JA-Louisianna_Mississippi 6.23.20 - Final_Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION UNDER AUTHORITY

OF 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) FOR FULL FOODSERVICE PRIME VENDOR CUSTOMERS IN THE

LOUISIANNA/MISSISSIPPI AND SURROUNDING AREA

a bridge contract is required to avoid an interruption in service to the customers in the Louisiana, Mississippi and surrounding areas.

The current IDC will expire on or about June 27, 2020, and due to the COVID-19 crises and other unforeseen delays, unanticipated extended support is required for this area. The bridge contract will allow adequate time to complete reviews, conduct negotiations, evaluate revised proposals, prepare the final award documentation, and award the follow-on contract. This bridge contract also includes additional time to allow for continued performance during the follow-on contract implementation period of 120 days, as stated in the solicitation.

The required foodservice supplies are deemed to be available only from the current contractor in the timeframe required, and award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements. Merchants Foodservice is able to meet DLA requirements starting on June 28, 2020. They are the only food supplier in the Louisiana and Mississippi and surrounding area that has a fully implemented STORES electronic catalog, which, alone, requires at least (60) days of the one hundred and twenty (120) day ramp-up/implementation period. Award to any other potential food supplier would cause an unacceptable break in supply.

Failure to make award to Merchants Foodservice will result in a break in Prime Vendor support. The military customers rely on the DLA Prime Vendor contract for all of their foodservice needs. The absence of this contract for any time will result in the inability of our military customers to order food and associated supplies. Failure to feed our military servicemen and women would constitute mission failure for DLA and our military customers. Should a competitively awarded contract be put into place ahead of the projected timeframe and the guaranteed minimum has been met under this bridge contract, no further orders will be placed against the bridge contract.

6. As required by FAR 5.2, a notice will be published in Contract Opportunities (Beta.SAM.GOV). All information pertinent to the special notice will be available to the general public at website https://www.dla.mil/TroopSupport/Subsistence. In addition, this justification will be made available for public inspection, after award, in accordance with

FAR 6.305.

7. As the Contracting Officer, I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable based on price analysis, which will include an overall assessment of market conditions and a comparison of the distribution prices and product prices with recently awarded CONUS Prime Vendor contracts.

8. The information supporting this action is based primarily on the Government’s knowledge of the foodservice market in the region. With the exception of synopsizing this requirement, no additional market research will be conducted and no other firms will be solicited since the Government is unaware of any other firm in the region with the existing capability, including electronic STORES cataloging, to perform in the timeframe required.

LOUISIANNA/MISSISSIPPI AND SURROUNDING AREA

9. In the Louisiana and Mississippi and surrounding area, only Merchants Foodservice has a fully implemented STORES electronic catalog. The required foodservice supplies are available only from the current contractor in the timeframe required, and award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.

10. Merchants Foodservice is the only source expected to express an interest in the proposed bridge contract.

11. The follow-on competitive solicitation was issued on December 3, 2019 on a full and open competition basis and it is anticipated that all future acquisitions for these requirements will be competed on a full and open competition basis. The follow-on award is anticipated

12. As the Contracting Officer, I hereby certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

DATE PATRICIA GRIFFITH

Contracting Officer

I hereby certify that the requirements which form the basis of this justification are accurate, that these supplies meet the Government’s needs in accordance with applicable specifications and that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

DATE MARY ELLEN DOBBINS

Chief, CONUS Prime Vendor Subsistence Supply Chain

I have reviewed this justification and do not recommend approval.

DATE ROBERT J. PANICHELLE

DLA Troop Support Competition Advocate

LOUISIANNA/MISSISSIPPI AND SURROUNDING AREA

I have reviewed this justification for legal sufficiency.

DATE GALE FURMAN

Supply Chain Counsel DLA Counsel – Troop Support

I have reviewed and hereby approve this justification.

DATE WILLIAM J. KENNY

Executive Director DLA Troop Support Contract and Acquisition Management