FBO_-_Justification_and_Approval_-_EHLS_2015.pdf

Justification and Approval

For

Other Than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Agency: Defense Human Resource Activity—Procurement Support Office

4800 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia, 22350.

2. Authority Cited: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(5), FAR 6.302-5, authorized by statute. The authorizing statute is The National Security Education Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-183, codified as amended at 50

U.S.C. § 1902) provides that “…the Secretary (of Defense) may enter into one or more contracts with private national organizations having an expertise in foreign languages, area studies, counter proliferation studies and other international fields, for the awarding of scholarships, fellowships, and grants without regard to section 5 of Title 41 or any other provision of law that requires use of competitive procedures” (50 U.S. Code § 1902 (a)(4)).

3. Description of Supplies and Services: The Defense Language and National Security Education

Office (DLNSEO), requires contractor services to perform all critical functions in administering the English for Heritage Language Speakers (EHLS) Program, and initiative of the National

Security Education Program (NSEP). The services required include overseeing the development and implementation of the program goals and objectives, selecting criteria for program grant(s) and scholarship awards, overseeing screening and reviewing grant and scholarship applications, making award recommendations, administering awards including disbursement of funds, monitoring and assessing progress of award recipients, developing program curriculum, delivering instruction, and disseminating results.

4. Description of Action: A Firm fixed price contract is planned with a total estimated value of

$XXXXXX. The period of performance will include an 11-month base period with options for two additional years. FY15 reimbursable funds from the Office of the Director of National

Intelligence (ODNI) are available in the amount of $XXXXXX.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. This requirement was initiated with the addition of 50 U.S. Code § 1902 (a)(1)(E) to the

National Security Education Act in the FY2005. This section of the act requires the

Secretary of Defense to carry out the EHLS Program. The program has been awarding scholarships and providing instruction to EHLS Scholars every year since 2006. This solicitation is required to continue the requisite compliance with the law. Congress provided

NSEP with the statutory flexibility to enter into a sole source agreement with a vender because the act demands a unique set of skills that are challenging to identify and need years of experience to cultivate.

b. Given the statutory authority listed above, DLNSEO has identified the Center for Applied

Linguistics (CAL). CAL has the requisite knowledge of heritage language programs, English language pedagogy, and the delivery of instruction through U.S. higher education. Because of its active participation in relevant professional networks. CAL can bring together a broad base of expertise to the requirement. Its experienced staff, efficient operations. and institutional experience ensures timely and cost-effective management of the project. CAL has a long history of involvement in English as a second language (ESL) education for adults. For 10 years, CAL has managed the EHLS Program, the only national center in the

United States focused on adult ESL, professional-level proficiency, and professional development for federal national security service. Use of a different organization without the requisite expertise would require years to re-develop the program into the model it has become for English language programs within federal, other public, and private sectors.

6. Effort to Obtain Competition: Future EHLS requirements will continue to be restricted to CAL until such time as the requirement changes. For new requirements, DLNSEO will conduct a thorough review of the marketplace to identify and remove any barriers to competition so that competition can be obtained to the maximum practicable extent.

7. Effort to remove barriers to/increase competition: DLNSEO will continue to monitor the marketplace to identify any new sources that may arise that can meet this and future requirements. This requirement will be electronically posted to Federal Business Opportunities

(FBO) and all interested sources will have fair opportunity to submit an offer.

8. Market Research: Through the conduct of its NSEP initiatives, DLNSEO has become familiar with the capabilities of a number of other organizations that could be considered as potential administrators for the EHLS scholarship program. Highlighted were the following organizations:

American Institutes for Research (AIR), Development Associates (DA), Institute of International

Education (IIE), and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Also reviewed was GSA Schedule 874 – Mission Oriented Business Integrated Services

(MOBIS) was reviewed, specifically 874.4 - Training Services: Instructor Led Training, Web

Based Training and Education Courses, Course Development.

Market research was conducted via the internet and review of historical data and the 2009 list of

Multiple Award Task Order (MATO) vendors from the Department of Education (This list includes 45 organizations that provide contract services to ED for research on education and assessment practices and development. management. and evaluation of education programs.) No other sources were identified that could immediately perform this follow-on requirement.

9. Interested Sources: Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)

10. Other Factors: The current contract, H98210-10-C-0011, expires on September 29, 2015.