JOFOC - i3Solutions_Redacted.pdf

FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE

One Independence Square 250 E Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20427

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

FOR ARBITRATION SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for award of a commercial contract as required by FAR subpart 13.5, and in accordance with 41 U.S.C.1901.

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. FMCS proposes to award a sole source contract to i3Solutions, located at 21515 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 260, Sterling, VA 20166, for maintenance, support, and upgrades to the Arbitration System.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. FMCS has a requirement for maintenance and support of the current Arbitration System used by the Office of Arbitration. The estimated dollar value of this award is This includes a 12-month base period of and two (2) 12-month option periods for maintenance priced at each respectively.

4. Statutory Authority. The statutory authority permitting the sole sourcing of these services is 41 U.S.C. 1901, with simplified acquisition procedures utilized in accordance with FAR subpart 13.5.

5. Applicability of Authority: Contract FMCS-2012-F-0004 was awarded competitively to i3Solutions in 2012 to provide a new Arbitration System for FMCS. Since then, they have been the sole contractor to provide support, maintenance, and upgrades to the system. i3Solutions is familiar with FMCS hardware and systems, the customers that use them, and they are the only contractor who has the intimate knowledge and technical skills and abilities needed to maintain the system and make the necessary upgrades requested by FMCS’s Office of Arbitration.

Awarding a sole-source follow-on contract to i3Solutions, as the original developer of the system, will prevent substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Contracting Officer will announce this requirement on SAM.gov as a combined synopsis/solicitation and may consider proposals from other offerors if it is in the best interest of the Government.

FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE

One Independence Square 250 E Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20427

7. Fair and Reasonable: The estimated costs proposed by i3Solutions are consistent with their current contract, 93310020P0047, plus a 1-3% escalation rate, and will, consequently be deemed fair and reasonable.

8. Market Research: Limited market research via Google was conducted as i3Solutions is known to be the only contractor capable of supporting and upgrading the existing Arbitration System due to it being customized specifically for FMCS.

9. Other Facts: Seeking out another contractor to complete the required maintenance and upgrade would cause a significant increase in cost to the Government as another contractor would need time to familiarize itself with the systems and FMCS IT operations and also reexamine and certify work already completed.

10. Interested Sources: To date, no other sources have expressed an interest in this requirement.

11. Further Competition: FMCS will continue to perform market research to see what other options are available to maintain and upgrade, or possibly replace, the existing system. If it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government, FMCS will compete this requirement in one year rather than exercise Option Year 1.

12. Contracting Officers Certification: I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, this justification is accurate and complete.

Erika Faith LeTourneau Senior Contracting Officer, FMCS

Date: 5 September 2024