JOFOC_Hyatt FINAL (3).pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SECTION 1: IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

Department of State Contracting Activity

☐ Office of Acquisitions Management ☐ Foreign Service Institute ☐ Office of Foreign Missions ☐ U.S. Mission to the United Nations ☒ Overseas Post: U.S. Embassy Baku

Requiring Activity U.S. Embassy Baku – Lodging for Six Month TDY Officer

SECTION 2: NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED

Approval is requested to solicit and award on a sole-source basis to Hyatt Hotel Apartments for the supplies and/or services described in Section 3 on behalf of the Requiring Activity: acquisition of lodging for long-term TDY staff member at the Hyatt Hotel Apartments in Baku.

SECTION 3: DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S NEEDS

Service provided is lodging for long-term TDY staff member. Lodging is in an extended stay hotel/apartment, as due to the length of the TDY, the officer will need access to a kitchenette and a larger space than a typical hotel room.

Premises: Tower I / 4th floor / three-bedroom / 210 sqm / Apartment № 44 Period of stay: from 24th of August 2026 till 23rd of February 2027 Total Fee: 4500 AZN * 6 months = 27,000 AZN (excludes 18 % V.A.T.)

The estimated value for the entire period of performance is $15,882.35.

SECTION 4: IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 USC 3304, as implemented by FAR 6.3 and substantiated by the following:

☒ FAR 6.302-1 – Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

SECTION 5: DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE

QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY

CITED

Hyatt Hotel Apartments is uniquely qualified to provide lodging because it is the only long-term hotel within a reasonable distance to the Embassy that has availability and is within post per diem. Baku GSO Travel conducted market research and from September 21-30, all potential extended stay hotels/apartments are fully booked and/or far above post per diem. From September 21-27, Baku is hosting F1 Grand Prix race and hotels in the city are in a “black out” period, where they are either fully booked, multiple times the per diem, or both. To avoid moving the officer to and from multiple temporary housing locations, we chose Hyatt Hotel Apartments because it is well under per diem and had availability through the F1 dates.

SECTION 6. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS WERE SOLICITED FROM AS

MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS PRACTICABLE, INCLUDING WHETHER A NOTICE WAS OR

WILL BE PUBLICIZED AS REQUIRED BY FAR SUBPART 5.2 AND, IF NOT, WHICH EXCEPTION

UNDER FAR 5.202 APPLIES

Due to urgency, the solicitation was not posted. We also do/did not have information regarding the exact length of stay of the officer.

In an effort to identify competitive interest, Embassy Baku, as part of their market research, contacted our regularly used long term lodging providers: Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Parkside Hotel, and City Mansion Apart-Hotel. These typically used hotels/apartments did not have availability under post per diem.

SECTION 7. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST

TO THE GOVERNMENT IS FAIR AND REASONABLE

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated $15,882.35 to the Government for the supplies/services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable based on annual market research exercises and prior competition, historical prices, and independent estimates. By signing the justification, the Contracting Officer makes a determination that the $15,882.35 to the Government is expected to be fair and reasonable.

SECTION 8. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED (SEE PART 10) AND THE

RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED

Baku GSO Travel maintains a current list of hotels in Azerbaijan with their rates and contact information. They annually meet with the General Managers of the hotels and remain in continual contact regarding post per diem, amenities, events, and black out dates. At the outset of this year’s summer transfer season, Baku GSO Travel contacted extended stay hotels within a reasonable distance to the Chancery to provide their price quotes for long time lodging. Additional market research was conducted most recently at the beginning of August 2026.

SECTION 9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION

None.

SECTION 10. LISTING OF THE SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN INTEREST

IN THE ACQUISITION

To date, no other sources have written to express an interest.

SECTION 11. STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR

OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR

THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED

See Section 5.

SECTION 12. CERTIFICATIONS

All reviews and approvals should be completed in the order listed unless otherwise authorized or required.

TECHNICAL AND REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION (FAR 6.303-2(b))

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance which are included in this Justification and its supporting acquisition planning documents, except as noted herein, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Technical Cognizance:

SIGNATURE:

Inga Shetbarshova Date Supervisory Travel Assistant

Requirements Cognizance:

SIGNATURE:

Josh Willis

Operations NCO SSG, USA Date

CERTIFICATIONS (Continued)

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION (FAR 6.303-2(a)(12)) I certify that this submission is accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that it contains complete information necessary to enable other officials to make an informed recommendation for approval or disapproval.

SIGNATURE:

Courtney Smith Date Contracting Officer

08/31/2026 07:42 GMT

Smith, Courtney (SmithCP4@state.gov)

08/31/2026 07:48 GMT

Shetbarshova, Inga (ShetbarshovaIV@state.gov)

08/31/2026 08:18 GMT

Willis, Joshua (WillisJM@state.gov)