J and A - Sole Source_Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity

USDA/ARS/MWA

1815 N. University Street Peoria, IL 61604 Joshua J. Dobereiner, Contracting Officer 309-681-6410 josh.dobereiner@usda.gov

2. Nature/Description of Action This action is a firm fixed price modification to contract AG-32SC-C-16-0023 with Alutiiq Security and Technology, LLC to exercise the extension of services clause, FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, for three months.

This action is required to ensure there is no break in the existing services provided.

Due to a delay in receipt of required documents necessary to re-compete this requirement, it is in the Government’s best interest to extend the existing contract utilizing FAR 52.217-8.

3. Description of Supplies/Services Labor, equipment, supervision, materials, and incidentals for operations and maintenance services including, but not limited to, HVAC, security, janitorial, architectural and structural, grounds maintenance, electrical, piped systems, utilities, shipping and receiving, storeroom, and administration of work management systems at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) in Peoria, Illinois. The extension will increase the firm fixed price portion of the contract by $550,214.03, from $9,562,590.35 to $10,112,804.38. There have also been $1,810,620.34 in task orders issued against the indefinite quantity portion of this contract. The new total obligated amount of $11,923,424.72 remains under the maximum amount listed in the initial award, which was $12,815,586.99.

4. Statutory Authority In accordance with 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, “Only one responsible source and no others supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements”, and FAR 52.217-8, “Option to Extend Services”. The option to extend services must be issued on a sole source basis to avoid a break in service while the re-compete acquisition is in process.

5. Demonstration of Contractor’s Unique Qualifications and/or Product’s Unique Features Extending the current contract utilizing FAR 52.217-8 provides the most economical and efficient method to prevent a break in service of this critical requirement. The current contractor is the only contractor that has staff immediately available to meet this need that have already been fully vetted (background checks, LincPass, etc.).

6. Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) Announcement/Potential Sources Exercising the option to extend services under FAR 52.217-8 is the only way to ensure there is no lapse in service, which would negatively affect NCAUR in executing their mission. At the time of the initial competition, FAR Clause 52.217-8 was included. All parties competed for the contract with the knowledge of the inclusion of the unilateral right of the Government to exercise this option during the life of the contract. As such, all efforts were made to compete this three month extension period during the initial award. This effort does not need to be synopsized as it is covered by the exception at FAR 5.202(a)(11) since the proposed action is being made under the terms of an existing contract that was previously synopsized in sufficient detail.

The redacted sole source justification will be posted to the Contracting Opportunities website.

The follow-on competition was posted as a Total Small Business Set-Aside Request for Proposals on May 25, 2021. Proposals are due July 8, 2021.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost The price for the extension is the same as the rates specified in the contract. The contract price was determined fair and reasonable based on price analysis. All prices were negotiated prior to contract award. , NCAUR Facilities Engineer, has indicated the negotiated price is still fair and reasonable for these services. Based on the above, I have determined the price fair and reasonable.

8. Market Survey Market research was conducted for this extension to evaluate the best course of action given the current situation. While other sources exist, they cannot staff-up, get background checks, etc. in a timely manner to cover the entire contract, and still provide a fair and reasonable price for a short term contract that will cover only three months.

Market research was also conducted for the follow-on contract and is documented in the file for that solicitation (12505B21R0003).

9. Additional Support The need to exercise the option to extend services is to account for the time needed to compete the follow-on requirement.

10. Other Interested Sources No other sources will be solicited.

REVIEWED BY:

Date

Acquisition Ombudsman

APPROVED BY:

Date

Mission Area Senior Contracting Official

07/02/2021

07-09-21