JA_19-0129B_MHS_STRATCOMM_Spt_Bridge_Contract_JA_CAE_19-04403_redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

for

FAR Subpart 6.3 Other Than Full and Open Competition MHS Strategic Communications Office

Operational Support Services

Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open

Competition

J&A Tracking No. 19-0129B

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity: The Defense Health Agency, Special Staff Directorate, Communications Division, Professional Services Contract Division (PS-CD) Falls Church VA (J4), plans to award a sole source bridge contract to Rack-Wildner & Reese, Inc., aka Akoya for the Military Health System (MHS) Strategic Communications Office Operational Support Services.

2. Nature and/or Description of Action being approved: This award will result in a new contract for a three (3) month base period and three (3) one (1) month option periods and an additional six (6) month extension of services option period to Rack- Wildner & Reese, Inc., aka Akoya. This is an individual justification.

3. Description of Supplies/Services required to meet the agency’s needs: This requirement is for personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform MHS Strategic Communications Office Operational Support. The Contractor shall provide support to successfully execute the MHS Strategic Communications Division’s mission as the focal point for MHS internal and external communications. The MHS Strategic Communications Office supports the central coordination of strategic communications for the various offices of senior MHS leadership to ensure that there is “one message with many voices”. The role of MHS Strategic Communications Office is instrumental in accomplishing this responsibility and in informing the public, the media and the Congress about the integrated health system which includes TRICARE programmatic changes. The Government requires contractor support in providing personnel who are skilled and capable communicators to prepare content; support social media communications; support planning and performing outreach events, including conferences; support strategic communications planning; and facilitate communications coordination across multiple organizations.

The performance period will be

. This Bridge contract also includes an additional six (6) month extension of services option period from in accordance with FAR 52.217-8.

The total estimated value of this Bridge Contract is for the three (3) month base period and three (3) one month option periods. An additional value of is estimated for the six month extension of services period for total of . The three (3) month base period will be funded with FY19 O&M [one year] funds.

The period of performance and estimated costs will be as follows:

Date Range Estimated Cost Base Period Option Period One Option Period Two Option Period Three

TOTAL

(FAR Clause 52.217-8 Extension) 6-Month

GRAND TOTAL

4. Statutory and Regulatory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition (see FAR 6.302): 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) 6.302-1 -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of the Regulatory Authority Cited: The rationale for citing the above referenced authority is to ensure there is no gap in performing mission-essential tasks that support the DHA MHS Strategic Communications Office. The current contract expires on Currently, DHA is in the pre-solicitation phase in order to re-compete this effort with extensive changes due to the DHA Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) Market Transformation project. Due to delays in standing up and certifying the 22 large market MTFs currently planned for under the DHA Transformation Plan and changes in the project, the re-compete has been delayed. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain continuity of services by awarding this Bridge Contract in order to avoid disruptions in MHS Strategic Communication (STRATCOMM) mission objectives.

The incumbent, Akoya, currently possesses the operational infrastructure and knowledge and is the only logical source to maintain the continuity of services to perform the MHS Strategic Communications missions to include: prevention of disruption or unnecessary delays to crucial mission support impacting over 9.4M TRICARE beneficiaries, MHS leadership and support staff around the globe. Over the next few years, the Defense Health Agency (DHA), Communications Division, will be responsible for effectively communicating and helping to drive a complete culture change throughout the MHS as a result of the recent NDAA changes. Implementation for these changes are already in works and will continue to evolve for the next few years, being further compounded as additional legislation, policies, and regulations are being modified and created for implementation as well. The DHA, Communications Division, is charged with a no-fail mission, therefore, consistency in support personnel for strategic communications is paramount.

Akoya is a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) entity that has performed well and has the vital assets with the institutional knowledge required to ensure the MHS Strategic

Communications Office mission succeeds. Any other contractor awarded this effort would require an extensive transition-in and stand-up period in order to: hire personnel, obtain CAC cards, familiarize with MHS STRATCOMM procedures and policies, etc. in order to meet DHA requirements, which has the potential to result in a gap in services. Because of the critical nature of this work, the fast paced and heavy workload, historical data has also proven that it generally takes two (2) or more years to fully understand the complexities of this integrated health system which is so integral to our National’s military.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: A notice of contract action under this approval for other than full and open competition will be synopsized in accordance with FAR subpart

5.2. Bids, proposals, or quotations have not been solicited from additional sources for the reasons specified in paragraph five (5) above and paragraph eight (8) below; however, proposals will be solicited for a new contract due to the significant changes to DHA and MHS as a whole. Currently, the re-compete effort is in the pre-solicitation phase as the solicitation is being prepared for issuance within the next several months. In accordance with FAR 6.303 and DFARS 206.302-1(d), the requirement for an RFI was waived by the Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA) on letter dated . A contract awarded under this approval for other than full and open competition will be synopsized in accordance with FAR 5.3.

7. Determination that Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: The Contracting Officer hereby determines that this Bridge Contract represents the best value for the Government IAW FAR 6.303-2. The anticipated cost to the Government for this Bridge Contract will be determined fair and reasonable based on historical prices for same/similar support. It is anticipated that the current incumbent, Akoya, will propose pricing comparable to the current year fully burdened labor rates. This is a firm-fixed price effort where the labor hours and all Other Direct Costs (ODCs) are fixed. The Government will make a determination of fair and reasonable prices based on a comparison between the incumbent’s current year pricing and the prices proposed before award. Although there are other sources capable of meeting the Government’s requirement, none would have the extensive reach back or expertise available to support full-scale implementation of DHA’s Strategic Communications missions without significant delays, lead time, incurred costs and substantial investments on time and resources by the Government. This transitional Bridge Contract will be funded for a three (3) month base period with FY19 funds.

Furthermore, because the level of effort is appropriate, Akoya’s past performance record is more than satisfactory, and Akoya has the knowledge, experience, qualified personnel, facilities and system access to maintain continuity of services to perform the work.

Retaining the incumbent services provides the best overall value to the Government, which far exceeds any potential cost savings that could be gained by competing the Bridge requirement at this time. The contracting office will determine the price is fair and reasonable based on price analysis by comparing the proposed price with Akoya’s current contract prices.

8. Market Research: Market Research is an ongoing process; however, all market research has been obtained for this action. Several Industry Days were conducted over the course of preparing the re-compete acquisition. The results yielded mostly capability statements with the majority not expanding beyond standard capabilities, which did not always align with the current need. This further confirmed that the best value to the Government at this time is to maintain current services operational until a re-compete action is awarded. A recent view of GSA FSS under schedule 00CORP Category 541-2 revealed 169 contractors that offer services that could potentially support this requirement. Of these, 132 are small businesses, 39 (like the incumbent Akoya) are Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB), 21 are Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), and 16 are Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB).

9. Other Facts:

The incumbent, Akoya, possesses the operational infrastructure, knowledge and expertise and is the only logical source to maintain continuity of services in the performance of the MHS Strategic Communications mission at this time. The incumbent has provided strategic communications support services to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) and the Defense Health Agency (DHA) by crafting and implementing broad-based and targeted communications efforts that have advanced key strategy priorities for the Military Health System (MHS). This skill-set is exactly what is required at this time; a team that can keep the operation moving without any down time for transition and start up.

10. Interested Sources: No additional sources are available.

11. Actions to overcome barriers: After reviewing potential acquisition strategy alternatives and taking into consideration previous acquisitions of similar items or services, the impact of prior acquisitions on these alternatives, and related in-house efforts, it was determined that the best acquisition method to solicit the upcoming requirement as full and open after exclusion of sources, 100% small business set-aside. The Customer and PS-CD (J4) is currently preparing the solicitation for issuance within the next several months.

COORDINATION:

12. Technical/Functional Representative:

I certify that the information provided in this justification, is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date

13. Requirements Certification:

I certify that the information provided in this justification, is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

14. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination:

I have determined that this contract action represents the best value to the Government and that the anticipated cost to the Government is fair and reasonable, in accordance with FAR 6.303-2.

15. Legal Review:

I have reviewed this justification and have found it to be legally sufficient.

APPROVAL:

16. Contracting Officer:

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

17. Competition Advocate:

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement for the MHS Strategic Communications Office Operational Support Services on a limited or restricted consideration basis pursuant to the authority listed above, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the supplies and/or services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

is Date