HS0021-16-Q-0010_Education_Support_Svc__Redacted.pdf

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) PART 8

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J & A)

Education Support Services Logical Follow-On Solicitation Number HS0021-16-Q-0010

Control Number: 16-002JA

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE REQUIRING AND CONTRACTING

ACTIVITY:

a. Requesting Activity:

Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) 938 Elkridge Landing Road Linthicum, MD 21090-2902

b. Contracting Activity

DSS Office of Acquisitions (AQ) 27130 Telegraph Road Quantico, VA 22314

2. NATURE OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION:

The purpose of this document is to obtain the necessary approvals for a limited source acquisition in accordance with FAR Part 8.405-6. “Limited source”, in this case pertains to the restriction of competition to support the Education Division within CDSE with a logical follow-on contract in an effort to maintain continuity of services for the education course development of graduate level courses at CDSE.

Per FAR 8.401, this acquisition is being conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program, Title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251, et seq.) and Title 40 U.S.C. 501, Services for Executive Agencies.

The procurement strategy is to issue a Request for Quote (RFQ) through General Services Administration (GSA) Advantage to Carney, Inc. under GS-02F-0137S, for a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) order for the continuation of services for education course development of graduate level courses. The Government will negotiate a seven month base and two seven month option periods.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICE:

CDSE’s mission is to provide the Department of Defense (DoD) with a security center of excellence for the professionalization of the security community and be the premier provider of security education and training for the DoD and industry under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP). The CDSE provides development, Education Support Services Logical Follow-On Solicitation Number HS0021-16-Q-0010

Control Number: 16-002JA delivery, and exchange of security knowledge to ensure a high-performing workforce capable of addressing our Nation's security challenges.

The CDSE Education Division offers a security curriculum comprised of 17 graduate-level courses designed specifically to develop leaders for the DoD security community. Courses are offered in a virtual instructor-led collaborative learning environment (CLE), making them available to U.S military and government employees worldwide. Most courses have received American Council on Education’s (ACE) College Credit Recommendation. ACE credit recommendations may allow students to transfer credits earned from approved courses toward completion of degree requirements at participating colleges and universities. Students also have the opportunity to augment their degree with focus on specialized areas by earning a CDSE Education Certificate.

The CDSE Education Division requires instructor services to present and maintain online graduate courses. Each time a course is scheduled to be presented the Offeror shall:

Update the course material Post the course material in Sakai CLE Present course via Sakai CLE Grade the examinations and assignments Provide feedback to each student on assignments Evaluate each student’s performance during the course Post all student grades including final cumulative grades in CDSE’s record system Report final grade for each student to the Chief of CDSE Education Division Administer a course evaluation survey Deliver a Post-Course Report

Carney, Inc. is the only company that has both the Instructional Systems Development staff and subject matter expert instructors available to update course material and instruct courses beginning in June 2016.

The period of performance for this effort will contain multiple option periods to cover the delivery of Fall 2016, Spring 2017, and Summer 2017 courses as defined below:

Fall 2016: June 22, 2016 – January 14, 2017 Spring 2017: November 9, 2016 – May 28, 2017 Summer 2017: Mar 01, 2017 – September 24, 2017

The total estimated value for this contract is comprised of in FY16 and in FY17. O&M funding will be used in the procurement of these services.

Education Support Services Logical Follow-On Solicitation Number HS0021-16-Q-0010

Control Number: 16-002JA

4. AUTHORITY AND SUPPORTING RATIONAL AND THE PROPOSED

CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

In accordance with FARS 8.405-6(a)(1)(i), the applicable exception to placing this order on a competitive basis is FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i) (B),

(B) Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized;

In accordance with Per FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C), the work being acquired is a logical follow-on to an original GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) order that was awarded competitively in accordance with FAR Part 8.405 procedures. The current award was competitively solicited and awarded under GSA FSS, GS-02F-0137S (Order

HS0021-16-F-0016).

As a result of the change in the acquisition strategy and postponement of the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity(ID/IQ) initiative to acquire these services, coupled with expiration of the current contract, HS0021-16-F-0016, which is due to expire September 18, 2016, there is no other contractual vehicle in place to provide these services. This logical follow-on is necessary in an effort to maintain continuity of services. The current contractor, Carney, Inc., has the knowledge, capabilities and subject-matter expert instructors best suited to maintain the immediate short-term requirements to be accomplished while a competitive acquisition is completed. The Government is considering various acquisition strategies for the recompete effort, which are detailed in Section 6, Efforts to Obtain Competition.

The current contractor has the existing workforce and specialized capability already in place and can ensure continued performance without any delay because of their existing program knowledge, understanding of DSS procedures, and access to the current graduate courses being executed. The current contractor’s performance has been deemed acceptable by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

5. DETERMINATION OF BEST VALUE

An RFQ will be sent to Carney, Inc., requesting current pricing for services currently provided under HS0021-16-F-0016. Pricing will be based on their GSA FSS, GS-02F-0137S. Based on a RFQ issued against their GSA FSS, it is anticipated the pricing will be fair and reasonable, as determined under the terms and conditions of the RFQ. The Contracting Officer can compare current pricing with the IGCE; Carney’s published price list, and the cost of the current period of performance for contract

Education Support Services Logical Follow-On Solicitation Number HS0021-16-Q-0010

Control Number: 16-002JA

HS0021-16-F-0016. Based on these comparisons, the Contracting Officer can determine prices fair and reasonable and determine best value to the Government.

FAR 8.404(d) Pricing (Deviation) states, “Supplies offered on the schedule are listed at fixed prices. Services offered on the schedule are priced either at hourly rates, or at a fixed price for performance of a specific task (e.g., installation, maintenance, and repair). GSA has determined the prices of supplies and fixed-price services, and rates for services offered at hourly rates, to be fair and reasonable for establishing the schedule contract. GSA's determination does not relieve the ordering activity’s contracting officer from the responsibility of making a determination of fair and reasonable pricing for individual orders, BPAs, and orders under BPAs, using the proposal analysis techniques at 15.404-1. The complexity and circumstances of each acquisition should determine the level of detail of the analysis required.” Based on the justification to continue with its current service provider, market research conducted via both open market and GSAs FSS, and by utilizing the streamlined procedures under FAR Part 8, the Office of Acquisitions (AQ) has determined that the RFQ will result in an order that represents the best value to the Government at the lowest potential cost.

Leveraging DSS’ current use of the services provided by Carney, Inc., along with the competitive pricing under GSA, the Contracting Officer (CO) is confident in obtaining the best value for DSS.

6. DESCRIPTION of MARKET SURVEY / EFFORTS TO OBTAIN

COMPETITION

The resulting market research of the Request For Information (RFI) demonstrated that similar services were commercially available from five (5) small businesses;

however, due to the need for consistency and the harm incurred if a break in services occurs, issuing a logical follow-on to Carney, Inc. while a long term acquisition is competed is in the best interest of the Government.

7. ANY OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS

There is nothing additional which has not already been stated throughout this document.

8. ACTIONS TAKEN TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO COMPETITION

The Office of Acquisitions is currently working to prepare a solicitation for a competitive acquisition for Education Support Services in support of the DSS Education Division. This one-time logical follow-on order will provide the appropriate time

Education Support Services Logical Follow-On Solicitation Number HS0021-16-Q-0010

Control Number: 16-002JA required to fully compete the requirement and provide a transition period to the new awardee.

Education Support Services Logical Follow-On Solicitation Number HS0021-16-Q-0010

Control Number: 16-002JA

CERTIFICATION

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this justification and which form a basis for this justification are complete and accurate.

Requiring Activity/Program Management Office Certification

Printed Name:

Title Chief Education Division Org. Code _DSS-CDSE

Signature Phone Date_________

Contracting Officer Certification I hereby determine that the anticipated cost for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. I certify that this J&A is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Printed Name:

Title Contracting Officer Organization Code DSS-AQ

Signature_ ___ __ Phone Date_________

For

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