JA TAP For Posting.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL)

Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) 5202 Presidents Ct, Suite 103

Frederick, MD 21703

EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY JUSTIFICATION

(1) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a "Justification for an Exception to Fair Opportunity"

This justification for exceptions to fair opportunity is executed by the Strategic Acquisition Center-Frederick (SAC-F), on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Military to Civilian Readiness (M2CR).

(2) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

VA intends to negotiate a sole-source task order with CALIBRE Systems Inc. (SAM UEI:

KHGARY8DHL23) for the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). VA will award this effort under the General Services Administration (GSA) Human Capital and Training Solutions (HCaTS) Unrestricted Pool 2 GS02Q16DCR0040 to CALIBRE Systems Inc., 6361 Walker Ln Ste 1100, Alexandria, VA 22310-3275.

(3) A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The purpose of the proposed task order is to provide a six-month extension of the services currently in place via contract: GS02Q16DCR0040 task order: 36C10X20F0060. The current order has a Period of Performance (POP) ending May 17, 2026, and was conducted under the authority of the GSA, HCaTS.

M2CR must procure and manage contractor services to support Transitioning Service Members (TSM) veterans, and their families. These services include VA Benefits and Services Briefings, One-on-one Benefits Engagement, Pre-separation Counseling, Military Life Cycle (MLC) courses, Capstone Evaluation, and Warm Handovers to partnered agencies. This contract will also support TAP training and TAP data analysis. Annually, TAP supports over 200,000 service members at over 300 military installations worldwide.

The proposed task order will have a base Period of Performance (POP) of six (6) months with one (1) six-month option period and four (4) 3-month option periods. The anticipated POP for the base period is May 18, 2026 – November 17, 2026. The estimated value of the base period of performance with the total potential value of this requirement including all options and Option to Extend Services (FAR 52.217-8) of $86,664,566.25.

(4) Identification of the exception to fair opportunity (see FAR 16.507-6 paragraph (b) (3) and the supporting rationale, including a demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the exception cited. If the contracting officer uses the logical follow-on exception, the rationale must describe why the relationship between the initial order and the follow-on is logical (e.g., in terms of scope, period of performance, or value).

The statutory authority permitting an exception to fair opportunity is 41 U.S.C.

§ 4106(c)(3) as implemented by FAR 16.507-6(b)(3). In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-on to an original HCaTS order which was placed in accordance with the applicable ordering procedures.

On August 4, 2020, VA competitively awarded a firm-fixed priced task order number 36C10X20F0060 to CALIBRE Systems Inc. under HCaTS contract GS02Q16DCR0040. The task order allowed for 5 years of services, with the option to extend services until May 17, 2026.

For the past 5 years the incumbent contractor, CALIBRE Systems Inc., has provided exceptional support, as noted in their CPARS. In addition, they maintain familiarity with the current policies and practices implemented by VA and M2CR. This requirement includes an international component that requires a minimum of 60 business days prior to start of work to allow foreign nations and the Department of War processing time for Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA) and Visa processing. Calibre maintains current SOFA for the required benefits advisors.

VA is currently in the process of re-competing the task order on OASIS+ and anticipates an award during quarter one (Q1) of Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). M2CR has a bona fide need for the services under this task order as they support TAP and consists of all related TAP activities, resources, and services which are critical to the operations and mission of M2CR.

It is in the best interest of the Government to continue this work as a logical follow-on task order to maintain continuity and quality of this effort while the Government pursues a recompete on the OASIS+ contract vehicle.

(5) A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

VA will evaluate Calibre’s pricing and level of effort for reasonableness prior to award.

(6) Any other facts supporting the justification.

M2CR, formerly the Office of Transition and Economic Development (OTED), recently went through a reorganization, .

(7) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the exception to fair opportunity before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

Despite the stringent timeframe and need for continuity of services, VA conducted significant market research in support of the recompete effort. VA held an industry day on February 4, 2026, with 36 vendors attending. Additionally, VA held a reverse industry day that same afternoon with 12 vendors presenting innovative ideas to better define the recompete requirement. The logical follow-on will allow the IPT to better integrate the best the statutory authority cited in paragraph four above, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the property and services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Signature: _________________________________ Date: ____________ Efrain J. Fernandez Director of Contracts Procuring Activity Advocate for Competition (SAC Frederick) Strategic Acquisition Center

Signature: _________________________________ Date: ____________ Joy M. Smith Head Contracting Activity Strategic Acquisition Center and National Acquisition Center

EFRAIN FERNANDEZ

Digitally signed by EFRAIN

FERNANDEZ

Date: 2026.03.10 09:41:55 -04'00'

JOY SMITH Digitally signed by JOY SMITH Date: 2026.03.10 13:06:46 -04'00'