Limited Source Justification._Redacted.pdf

5. Justification Rationale All hiring activity for USDA REE agencies is currently being performed by the incumbent vendor to fulfill REE staffing and recruitment. If current work ceases, several hundred vacant positions will be placed on hold while a new vendor is transitioned. This transition period could last as long as three to six months in order for the new vendor’s employees to submit fingerprints and be cleared through personnel security, receive computers and government credentials, get trained on REE processes, and receive access to the various systems they will need in order to perform the work. This disruption in filling mission-critical positions could jeopardize the Agencies’ ability to successfully accomplish their mission. Delays could impact the ability to meet urgent research timelines on critical issues affecting American agriculture, the ability to issue market-sensitive reports that ensure that commodity prices remain stable through the world, and the reporting of key economic and statistical data.

The services for this requirement were awarded competitively on call order 1232SA22F0057 to YRCI through blanket purchase agreement 1232SB18A0006. In order to ensure the continuity of services without interruption, HRD requires a follow-on contract with YRCI. Award to another source would result in substantial delays and costs in the staffing and recruitment of new staff for all USDA REE agencies. The Government does not expect that these delays and costs can be recovered through competition in fulfilling the requirement. Delays would result in immeasurable costs and loss of productivity across all of REE.

Timeline Conflicts The time required for training and onboarding to effectively support the continuity of services would pose a barrier to each agency’s ability to meet their mission needs with the appropriate staff. The current workload level of staffing and recruitment support for all REE agencies is necessary and must continue uninterrupted. A disruption in services creates a backlog in the hiring process which has historically taken up to two years for agencies to recover from such a delay.

Onboarding/Training Onboarding and training can span three to six months. During this time, the vendor will not have access to Government laptops, EmpowHR, USA Staffing, or the AFM customer service portal. This will prevent the vendor from performing key duties and will cause unacceptable service delays and backlogs.

6. Best Value Determination

There would be a significant delay in services as cited in section 5. Additionally, the services for this requirement were awarded competitively on call order 1232SA22F0057 to YRCI through GSA MAS established blanket purchase agreement 1232SB18A0006. YRCI has been awarded BPA call orders on a competitive basis on ARS blanket purchase agreement 1232SB18A0006 for this requirement and has consistently demonstrated they are a best-value service provider and have met all contractual requirements. YRCI continuously offers discounts to their GSA MAS pricelist.

7. Market Research The service is currently available on and within scope of GSA MAS 56131 Talent Acquisition.

8. Additional Support ARS Human Resources Division has historically experienced extensive delays in startup activity due to factors beyond the control of the ARS Human Resources Division and the vendor as detailed in section 5. These delays continue to be inevitable.

8. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Future Competition Moving forward, the Agency plans to streamline internal processes and standard operating procedures to reduce the startup time required of new vendors and lower the risk of a delay in the continuity of services for future requirements.

Requirements/Program Office:

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

Contracting Officer:

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

Acquisition Ombudsman:

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

REVIEW/APPROVALS:

If approval is required at a higher level than that of the REE Acquisition Ombudsman, the Acquisition Ombudsman must still review the document, and a signature block should be included to indicate this.