JOTFOC_FAFSA _Redacted.pdf

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Finance and Operations

Contracts and Acquisitions Management

Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition Authority:

41 U.S.C 1901

Solicitation: 91990024Q0028

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

The U.S. Department of Education (Department), Contracts and Acquisition Management, for the Office of Communications and Outreach.

2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED

The Department intends to award a purchase order with a six-month performance period. This justification is to seek approval for the services on a limited competition basis using the procedures in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

3. A DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENGY’S NEEDS

The Department requires development and execution of a campaign designed to reframe the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) communications. The goals of the campaign are to increase potential Federal student aid recipients’ completion of the FAFSA and to change public perception of the FASFA. The campaign will accomplish such goals by helping students:

recognize the ease of completing the new form; feel confident applying for financial aid, and share their success stories.

The estimated value of the purchase order is: $

4. IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Procedures in FAR subpart 13.5, will be used in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901. This procurement mitigates potential harms to the American public which is appropriate for unusual and compelling urgency.

5. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE

QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUSITION REQUIRES THE USE

OF THE AUTHORITY CITED.

The American public would be seriously injured unless the Department is permitted to limit the number of sources from which it solicits. The Department rolled out a redesigned FAFSA, approximately three months later than expected. Additional adjustments to the FASFA were required to update the student aid calculations, which would enable approximately 845,000 new students from low-income backgrounds to be eligible to receive federal Pell Grants.

The Department estimates that approximately 18 million students should submit the FAFSA this award year. However, given the delay from the additional adjustments to the FASFA, only 4.7 million students have submitted the FAFSA to date. Without an urgent information campaign and communication plan, to increase the FASFA submission rate, potentially hundreds of thousands of students may not submit a FAFSA, may miss out on needed financial assistance, and may not pursue postsecondary education who might have otherwise.

The delay in the FAFSA has caused institutions to be delayed in receiving students’ FAFSA submissions. This delay is causing some institutions to delay traditional college acceptance deadlines. The impact of delayed decisions may cause some students to make different choices for postsecondary education, which could impact their long-term educational and career pathways.

The Department is concerned that students potentially most harmed by the FASFA delays are those in most need of student financial aid, including Pell Grants. These delays and impacts to students and institutions harms the Government as the Department is not able to disburse crucial Federal student to students in need. As such, the Department is failing to fulfill one of its primary missions. The information campaign is critical to the Department’s ability to fulfill its mission and disburse Federal student aid to eligible students.

This procurement would provide targeted communications to educate parents and students about the benefits of the redesigned FAFSA, and provide guidance on how to complete a FAFSA application. Guidance documents will be developed and provided to educate stakeholders on the reasons why FAFSA was redesigned and inform them of the Department resources available to assist with the FASFA rollout and processing.

It is essential that work begin immediately to ensure the Department fulfills its mission and disburses Federal student aid to eligible students and families.

The limited competition will be sent to the Contractors that have been identified as able and willing to provide a quote within three days to meet the Department’s aggressive schedule.

6. A DEMONSTRATION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE

SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS PRACTICABLE

Quotes will be solicited from three Contractors who were identified as able and willing to provide a quote in three days and could complete the services. While these Contractors may not be the only firms qualified to perform these services, due to the potential failure of the Department in its essential mission and the continued harm to applicants and institutions, there is not time to run an open competition.

7. A DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE

ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND

REASONABLE.

The Contracting Officer anticipates the price will fair and reasonable based on competition.

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

THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS

NOT CONDUCTED.

As part of Market Research, the Department contacted five contractors to gage interest, availability, and qualifications. Market Research identified three Contractors that can provide a quote within three business days of Request for Quote issuance who have experience in national campaigns: -