JOFOC_SAQMMA15C0047.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. The Office of Acquisition Management (AQM) is conducting this acquisition for local guard services on behalf of the U.S. Embassy Mexico City, Mexico and outposts.

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

The action to be approved is the award of a sole source bridge contract to the incumbent contractor, Inter-Con Security Systems, Inc. 210 S De Lacey Ave, #200, Pasadena CA 91105-

2079 (hereafter “Inter-Con”).

The current contract, SAQMMA11C0149, expires December 31, 2014. The competitive solicitation is currently in draft and is anticipated to be released in the coming months. As a result, a new contract will not be effective at the end of the current contract to provide a safe and secure environment for personnel at the U.S. Embassy and outlying locations.

The Embassy, the Office of Overseas Protective Operations under the Bureau of Diplomatic

Security (DS), along with AQM, seek approval to award a sole-source contract for local guard services at the U.S. Mission Mexico. The subject contract will be for a base period of six (6) months with one 2-month option period, and four 1-month option periods while a new solicitation and a contract award is conducted.

3. A description of the services required to meet the Departments’ needs.

Local guard security services are required at the U.S. Embassy Mexico, Consulates and other mission offices. The U.S. Embassy Mexico City’s mission of conducting foreign policy must be accomplished in a safe and secure environment. The primary mission of the local guard service is to provide protection for U.S. Government personnel, facilities and equipment from damage or loss due to violent attack and theft. As such, the local guards act as an early warning signal to the Embassy and the Diplomatic Security Regional Security Officer. The local guard services prevent unauthorized access; protect life; maintain order; and deter criminal attack against employees, dependents, property; deter terrorist acts against all U.S. assets; and prevent damage to Government property.

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(2). The regulatory authority is FAR 6.302-2, Unusual and compelling urgency.

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

Inter-Con is the current contractor performing local guard services at this Embassy. As such, Inter-Con retains the managerial, administrative, and direct labor personnel in-place to accomplish all work required, with minimal disruption to the Embassy mission, until a new award recommendation is made and the subsequent awardee can complete transition activities.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.

A full and open competitive solicitation is in progress; however, contract award and associated transition cannot be implemented before the current contract expires. As such, a sole-source bridge contract is necessary to ensure the safety and security of the Embassy. This sole-source contract has a six month base period with one two-month option and three one-month options.

The options will only be exercised to the extent necessary to allow for the transition to the competitively awarded contract. The timeframe associated with this sole source contract award will permit State Department to conduct a complete analysis of submitted proposals and a full 90 to 120 day transition.

The follow-on solicitation will posted to FEDBIZOPPS as a full and open competitive acquisition.

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

This sole-source award requires cost analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404-1 (c) (1) to determine fair and reasonable pricing before the contract is awarded.

8. A description of the market survey conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market survey was not conducted.

Market research was not conducted because of the full and open solicitation from which State

Department will award a follow-on contract. The current contractor is the only contractor that can provide the services without disruption to the Embassy mission

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

U.S. Mission Mexico cannot operate with any break in local guard services because matters of security for the Mission are of the utmost importance. A break in security operations could cripple Mission operations jeopardizing the Mission and possibly lives of Mission personnel.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Contractors will be given the opportunity to respond to a competitive solicitation that will be posted on FedBizOpps. The requirement will be for a five year contract award (base, plus four, one-year options.

11. A 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. Include a statement that this J&A for other than full and open competition will be published on FedBizOpps in accordance with FAR Section 6.305 within 14 days of award (or within 30 days if the J&A is for unusual and compelling urgency.)

During the period of performance of the sole-source contract, State Department anticipates replacing this contract with a competitively awarded contract using full and open competition.

Under FAR Section 6.305 (b), this notice will be posted on FedBizOpps within thirty (30) days of award.