Limited_Source_Justifcation_Knoll_Signed_06212018.pdf

ITSS Number: ID31180023

LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

1. IDENTIFICATION OF AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:

The requiring agency is the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Roanoke Regional Benefit Office, 210 Franklin Road SW, Roanoke, VA 24011. The contracting activity is GSA/FAS, Mid-Atlantic Region, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

2. NATURE/DESCRIPTION OF CONTRACT ACTION:

This is a sole source action to issue a firm fixed price delivery order to Knoll, Inc., utilizing their GSA Schedule 71 Contract (GS-03F-078DA) for the procurement of office furniture to match the existing Knoll furniture housed within the VBA’s Roanoke Regional Benefit Office, located in Roanoke, VA.

VBA’s Roanoke Regional Benefit Office administers a variety of services, including compensation, education, insurance, loan guaranty, pension, and vocational rehabilitation and employment for veterans, service members, their families, and survivors in Virginia and the District of Columbia. In addition, the office offers: counseling about eligibility for VA benefits and how to apply;

information about VA health care and memorial benefits; outreach to veterans, including those who are homeless or at risk for homelessness, and older, minority, and women; public affairs; assistance with applying for specially adapted housing grants; and administration of VA’s home loan guaranty program for Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia.

The VBA currently occupies eight (8) floors in the Richard H. Poff U.S. Courthouse, Floors 6 through

13. The VBA is undergoing renovations and updates to the layout for Floors 8 through 13. Floors 6 and 12 will act as their swing space and will be returned at the close of the project. The 7th Floor will not be renovated as part of this project. In conjunction with these renovations, the VBA will require new furniture for the entirety of the 8th and 10th Floors. New furniture to match the existing (previously provided by Knoll, Inc.) will be required on the 9th, 11th, and 13th Floors, as well as minor modifications to existing furniture in place. As a result, the VBA is in need of additional office furniture from Knoll, Inc. that is compatible and can coordinate with the existing Knoll furniture.

Due to budgetary constraints and union delegations, it is more cost effective to procure additional furniture as opposed to procuring new furniture for the entire floor.

3. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIRED SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

This delivery order will provide the VBA with new workstations, private offices, and other ancillary furniture items as well as relocation, disassembly and reconfiguration of existing Knoll workstations, private offices and other ancillary furniture items. Further, project management, design and installation services are required to facilitate the remodeling of the above-mentioned floors of the VBA’s Roanoke Regional Benefit Office. The estimated value of this delivery order is $464,778.00, which includes the furniture and ancillary services required. (Please see attached spreadsheet for furniture and quantities.)

4. IDENTIFICATION OF THE JUSTIFICATION RATIONALE AND/OR DEMONSTRATION OF

CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS:

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule program.

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), as implemented by FAR 8.405-6.

In accordance with FAR 8.405-6 (a) (1) (i) (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.

As discussed in section (c)(2)(ii) Nature/Description of Action of this document, the VBA Regional Benefit Office (Roanoke, VA) currently occupies eight (8) floors within the Richard H. Poff U.S.

Courthouse. The VBA is undergoing renovations of its current space; as result of these renovations, the dis-assembly, relocation and reconfiguration of existing Knoll furniture as well as new furniture to match the existing Knoll furniture is required. Project management, design and installation services are also required to support the renovations of the space. In order to satisfy the VBA’s requirements, additional workstations, private office furniture and ancillary furniture items are required in specific areas of floors 9, 11 and 13, which already house Knoll furniture. The additional furniture will be configured in conjunction with the existing Knoll furniture throughout the space to create a continuity of design; therefore, only Knoll, Inc. furniture can be used within the designated areas as described above. No other manufacturer’s product can be used to reconfigure the existing space as parts are not interchangeable between manufacturers, nor would any other manufacturer’s product/finishes match exactly to the existing Knoll product. In addition, the use of the Knoll, Inc. furniture maximizes the use of existing furniture as well as the square footage of the workspace.

Knoll, Inc. is the only contractor with a GSA Schedule 71 contract that can offer Knoll furniture.

Therefore, for purposes of reconfiguration, compatibility, installation, and maintenance of the existing and new furniture, Knoll, Inc. is the only source that can meet the needs of these areas within the VBA’s Roanoke Regional Benefit Office. Additionally, the time and costs associated with a competitive procurement of this requirement would far exceed the costs associated with matching the existing Knoll furniture that is currently located at the VBA’s Roanoke Regional Benefit Office.

Further, the VBA awarded a contract to Knoll, Inc. in 2013 for a variety of workplace furniture to satisfy their requirements. The furniture procured in 2013 is not past its useful life and it still in very good condition. As a result, it is more cost effective to procure additional furniture from Knoll to match the existing Knoll furniture as opposed to procuring new furniture for the entire space.

The products and services provided by Knoll, Inc. are required since this office already maintains Knoll product.

5. DETERMINATION OF THE BEST VALUE:

The assigned GSA Project Manager (PM) will complete a technical evaluation on the contractor’s technical quote to ensure that the products quoted meet the specific need of the VBA as identified in the Statement of Work (SOW). Further, the GSA PM will conduct an evaluation of the labor mix and amount of hours quoted by the contractor to ensure they are adequate and reasonable to perform the work required. The GSA Contracting Officer will conduct a price analysis of the contractor’s quoted prices to ensure they reflect the contractor’s current GSA Schedule 71 contract prices/discounts, as well as to ensure there are no math errors or pricing caveats. Quoted labor rates will be checked to ensure that they are reflected in the contractor’s current GSA Schedule 71 contract.

In accordance with FAR Subpart 8.4, GSA has already determined the prices to be fair and reasonable since they reflect the actual prices in the GSA Schedule. In addition, the Government will seek discounts in accordance with FAR 8.405-2. The Contracting Office has determined that these efforts will result in the greatest overall benefit to the Government in response to the requirement, attaining the best value and fair and reasonable prices.

6. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET RESEARCH:

Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR 10. A review of GSA Advantage and other sources of information for the required products showed that other firms can provide similar type product; however, as stated above, since product is specific to the manufacturer, only Knoll, Inc. can provide Knoll product, which is required to support the existing furniture needs at the VBA Regional Benefit Office. A review of the technical scope of Knoll, Inc.’s GSA Furniture Schedule 71 contract showed that the contractor offers the required furniture under its GSA Schedule contract number GS-03F-078DA. This research was conducted using GSA’s Schedules eLibrary website and the contractor’s website.

7. ANY OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS:

None.

8. ACTIONS TAKEN TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO COMPETITION:

The Government will solicit only Knoll, Inc. under their GSA Schedule 71 furniture contract to enable the fulfillment of this requirement. No other firm can provide the necessary products required to support the renovation of the VBA Regional Benefit Office located in Roanoke, VA.

9. CONTRACTING POINT OF CONTACT:

The point of contact is Annette Lang at annette.lang@gsa.gov; 215-446-5741.

*Signatures on next page*

Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Melissa DiTomaso

Contracting Officer GSA FAS, Mid-Atlantic Region

Signature: ___________________________ Date: _________________

Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Amanda Smith Project Manager

GSA PBS, Mid-Atlantic Region

Signature: ___________________________ Date: _________________

MELISSA DITOMASO

Digitally signed by MELISSA

DITOMASO

Date: 2018.06.14 13:43:13 -04'00'

AMAND

A SMITH

Digitally signed by

AMANDA SMITH

Date: 2018.06.21 10:16:18 -04'00'