Limited_Source_Justification_DE-DT0011780.pdf

LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION (LSJ)

National Nuclear Security Administration Order DE-DT0011780

I. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity

The Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) NA- APM-124.1 Headquarters Program Section plans to contract for temporary human resources (HR) support services to support the NNSA Office of Human Capital Management (OHCM).

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

This document sets forth the justification and approval for an exception to full-and-open competition, pursuant to FAR 8.405-6, to award a 120-work-day task order (with two, 60-working-day options) to 1st Choice, LLC (1st Choice), located at 8121 Georgia Ave, Suite 700, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The Task Order is being issued pursuant to the NNSA Management, Organizational, and Administrative (MOA) Support Services Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA).

III. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value)

The Task Order will have a base period of 120 working days, and include two, 60-working-day options. The total estimated value of the Task Order (including both options) is $789,354.36. In addition to the Program Manager, 1stChoice will provide six, qualified personnel to support OHCM with tasks related to: policy management;

employee-management relations; performance management; staffing and classification;

benefits programs; processing services; and executive resources.

IV. The authority and supporting rational

The authority for this action is FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A), as an urgent and compelling need exists for these temporary HR support services, and following the procedures for a more full-and-open competition would result in unacceptable delays. The temporary HR support being procured through this authority is necessary to complete critical hiring actions in support of the NNSA mission. The OHCM is currently processing numerous critical hires, all of which are time-sensitive and must be completed in the next few months. There is significant risk associated with potential hiring deferments and freezes beyond this timeframe.

V. A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with 8.404(d)

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Pursuant to FAR 8.404 (d), 1stChoice's quoted rates are considered fair and reasonable as they are from a GSA Schedule pricelist. As the Government provided direction as to the number of hours expected to be performed, and the total price is a reflection of the rates to perform the total hours, the price is thereby reasonable.

VI. A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted

On March 25, 2016, the NNSA released solicitation DE-SOL-0009634 for Temporary HR Support to all MOA BPA holders. NNSA received quotations from more than one BPA holder, but none of the quotations received were technically acceptable (no vendor was able to propose all required personnel). Given the limited interest in the requirement, NNSA contacted the vendors that submitted quotations to determine the levels to which they each could support a more limited requirement. NNSA determined that 1st Choice was capable of providing six of the originally required HR Specialists.

VII. Any other facts supporting the justification

N/A.

VIII. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made

Due to the short-term nature of the requirement and relatively specialized experience required for HR support, it is likely that these positions were difficult for vendors to fill on a temporary basis. In the past, the NNSA successfully competed and received technically acceptable quotations for similar (albeit longer term) support service requirements using other Schedules under the MOA BPA.

Iffuture needs for this requirement arise, the NNSA will consider a strategy of procuring longer-term support service assistance for the Office of Human Capital Management.

IX. The ordering activity contracting officer's certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer's knowledge and belief

See Section XII: Certifications.

X. Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel

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The technical personnel responsible for this action reviewed both quotations and certified that they were complete, accurate, and met the Government's needs. In the initial technical evaluation of DE-SOL-0009634, the Technical Evaluation Panel made the determination that the 1st Choice quotation presented six qualified candidates. This determination formed the basis for preparing the sole source described in this LSJ.

XL A written determination by the approving official identifying the circumstance that applies under 8.405-6(a)(1)

In consultation with the OHCM, the approving official for this action determined that an urgent and compelling need exists, and following full-and-open competition procedures would result in unacceptable delays (FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A)). Without temporary HR support services, the OHCM will be unable to hire Federal employees required to support NNSA's program offices.

XII. Certifications

Acquisition Initiator/Technical Representative:

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.

^LM&lC* Signature ' / \ Dat

Contracting Office

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

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Competition Advocate:

I have reviewed this Limited Source Justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Since this justification does not exceed $13.5M, this review serves as approvgl.

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Reviews and Approvals (all coordination and approval (CAP) should also be recorded on the CAP document)

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