Justification___Approval_UTA_Transit_Passes_1.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

https://www.blm.gov

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR ACQUISTIONS UNDER SIMPLIFIED ACQUISTION PROCEEDURES

This document sets forth the justification and approval required by FAR 12.207(b)(i)(B).

1. AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:

Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Utah State Office 440 West 200 South, Suite 500 Salt Lake City, UT 84101

2. NATURE/DESCRIPTION OF ACTION(S):

This is a firm-fixed-price, sole source base plus two option-years contract for ECO Transit Passes with the Utah Transportation Authority (UTA).

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

UTA ECO Passes are ordered yearly for employees of the BLM Utah State Office (UTSO).

These passes are for official government use of the public transportation system in Utah at a discounted rate. The BLM rate for UTA ECO Transit Passes – 100 EA @ $275 = $27,500.00 x 3 years = $82,500 during the life of the contract.

4. ESTIMATED DOLLAR VALUE:

BLM rate for UTA ECO Transit Passes – $82,500.

5. IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

__X__41 U.S.C. 1901 – Simplified acquisition procedures (use when the simplified procedures for purchases of property and services for amounts (1) not greater than the simplified acquisition threshold

____41 U.S.C 1903 – Special emergency procurement authority (applies when in support of a contingency operation as defined in section 101(a) of title 10 or to facilitate the defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack against the United States).

6. RATIONALE SUPPORTING USE OF THE AUTHORITY STATED IN PARAGRAPH 5:

The federal government offers a transit subsidy program to employees, including BLM UTSO employees that wish to participate in this program. In situations where the https://www.blm.gov/

Government may obtain passes at a discounted rate, the agency can choose to procure the passes rather than reimbursing employees for public transportation costs. This offers considerable cost savings to the Government to purchase the yearly pass at $275 per pass per year, compared to reimbursing individuals at $198 per month. UTA is the only provider of mass public transportation in Utah, and therefore the most qualified vendor to fulfil BLM Utah’s public transportation needs.

7. OTHER INFORMATION:

The UTA offers a significant discount for Government entities purchasing transit passes in bulk. This discounted price of $275 per annual pass offers the best value for the Government and is fair and reasonable after comparing with UTA’s standard commercial pricing with the Monthly Premium pass ($170/month or $2,040/year), or Daily passes ($6.40/day or $2,329.60/year).

UTA Eco Passes prices have been compared to the historical cost from six previous years, as follows:

2025 – 164 @ $275 = $45,100.00 2024 – 164 @ $275 = $45,100.00 2023 – 160 @ $275 = $44,000.00 2022 – 164 @ $275 = $45,100.00 2021 – 164 @ $275 = $45,100.00

An online comparison amongst 10 major U.S Cities annual mixed unlimited transit rates were gathered and imputed into a chart. Prices varied widely - from $275 to $2592. The average price was $1,201.10, and the median was $1,050.00. Graphically, the prices are as follows below:

The market research shows that UTA’s price of $275 per year is drastically lower, to be precise, 77.1% lower than the average of $1,201.10. It is 73.8% lower than the median of $1,050.00. The regular UTA Premium Passes not bought in bulk for the Government annual usage rate is $2,040 or 86.7% more than the $275 annual rate of the Government Bulk prices.

For the reasons stated above, UTA’s price is fair and reasonable and offers the best value to Government.

Information obtained from:

Utah Transit Authority Fares New York Metropolitan Transit Authority Fares Chicago Transit Authority Fares St. Louis Metro Fares Seattle ORCA Fares San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Fares Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Fares Philadelphia SEPTA Fares Portland C-TRAN Fares NASDAQ Transit Fares in U.S. Cities

8. THE EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SOURCES INCLUDING THE MARKET RESEARCH

CONDUCTED.

A Public Notice will be posted before award to SAM.GOV for eight (8) days to allow potential sources to be made aware of this requirement and give them fair opportunity to

$0.00 $500.00

$1,000.00 $1,500.00 $2,000.00 $2,500.00 $3,000.00

$275.00

$1,584.00

$900.00 $1,080.00

$2,592.00

$1,020.00 $972.00$936.00

$1,392.00 $1,260

AN

N

U

AL

C O

ST

CITIES WITH UNLIMTED MIXED TRANSPORATION PASSES

Annualized Cost of Ulimited Mixed Transportation Passes https://www.rideuta.com/Fares-And-Passes/Individual-Fares/Current-Fares https://www.mta.info/ https://www.transitchicago.com/passes/ https://www.metrostlouis.org/fares-and-passes/ https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro/fares-and-payment/prices https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/fares https://www.wmata.com/fares/farecard-options.cfm/ https://wwww.septa.org/fares/ https://trimet.org/fares/allfares.htm https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/heres-how-much-a-monthly-transit-pass-costs-in-6-big-u.s.-cities respond if they have a comparable service being offered by the UTA. The noticer resulted in no responses.

8. CERTIFICATIONS

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, and which form a basis for this justification, are complete and accurate.

Signature on File_________________________________________ Pete Ross Date Deputy State Director, Support Services

I hereby certify that the facts and representations included in this justification for other than full and open competition are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature on File__________________________________________ Sarah Hancey Date Contracting Specialist

I hereby certify that this requirement does not exceed the Government’s minimum needs or schedule requirements, and that the basis for award under other than full and open competition is accurate and completed to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature on File__________________________________________ _________________ Temujene H. Makua Date Contracting Officer