A04_Sole_Source_Justification-Redacted.pdf

Great Minds in Stem

Sole Source Justification

Authority: FAR 13.106-1 (b) “Soliciting from a Single Source”

Activity: Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity

Contracting Activity: Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate

Background

The Great Minds in Stem doing business as Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards

Conference (HENAAC) is one of the leading Hispanic non-profit organizations for the development of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) leaders in the academic, executive, and technical communities. The Contractor shall be directly responsible for ensuring the accuracy, timeliness, and completion of all tasks under this effort, none of which are considered inherently governmental functions as defined in FAR 2.101 or Subpart 7.5. In accordance with FAR 37.104, Personal Services are prohibited and will not be performed under this contract. This contract is a means for DoD to increase its minority outreach efforts through visibility within communities that support the sustainment, development and advancement of minorities and women in related federal government programs and opportunities. DoD’s engagement will be maximized throughout the partnership with HENAAC that will include benefits such as those listed below.

The Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity (ODMEO) mission is required to host numerous career fairs, recruiting events, and training events. The goal is to foster awareness about Department of Defense (DoD) career opportunities to minorities. The ODMEO will participate in the recruitment fair by manning a booth, providing keynote speakers, and panel members to speak on behalf of DoD at these events. The requested sole source is necessitated to assist DoD in development of a Multi -Year Global Workforce Strategy to meet diversity goals and guidelines thus established by Executive Leadership.

Organizations must be able to provide DoD access to the two primary market segments, applicants and influencers and the support for participation from the highest levels of the DoD

Components engaged in promoting diversity management programs. America’s strength lies in its diversity. This makes pursuing workforce diversity in DoD paramount to securing the

Nation’s defense. The goal is to foster awareness about DoD career opportunities to minorities while also identifying, recruiting, attracting, shaping and retaining the most talented and most diverse workforce.

Description of the Work.

The purpose of this contract is to conduct public outreach and sustain a long-term viable connection between the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity (ODMEO) and

HENAAC. The 2015 HENAAC conference, to be held on 14 Oct 2015, provides direct access to a large contingent of two primary target markets of potential applicants and influencers which align to ODMEO strategic outreach efforts to identify, attract, and recruit from a broader talent pool.

The HENAAC conference directly aligns with DoD Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan 2012-

2017 as the implementation phase of Presidential Executive Order 13171—Hispanic

Employment in the Federal Government and Presidential Executive Orders. This engagement’s return on investment for DoD will focus on supporting the requirements of Presidential mandates to increase diversity and inclusion in the Federal workforce by addressing underrepresentation of minorities and women in both the military and civilian DoD workforce, particularly those of

Hispanic ethnicity, especially those in mission critical STEM occupations.

HENAAC shall provide the following a multitude of deliverables in the areas of Strategic

Engagement, Access Engagement, and Marketing Engagement.

A clear, present, and critical need exists to allow the Office of Diversity Management and Equal

Opportunity (ODMEO) to use HENAAC to contribute towards increasing diversity in the DoD workplace through outreach as it directly supports the DoD Diversity and Inclusion Strategic

Plan 2012-2017 and Presidential Executive Order.

HENAAC is the only known organization of its kind that has the depth and breadth within the

Hispanic community for the development of STEM leaders in the academic, executive, and technical communities and leading the GMIS effort.

Contracting Officer’s Certification:

Based on the foregoing, I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this action will be fair and reasonable and certify that the above assertions are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Reginald Solomon

Contracting Officer

14 October 2015