JA_Limited_Sources_GTMO_Cell_service_(Redacted).pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

GTMO Cell Phone Service

1. Agency/Contracting Activity: Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Procurement Division.

2. Description of Action: This justification for exception to fair opportunity will authorize the procurement of cellular service for seven individuals for a 12-moth base period and four 12-month option periods. The award will go to T – Mobile USA, Inc. through the Army CHESS NETCOM Wireless

BPA, W91RUS-11-A-0008.

3. Description of Supplies and Services: The DoDEA - Americas area requires the purchase of cellular service for 7 individuals operating from Guantanamo bay, Cuba. The cellphone service will facilitate communication between the Principal and school staff as well as between teachers and emergency services while on field trips or other official school activities. Included in the cellphone service is the need for one of the phones to have smartphone capability that will allow the Principal to send and receive official emails. The requirement is for 7 lines for Unlimited Talk & Text, purchase of 6 new Samsung Galaxy J7 activations and 1 Apple IPhone SE activation and 1 Unlimited data add on. The period of performance is for a 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods. FY17 Operating and Maintenance (O&M) funds are available. .

4. Reason for Exception: FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) - Only one awardee 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.

Until recently, there was no cellphone service available at GTMO Cuba but a fiber connection was created that allowed for cell towers, mobile voice and data service to be established on the base. The cellphone service can now be purchased through the Army’s CHESS NETCOM Wireless BPA that was established and modified in FY 17 to include the GTMO area. In FY16 GTMO was connected via a fiber optic cable to Miami, Florida. The NETCOM contract is the only source providing this coverage at this time.

5. Contracting Officer’s Determination that prices will be Fair and Reasonable: The anticipated costs to the Government for this requirement will be found fair and reasonable before BPA award.

6. Any other facts supporting the justification: An RFI was issued to GSA Schedule holders and NASA SEWP Contractors to find if there were potential vendors in providing cellphone services in GTMO. The RFI in GSA closed on 22 February 2017 with no responses. The RFI issued to NASA SEWP on 24 closed on 1 March 2017 and did not receive any responses from vendors capable of providing the required services.

Local services provided on the island of Cuba are provided by government monitored and controlled mobile providers so they cannot be used to provide services to the United States Department of Defense.

The risk of eavesdropping is too high.

7. Effort to remove barriers to/increase competition: Until another provider offers service coverage for the area the choice is limited to the NETCOM BPA on Army CHESS. DoDEA will monitor industry trends for mobile service coverage for this area to determine availability.

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

9. Technical or Requirements Personnel Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance and which forms a basis for this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

10. Approving Official Certification: Based on the information provided, I determine that the statutory authority listed in paragraph 4 above applies. The request to issue a BPA call for the services identified in paragraph 3 is hereby approved.