Exception_to_Fair_Opportunity_PSA_Bridge_Task_ID03160047_Posted_to_FBO.pdf

ID03160047 (DMDC PSA Bridge Task Order)

Exception to Fair Opportunity GSA Federal Acquisition Service, Mid-Atlantic Region

1. Contracting Agency

The requiring activity is the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA.

The contracting activity is the GSA Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) (3QFA), The Dow Building, 100 S. Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

2. Description of Action

The action being approved is placement of a non-competitive bridge task order for the continuation of Sustainment, Development, and Operational Support Services for the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Personnel Security Assurance Division (PSA). These services are currently being provided by Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services (HPES) under task order GST0313DS0018, which was competitively awarded in February of 2013 for a one-year base period plus two one-year options. Option Year 2 was extended by 5.5 months under the Option to Extend Services clause, and the period of performance now ends on September 15, 2016.

This Exception to Fair Opportunity (Limited Sources Justification and Approval) supports a nine-month bridge task order with HPES while the DMDC PSA requirement is competitively re-solicited. The bridge order will consist of a 6-month base period and three 1-month options. The estimated value of these services during the base period is $9,600,000, and each one-month option would be valued at $1.6M. The total potential value of the bridge task order is $14.4M.

3. Description of Services

HPES provides professional information technology services to DMDC’s PSA Division to support enterprise technology governance, customer development, software sustainment, and operational activities across the application development life cycle. The effort supports five Personnel Security Assurance systems: the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS), the Defense Central Index of Investigations (DCII), the Improved Investigative Records Repository (iIRR), the Secure Web Fingerprint Transmission (SWFT), and the Defense Information System for Security (DISS).

4. Identification of Statutory Authority

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is Section 201 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 501). In accordance with FAR 16.505(b)(2), ‘Exceptions to the fair opportunity process’, and specifically as described in 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), only one source is capable of providing the services required at the level of quality required, and within the timeframe required, due to the unique or specialized nature of the work.

5. Fair and Reasonable Price Determination

In accordance FAR 16.505(b)(3), ‘Pricing orders’, the GSA Contracting Officer will make a determination of fair and reasonable pricing. Pricing will be derived from the contractor’s published Alliant labor category hourly rates and will reflect actual prices currently being paid for the same services. GSA Alliant labor rates are determined to be fair and reasonable based upon competition. Further price reductions will be sought in the form of discounts, consistent with FAR requirements.

6. Other facts supporting the justification: reasons for authority cited

Providing a bridge task order to continue sustainment support of DMDC’s PSA and DISS applications benefits the Government by continuing to maintain crucial DMDC security applications. A single source action is justified because the incumbent contractor, HPES, possesses the detailed program knowledge and specific expertise needed to continue support without interruption.

HPES has been an integral partner to the Government in developing the Defense Information System for Security (DISS) and has supported the sustainment of DMDC’s PSA applications for several years. No other source would be capable of providing these services in sufficient time to meet the Government’s immediate need. A break in service would be detrimental to DMDC’s critical Personnel Security Assurance mission.

HPES has already proven capable of providing the required services and has received positive past performance ratings during previous performance periods. There are no other suitably experienced sources readily available to support this short-term requirement within the available timeframe. Competing this action at this point in time would delay services and adversely impact the DMDC mission, as any interruption in contractor support would preclude DMDC from providing essential services to agency customers.

7. Actions to remove barriers to fair opportunity before subsequent acquisition

While the Government will solicit only HPES under its GSA Alliant GWAC contract to fulfill this bridge requirement, a future competitively-solicited re-procurement action will give other capable firms the opportunity to propose on the follow-on DMDC requirement. During the potential nine months that the bridge task order is in place GSA will prepare for and conduct a competitive follow-on procurement. Actions would include a ‘sources sought’ Request for Information (RFI) and a pre-proposal conference for interested vendors to explain GSA’s competitive procurement processes. A transition period of 30 days would be built into the PWS to allow for an effective changeover of work to a new contractor, should the current incumbent not be the next awardee.

8. Contracting Officer Certification

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost for this procurement action will be fair and reasonable. Price reasonableness will be documented in the task order award memorandum.

I further certify that this Exception to Fair Opportunity / Limited Sources J&A is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

This Justification and Approval will be posted at www.fedbizopps.gov within 14 days of task order award for a period no less than 30 days in accordance with the requirements at FAR 5.301(a)(2)(ii).

http://www.fedbizopps.gov/

Christine Chaapel, Contracting Officer GSA FAS, Mid-Atlantic Region

Signature: ___________________________ Date: _________________

9. Technical Certification

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the J&A, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Michael Baumann, Information Technology Specialist GSA FAS, Mid-Atlantic Region

Signature: ___________________________ Date: _________________

10. Approvals

___________________________________ Date: _________________ Kathleen Barksdale, Regional Counsel

I hereby determine that the exception described in FAR 16.505 (b)(2)(i)(B) applies to this order.

John E. Wise, Competition Advocate Director, Regional Acquisition Operations

Joseph M. Hvorecky Acting FAS Regional Commissioner