IA02 SSJ Flight Academy W9124D24Q0096 Redacted_Redacted.pdf

Control No.: MICC 2024-60

FAR 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items Sole Source Justification and Approval

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) Fort Knox, 199 6th Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40121-5720

2. Description of Action: The US Army Cadet Command (USACC), 6th Brigade requests a firm-fixed-price contract with the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc (NAMF), 1750 Radford Boulevard, Pensacola, Florida. The Government projects award for 19 May 2024 and fiscal year 2024 Operations and Maintenance funds will be used.

An acquisition strategy has been prepared and is filed in IA02 of the Paperless Contract file cabinet.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: This requirement is for a 6 cycle, 6 day per cycle, residential experience for a total of 693 JROTC Cadets. The requirement is for lodging accommodations, administrative duties for in/out processing and registration, meals, and STEM Training in the areas of aviation principals, geographical orientation (latitude / longitude / prime meridian / equator), Newton's 3rd Law, radio communication, four forces of flight, aerodynamics (gliders vs powered aircraft), basic flight navigation calculations (time of leg/ fuel required), physics (electro- magnetic spectrum), critical problem solving of real-world problems, history of naval aviation, unit of measure (degrees/minutes/seconds), and 21st Century learning skills (collaboration, technology and critical thinking).

Period of Performance: 19 May 2024 - 28 June 2024 Total Value: $1,039,500.00

4. Authority Cited: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, Title 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5: Only known source within the 6th Brigade geographical footprint with the technical expertise to offer the training.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. The training courses are conducted by a NAMF subsidiary, the National Flight Academy, LLC (NFA). The NFA provides the training to foster cooperative learning and inspire young people to pursue math and science disciplines. The NAMF is within the 6th Brigade's geographical footprint, which includes Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia. The 6th Brigade staff was able to locate approximately 50 flight academies in Florida, 20 in Alabama, 40 in Georgia, and 5 in Mississippi. These flight academies are catered to licensing pilots and building engines and do not provide the STEM training atmosphere. The Cadets must have a STEM program that focuses on a broad spectrum of aviation principles. The NAMF has the organizational structure, facilities, and staff in place to allow for an immediate and positive impact on the 6th Brigade Cadets. The NAMF has the open cycles that will fit the Summer STEM schedule. Although there are other flight academies that lie within the 6th Brigade�s area of responsibility, the NAMF is the only flight academy that offers the required training while providing a STEM environment.

b. Alternatives. No suitable alternatives were found; however, one location, The

Emagination, which is located outside the footprint of the 6th Brigade area, provides programs similar to that of the requirement, however, no aviation is provided and instead of a 6-day program they only offer 2-week programs at a cost of $3,415.00 per student. Other locations have been found within the Continental United States that can provide portions of the requirement; however, there are no facilities that can accommodate the entire need of the requirement, for lodging accommodations, administrative duties for in/out processing and registration, meals, and STEM Training in the areas of aviation principals, geographical orientation (latitude / longitude / prime meridian / equator), Newton�s 3rd Law, radio communication, four forces of flight, aerodynamics (gliders vs powered aircraft), basic flight navigation calculations (time of leg / fuel required), physics (electro-magnetic spectrum), critical problem solving of real world problems, history of naval aviation, unit of measure (degrees / minutes/seconds), and 21st Century learning skills (collaboration, technology and critical thinking).

Therefore, due to the lack of alternative options, The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc (NAMF) is the only suitable contractor for this requirement.

c. Impact if justification not approved: If the justification is not approved, the impact would be the current 6th Brigade Cadets will not meet the advanced training required to meet the 21st Century Technology Goals set for the Brigade.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Contracting Officer shall publish the notices required by FAR 5.201. In an effort to obtain competition,6th Brigade contacted a number of flight academies across the 6th Brigade area, but the flight academies don't provide lodging or meals and have an age limit of 18 years and above. Most of the Cadets for this requirement are younger than 18 years of age.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Due to the technical expertise required, logistics, and transportation costs, there are no actions that can be taken to increase competition because there is no flight academy other than the NAMF that can meet the Government's need. The customer has approached other flight academies about STEM programs, but their focus is to license pilots. During the market research phase of this requirement, a review of the SAM.gov website for the selected NAICS code for this requirement in 6th Brigade Continental U.S. footprint was queried.

Utilizing the NAICS code 611310, the SAM search shows 323 vendors in Florida, the keyword �flight� shows 8 vendors in Florida, keyword �STEM� shows 0 results.

Additionally, a Small Business Administration (SBA) Dynamic Small Business Search was conducted utilizing NAICS Code 611310 and keyword �flight� and �STEM�. The search revealed 0 businesses.

None of the SAM and SBA searches were found to be suitable for this requirement. Details of the suitability for each entity can be found in the Market Research Report in the contract file.

No.: MICC 2024-60

8. Market Research: The 6th Brigade staff researched flight academies within the 6th Brigade geographical footprint. They researched the flight academy's training principals and their ability to provide a STEM atmosphere for 6th Brigade JROTC Cadets, as well as their ability to provide lodging, training, and meals for approximately 693 Cadets. This training requirement includes practical exercises to develop STEM leadership, problem-based learning activities, and STEM related work sites with the goals of increasing Cadet awareness of STEM opportunities. The other flight academies in the 6th Brigade�s footprint are focused on licensing pilots and do not provide STEM learning activities. Although there are other flight academies in the United States, their training principals do not encompass the complete STEM spectrum that is required to satisfy this requirement.

Additionally, the MICC-Fort Knox Contract Specialist performed market research in an attempt to increase competition for this requirement. A search of Government databases (SAM.gov, SBA, GSA) was performed during the period from 5-20 March 2024. Each of the entities revealed were researched or contacted by telephone to determine suitability to provide the required service. None of the entities identified during the market research phase are capable of supporting this requirement. The Market Research Report detailing the specifics for each entity is in the official contract folder. MICC-Fort Knox published a SAM.gov Sources Sought Synopsis from 29 February 2024 through 13 March 2024 which was followed by the posting of a Notice of Intent to Sole Source from 22 March 2024 through 26 March 2024. No interest was received from large or small businesses.

9. Interested Sources: No responses were received to the Sources Sought Synopsis or the Special Notice- Notice of Intent to Sole Source.

10. Other Facts: The 6th Brigade has attended STEM Training with the NAMF in the past. Procurement History: This is the 6th Brigade's third contract request with the NAMF, but they have been attending the NAMF STEM Program since 2014 with the sponsorship of civilian organizations. The sponsor was 100 Black Men of Jackson and that program stopped supporting this requirement a few years ago.

Procurement History.

Contract number: W9124D-23-P-0067 Vendor: NAMF Award date: Effective 04 May 2023 Competitive Status: Sole Source Authority cited: FAR 13.501 - Only Known Source

Contract number: W9124D-22-P-0079 Vendor: NAMF Award date: Effective 22 May 2022 Competitive Status: Sole Source Authority cited: FAR 13.501 - Only Known Source

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of this STEM Education Program on a sole source basis pursuant to the authority of the Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, Title 41 United States Code Section 1901 as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.5. The estimated value of the contract is $1.04 million for a period of performance from 19 May 2024 through 28 June 2024. The approval is subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Alternate Advocate for Competition U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX