JA Peoria Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION-

Unusual and Compelling Urgency

Supply: Lodging, Laundry and Meals for COVID-19 Response

Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(2) as implemented by FAR Part 6.302-2 – Unusual and compelling urgency.

Amount:

1. Contracting Activity: Illinois Army National Guard United States Property and Fiscal Office (USPFO), 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd, Springfield, IL 62702.

2. Description of the Action: A single Firm Fixed Price (FFP) purchase order is anticipated to be awarded to the business concern through the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13. This new firm fixed priced purchase order will be solicited as other than full and open competition. The lodging will be procured using

3. Description of Supplies/Services: Illinois Army National Guard (ILARNG) has been tasked to assist with the COVID-19 response efforts and is required to provide lodging and meal to its Soldiers. Illinois has been deeply impacted by COVID-19 with nearly 40,000 positive tests and 1800 deaths. The initial response effort had our Soldiers on State Active Duty (SAD) and State funds were used to procure lodging and meals. On 13 March President Trump declared a national emergency under The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (The Stafford Act). This has enabled the State to use federal funding for COVID-19 response efforts. The first Illinois Army National Guard Solders transitioned from SAD to T32 502(f) on 3 April 2020.

4. Authority Cited: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(2) as implemented by FAR Part 6.302-2 - Unusual and compelling urgency..

5. Reason for Authority Cited: On March 13 President Trump invoked The Stafford Act to combat the novel coronavirus COVID-19. As described in FAR 6.302-2, Unusual and compelling urgency - and approved in accordance with FAR 6.303 and 6.304.

Prior to The Stafford Act being in place our Soldiers had been placed on State Active Duty and had been provided lodging and meals through a state procured contract. The ILARNG has been authorized to convert Soldiers from SAD to T32 502(f). This conversion now requires the use of federal funds to support the COVID-19 response effort. The federal government must now procure the lodging and meals for this requirement. In order not to displace the Soldiers from their hotel, the government purchase card has been utilized for payment of this requirement.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: An internet search was conducted to locate any hotels within 5 miles of zip code 61602. While there are two hotels in the area that are SAM registered, however only one hotel could meet all the Government’s needs. It was determined that leaving the Soldiers in their current hotel would have less impact on the mission. Social distancing requires a minimum of 6ft spacing between people. Maintaining social distancing while trying to relocate would be very time consuming and put an unnecessary delay in the mission. Relocating would require multiple trips back and forth to each hotel to ensure that social distancing is being implemented. Relocating would also pose a safety risk as it is almost impossible to maintain a safe distance during the logistical portion of the move.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: No action was done to increase competition. We are trying to expedite the time it takes to put a contract in place due to the urgency of this requirement. The mission will be greatly affected if the Soldiers are required to relocate. The risk factors in relocating are the ability to maintain the proper spacing for social distancing and the time it will take to relocate all the Soldiers to another hotel.

8. Market Research: Market Research was conducted by calling the hotel the Soldiers are staying at and requesting an estimate of the current prices as well as an internet search to locate nearby hotels. The hotel has also been determined to be in close proximity to the mission site.

9. Interested Sources: is the interested source for this requirement. Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette has provided an estimate and confirmed their capability to provide the lodging, laundry and the meals:

1.

10. Other Facts: None