JA-JLAB_redacted.pdf

FDO/ MICC Control No. Knox-JA-2015-0351

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JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(Actions NTE $650K for other than Simplified Acquisition Procedures)

1. Agency/Contracting Activity: MICC-Fort Knox

2. Description of Action:

Nature: New Requirement Follow-on Requirement Mod to Existing Purchase Order/Contract Number

Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price Time & Materials Cost

Funds: OMA Other Funds: MPA

Name of Proposed Contractor(s): Scholarship & Financial Aid Services d.b.a. College Options Foundation Street Address: 115 Lloyd Avenue City, State, Zip: Tyrone GA 30290 Phone: 888-576-8287

3. Description of Services or Supplies:

The total estimated value of the proposed action is $ 559,858.00

JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl (JLAB) is a year-long event that begins with preparation with on-line games and questions for the practice rounds, and proceeds through Level I and Level II within the on-line games, leadership activities and concluding with the in-person (resident) national championships. In essence, it is a school year-long test that reinforces and tests leadership and academic knowledge across the spectrum of high school curriculum that Army JROTC teaches to the students. It is a significant enhancement of the training, retention and educational services provided by JROTC that intends to reach more than 37,000 Cadets during the 2015-16 school year.

4. Authority:

Actions other than simplified acquisition procedures (select one):

FAR 6.302-1: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, 10 USC 2304(c)(1)

FAR 6.302-2: Unusual and compelling urgency, 10 USC 2304(c)(2)

FAR 6.302-5: Authorized or Required by Statute, 10 USC 2304(c)(5)

Other: __<insert appropriate authority here

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5. Reasons for Authority Cited:

a. College Options Foundation (COF) is the creator of the unique software program that allows students to participate in academic competitions from their own schools or homes against other students from around the world. COF is the only known organization in the United States that has experience conducting a leadership and academic bowl simultaneously online for thousands of Cadets throughout the world. The college prep curriculum (DVD/videos/text) included in the study materials for the JLAB is unique and proprietary to COF and provides all cadets with access to information on how to get into and pay for college. In addition COF has created, published and distributed award-winning software that takes student and their parents through the process of preparing for college entrance exams, submitting applications, obtaining financial aid/scholarships and preparation for the first year of college. Additional resources such as books, online programs, CDs/DVDs in high school academic areas of math, science, English, personal leadership management are also available to each unit.

JROTC All-Service Competition. COF is the only organization that conducts academic competitions among all services, and to support the unique mission of JROTC. COF is an approved 501(c)(3) organization registered with the IRS, and is the only approved Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) program in the nation dedicated to the support of the national JROTC programs.

6. Actions to Increase Competition:

The nature of acquisition limits the scope of competition because of its magnitude, complexity, and participating audience. A copy of the market research is attached. Substantial duplication of cost to the government is not expected to be recovered by competition and unacceptable delays in meeting the agency’s requirement would result if the requirement were to be competitively solicited and awarded. Cadet Command and MICC Fort Knox will continue to research companies to determine if there are any other organizations who can provide these services. This requirement is limited to a one-year period of performance.

7. Market Research: A thorough market research revealed there are no other firms that conduct leadership seminars and competitions of this nature for high schools students simultaneously.

Additionally, there are other organizations that conduct either academic-related or sports related competitions for students at various levels of education that focuses on the abilities of the whole squad / team versus the individual development and provides college preparation. There is no other organization other than College Option Foundation that conduct both leadership and academic competitions of this magnitude for high school students within the JROTC programs that focuses on leadership, academic principles and tenants. Research of estimated costs to contract with several organizations to conduct JLAB indicated that a single contract with College Options is in the best interest of the government to meet USACC’s mission. Due to the complexity of the JLAB competitions, it would take months for a new vendor to coordinate the support required to develop and conduct competitions of the magnitude of JLAB, and establish continuity of services to all cadets which results in mission success.

8. Procurement History:

Previous Purchase Order(s) or Contract(s): Yes No

If "Yes", for each purchase order or contract provide:

Purchase order or contract number: W91QF1-08-P-0637 Was action competed? Yes No

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As identified above this procurement was previously competed with two proposals received. One proposal, The Main Event, was found technically unacceptable. The other proposal from Sygnetics was the successful offeror and with College Options Foundation as its subcontractor (W91QF1-08- P-0637). It is unlikely that further competition will result in a meaningful competition for this requirement. As previously addressed COF has the ability to save the government unneeded costs by already having software and infrastructure in place to conduct these competitions. In addition, COF has contacts with other organizations and the ability to coordinate its efforts with those organizations which provide donated services.

Based on the information obtained during FY14, COF performed 90% of the previous contract as a subcontractor to Sygnetics therefore a contract was negotiated directly with College Options Foundation. COF performed flawlessly under contract W9124D-14-P-0646 and exceeded government expectations.

9. Additional Information to support the justification. None.