calculated to make such a determination.

SBCTC researched salaries for business development and educational consultants. While there aren’t any positions exactly like the work we are seeking in this contract, we averaged salaries for similar positions that we found. The amount of work required in this contract will take approximately 1 full-time equivalent staff to complete. The cost of full-time salaries and employee benefits for similar positions is significantly more than the total value of this contract. There are many things this contractor is able to do at a fraction of the time and cost due to this contractor’s unique qualifications, experience, and connections. We estimate costs for 1 FTE staff in this role plus associated benefits, travel, and supplies/materials to be well over the $100,000 value of this contract.

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