Limited Source Justification 1331L520F13OS0281.pdf

Limited Source Justification Enterprise Services Office of Acquisition

1401 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20230

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Subject: Limited Source Justification for Department of Commerce, NIST Protective Security Officer Services

Requisition Number: AA-OSY-WC-O-20-00899

Date: March 18, 2020

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule program pursuant to the authority of FAR 8.405-6.

1. Agency and contracting activity

Department of Commerce Enterprise Services-Acquisition (ES-A) 1401 Constitution Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20230

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

The Department of Commerce (DOC), Office of the Secretary (OS), Office of Security (OSY) is in the DOC Headquarters in the Herbert Clark Hoover Building (HCHB) in Washington, DC, and provides policies, programs and oversight. The objective of OSY is to maintain a secure environment at all federally owned and leased facilities protected by the DOC in which citizens and Government employees can conduct business with confidence

In order to maintain a secure environment OSY requires Protection Security Officer (PSO) services. The Security Force can be the cornerstone of an effective physical protection program.

The effectiveness of an integrated security system of locks, barriers, lighting, cameras, intrusion detection systems, and access control systems, while critical to the success of a security posture, ultimately depends on the response by a skilled Security Force, OSY depends on PSO services to fulfill this skilled Security Force role. PSO services are required at two National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) locations:

1) National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD and

2) National Institute of Standards and Technology Boulder Laboratory, 325 Broadway Street, Boulder, CO.

The DOC supports its acquisition mission and objectives by fulfilling this OSY requirement through a contract with The Whitestone Group, Ltd., a private security company. The current contract expires March 31, 2020 and DOC requires continued PSO services from The Whitestone Group, Ltd.

A new contract is currently being recompeted and it is anticipated that this contract will be awarded in August 2020. The recompete process was delayed as a result of a recent review conducted of overall building security requirements with resulting updates to the Statement of Work to ensure

2 | P a g e those requirements are fully accounted for. During the recompete process, ES-A seeks to fulfill DOC’s immediate need for PSO support at these locations by issuing a new Task Order to The Whitestone Group, Ltd. to maintain continuity of support as work is transitioned to the new award.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including estimated value)

OSY has the requirement for continued PSO services in order prevent a disruption in operations in order to maintain a secure environment for employees and visitors of these NIST locations.

The period of performance of the new task order will be for six-months over the April 1, 2020 – September 30, 2020 period with an estimated value of $2,783,560.50 and include a three-month option for transition with an estimated value of $1,391,780.25. The clause at 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, will also be included to provide further extension capability if required over a 1 to 6 month timeframe to accommodate delays that may arise as work is transitioned to the new competitive contract scheduled for award by August 2020.

4. Authority and supporting rationale.

FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C), In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-on to an original Federal Supply Schedule order. The original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures and was not previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.

This new task order is necessary to continue vital security services to the DOC and issuing the task order as sole source follow-on is the most efficient and economical way of ensuring continued PSO services. The Whitestone Group, Ltd., as the incumbent is the only source who can continue providing PSO services without a lapse in support as the recompete and transition process takes place.

5. Determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

The Contracting Officer has determined that use of The Whitestone Group, Ltd., Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract represents best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d) and results in the lowest overall cost alternative to meet the Government’s needs. The resulting order will be placed against The Whitestone Group, Ltd FSS contract on a Labor Hour basis at fixed labor rates previously negotiated, and which the General Services Administration has already determined fair and reasonable. In accordance with FAR 8.405-4, the Contracting Officer will seek price reductions through negotiated discounts to the contractor’s FSS pricing consistent with the terms of the applicable Wage Determination and Collective Bargaining Agreement.

6. Market research conducted among schedule holders (or reason market research was not conducted).

Market research was conducted under the previous contract SA1301-15-CT-0021 and for the concurrent recompete, including posting of a Request for Information to FedBizOpps (beta.SAM) in October 2019 to identify potential sources for a competitive follow-on award. The market research for the recompete has been completed and the agency has transitioned to the planning and solicitation phase.

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7. Actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for supplies and services is made.

The agency is currently conducting a competitive follow-on procurement for these services with a projected award by the August 2020 timeframe.

8. Technical/Requirements Representative Certification

I certify that this requirement constitutes the Government’s minimum needs and the supporting data provided herein is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Lee Hughes Date Technical Point of Contact Office of the Secretary

10. Contracting Officer’s Certification and Approval

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

For justifications up to $700K, my signature also serves as approval of the justification.

Christopher Wallis Date Contracting Officer Enterprise Services-Acquisition

11. Office of General Counsel Concur

Reference email dated March 25, 2020_ _________________ Edward Weber Date Senior Attorney Office of General Counsel, CLD

12. Concurrence and Approvals >$700K

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief and approve of the justification.

Olivia Bradley Date Deputy, Procurement Management and Competition Advocate Office of Acquisition Management