H9821025CE005 DSAACP JA Redacted.pdf

Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

I. Agency/Contracting Activity.

Agency: DoD SAPRO, 4800 Mark Center Dr., Suite 05J25, Alexandria, VA 22350

Contracting Activity: DHRA, 4800 Mark Center Dr., Suite 06J25, Alexandria, VA 22350

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

DHRA intends to award a Firm Fixed Price contract to the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). This is a follow-on to existing contract H98210-20-C0006, awarded sole source under FAR 13.5, which expires on 26 March 2025. The period of performance will include a 12-month base period and four 12-month option years and is anticipated to be from 27 March 2025 to 26 March 2030.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value).

SAPRO requires continued contractor support services to assist SAPRO in operating the DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP). The vendor shall receive, review, analyze, track, process approvals and issue credentials for the D-SAACP credentialing application packages, including renewals, reinstatements and, revocations for all DoD personnel performing direct services to victims of sexual assault. A credential is the highest level of proof supporting an individual’s educational or professional achievement. A credential is issued by a third party with authoritative power and is proof of an individual’s specialized qualification or competence that is nationally recognized in a given subject or field of practice. Possessing a credential not only helps individuals to prove competency and capability in a given field but also demonstrates to one's community of practice and employers that the individual is competent, properly trained, and equipped to carry out his or her duties. Total estimated value of the contract is base plus options. Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Operation and Maintenance funds are programmed and expected to be received for the base period in the estimated amount of $ .

IV. Statutory authority permitting Other than Full and Open Competition.

10 USC 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, required by FAR 6.303-2(b)(4).

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

The Department of Defense (DoD) established a training and certification program for Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocates (VAs) in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2012. The National Organization for Victim Assistance is the only nationally recognized victim assistance organization that offers a National certification, the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP). The NACP meets all requirements identified within the NDAA for FY2012. As the first and only national victim advocate credentialing program, NACP was groundbreaking in establishing minimum standards for victim assistance professionals; and required credentialed victim advocates to sign and adhere to the NOVA Code of Ethics for Victim Assistance Providers.

Since its inception in 2003, NOVA and the NACP continue to offer the only credentialing program for civilian crime victim advocates in this country and proudly served as the model to assist the DoD in developing, implementing, and administering the D-SAACP since its inception. These two programs remain the only national programs proudly professionalizing the field of civilian and military advocacy. To date, NACP has credentialed more than 10,000 crime victim advocates and pre-approved 91 training programs for NACP, including each of the Military Services’ respective 40+ hour Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocacy Training Courses.

Since 2012, NOVA has administered the DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP), including screening, tracking, processing approvals and issuing credentials to military Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) and SAPR Victim Advocates (SAPR VAs). NACP is the only voluntary national credential of its kind for victim advocates which established a minimum standard for pre-service training; requires continuing education for advocates; and recognizes their years of victim assistance- related experience whether through volunteer service or employment. There is no other source available other than NOVA that can provide the required national certification. In order to ensure that D-SAACP adheres to the highest national standards for victim advocates, NOVA maintains a subject matter expert (SME) Review Board consisting of 20 national leaders in civilian and military advocacy whom vet and approve all D-SAACP applications. To date, the D-SAACP Committee has successfully approved close to 160,000 D-SAACP advocates as well as provided critical SME on reviewing, managing, and responding to requests for reinstatement of suspended or revoked advocate credentials, as requested by SAPRO. There is no other source available other than NOVA that can provide the required nationally recognized credential.

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

A Sources Sought was posted in the System for Award Management (SAM), on July 12, 2024 under NAICS Code 611430 “Professional and Management Development Training”, Notice ID: H98210-FY25-SAPRO-DSAACP: DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP), with a response date August 09, 2024. There were four responses from interested vendors:

. However, there was no indication or tangible evidence of offering nationally recognized or accredited professional credentialing to victim advocates nor certification management on the scale required for the Department for D-SAACP. Additional extensive market research was conducted via internet search engines for other credentialing options for victim service providers and State level certification programs were discovered; however none are available at the Federal level. Out of the four capabilities papers received, the incumbent is the only vendor that provides a national credential that recognizes the professionalization of victim advocacy as key to providing victims of crime with responsive, timely and ethical victim advocacy services as required by the Department.

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

Certified cost and pricing data are not required for this commercial purchase. The cost to the Government will be determined fair and reasonable using the techniques at FAR 15.404-1(b)(2).

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

A Dynamic Small Business Search was done filtering the search by NAICS code 611430 and keywords “Sexual Assault Advocate Certification ”, which resulted in one firm listed, however, is a counselling service provider and not a credentialing center. There were four responses from interested vendors:

Although there was evidence of providing certifications, a certification is not equal to the standards of a nationally recognized credential. Certification is a formal process that recognizes and validates an individual's qualifications in a certain subject. Certification is earned by an individual to assure he or she is qualified to perform a job or task through the acknowledgment of educational achievement. Certifications verify that a professional has achieved a baseline level of competence in a complicated subject area and assures employers that an individual is capable of handling the challenges his or her job responsibilities present.

Additional extensive market research was conducted via internet search engines for national credentialing options for victim service providers. State and local level certification programs were discovered however, the DoD is required to certify at the National level.

The NOVA launched the NACP by serving as its secretariat. NACP is the only voluntary national credential of its kind for victim advocates which established a minimum standard for pre-service training; requires continuing education for advocates; and recognizes their years of victim assistance-related experience whether through volunteer service or employment.

When the NDAA FY2012 mandated professional credentialing for military sexual assault advocates, DoD SAPRO discovered the NOVA organization and utilized their expertise to establish a DoD certification program that replicated the same high standards for trainings and ethics set forth by NACP.

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

N/A

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

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.

SAPRO will continue to monitor the marketplace for any new potential sources that may become available to meet this requirement.

For new requirements, a thorough review of the marketplace will be conducted to ensure that any/all barriers to competition are identified and removed so that competition can be obtained to maximum extent practicable.

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

Procuring Activity Competition Advocate: In accordance with (IAW) DFARS PGI 206.304 Approval of the Justification, I have reviewed the previous justification and determined the planned actions to remove or overcome any barriers that led to exception to full and open competition cited on the previous justification were unable to be completed. The planned actions to remove barriers to competition was to conduct a thorough review of the marketplace to ensure that any/all barriers to competition are identified and removed so that competition can be obtained to maximum extent practicable. SAPRO requires a national certification, victim advocate credential and the market research conducted indicated only one source provides this type of national credential, therefore, IAW DFARS PGI 206.304(a)(S-70)(ii), this justification must be approved by the approval authority one-level above the approval authority for the previous justification which would now be the Head of Contracting Activity.