Limited Sources Justification ID03200037_Redacted.pdf

Limited-Sources Justification

For The Office of Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technologies Program

(OSD-MTP)

Specialized Support Services (S3)

Note: This document is prepared in accordance with the requirements of FAR 8.405-6(c)(2).

This acquisition will be conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program.

(c)(2)(i) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Limited-Sources Justification.”

The requiring activity is for The Office of Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technologies Program (OSD-MTP), Alexandria, VA 22350

The contracting activity is GSA/FAS, Mid-Atlantic Region, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

This document is hereby identified as a Limited-Sources Justification.

(c)(2)(ii) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The action being approved is a Firm Fixed Price, Bridge Task Order consisting of a four month base and four (4) one-month option periods. The full period of performance is 8-months if all options are exercised. The 8-month estimate is $1,748,400.00. The Government will issue a Task Order to the current incumbent, U.Group, utilizing the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), SIN 541611/RC Contract Number.: GS-00F-169CA. Currently, this mission is being supported by U.Group as the Prime, which was awarded and administered by the Undersecretary of Defense (USD) Acquisition, Technology and Logistics unit.

(c)(2)(iii) A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value)

This Bridge Task Order will continue to provide the necessary subject matter expertise to support the Defense-wide Manufacturing Technology Program in its mission to identify and close gaps in manufacturing capabilities to ensure affordable, timely, and low-risk development, production, and sustainment of defense systems

(c)(2)(iv) The authority and supporting rationale (see 8.405(a)(1)(i) and (b)(1)) and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service.

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule program. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is Section 201 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 501), as implemented by FAR 8.405-6.

In accordance with FAR 8.405-6 (a) (1) (i) (A) An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays.

This Limited Source Justification is required to ensure the continued sustainment of Manufacturing Technologies Program (OSD-MTP) Specialized Support Services (S3) for the period of time necessary to solicit competition for a new task order.

This bridge replaces services provided under the current task order which was awarded and being administered by Undersecretary of Defense (USD) Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L). The DoD underwent a reorganization that split the USD AT&L office into two different offices, the Undersecretary of Research and Engineering (USD R&E) and the Undersecretary of Acquisition and Sustainment (USD A&S) as a result of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114 - 328) and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. While most offices were not significantly impacted, the office of Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy (MIBP), which includes the OSD-MTP, was removed from either office.

MIBP did not officially fall under the USD R&E until July of 2018. However, all contractual support OSD-MTP requires fall under the USD A&S department; as such, OSD-MTP required new contracting shops for all their requirements. The S3 requirement was permitted to continue utilizing this contract until August 5, 2019.

OSD-MTP began working with the Assisted Acquisitions Department at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for a recompete of all OSD-MPT requirements that were currently leaving the USD A&S. In July of 2019, HHS announced they were ceasing all assisted acquisitions with the Department of Defense. OSD-MTP was able to secure another option period of performance for S3 until August 5, 2020, under the USD A&S contract. OSD MTP then had one year to find other contracting shops to perform acquisitions for all requirements that HHS had ceased work on. In May of 2020, OSD-MTP was able to meet with GSA FAS region 03 to discuss transfer of the S3 requirement. Due to this restructuring and the sudden cessation of all assisted acquisition between DoD and HHS, U.Group is the only contractor capable of continuing this effort in the time needed.

Additionally, the program requires expertise in establishing and strategically managing DoD participation in public-private partnerships in support technology research and development.

Very few public-private partnerships, in the forms taken by the Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs), are funded with DoD, thereby limited knowledge of how they function and should be managed. U.Group has unique qualifications as they currently support the requirement.

Without a Bridge Task Order, the OSD-MTP office, will risk mission failure to defend against our adversaries in military technological superiority. Manufacturing underpins innovation and the advancement of technologies into actual capacities for our warfighters. Additionally, during the current corona virus (COVID) pandemic, OSD-MTP leads DoD, in manufacturing innovations that allow for large scale manufacture of critical defense items. This is conducted through traditional manufacturing companies as well as through a large public private partnership effort with MIIs.

OSD-MTP holds responsibility for managing the network of MIIs in their response to critical defense and security needs. This work includes innovative scale-up capability for manufacture of critical COVID response items like advanced molecules for vaccines, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), and materials production for valves for ventilators.

Based upon the above, U.Group is the only capable source that can provide the current services required at the level of quality, and in the timeframe required. Not awarding a bridge contract to U.Group will cause significant harm to the programs of the various members of the OSD-MTP community that U.Group has successfully provided Specialized Support Service. It would be impossible for another contractor to perform this requirement at such a short notice. This is especially true since the personnel required to perform the required tasks must possess senior level experience within the manufacturing and public-private partnership community. U.Group has acquired the personnel who possess both the manufacturing and public-private partnership expertise and experience and are currently performing the requirement.

Adequate lead time does not exist to properly conduct a competitive acquisition and to provide the necessary transition and knowledge transfer activities prior to 5 August 2020.

(c)(2)(v) A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with 8.404(d).

The assigned GSA IT-Manager (ITM) will complete a technical evaluation on the contractor’s technical submission to ensure the labor mix and hours are appropriate for the work to be performed. A price analysis will be performed including the verification of rates as well as a comparison to prices paid under the existing task order. It is anticipated that the rates proposed for the Bridge Task Order will reflect either a close similarity or the same rates as currently being paid to U.Group, under the existing Task Order. Quoted labor rates will be verified to ensure that they are reflected in the contractor’s current GSA Schedule. The Government will seek discounts in accordance with FAR 8.405-2. The GSA/FAS Contracting Officer will determine that the order represents the best value consistent with FAR 8.404(d).

(c)(2)(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.

Market Research was conducted in accordance with FAR 10. A review of GSA Advantage and other sources of information for the required services showed that other firms can provide this type of service; however, as stated above, the expertise of this contractor will ensure that there is no lapse in the support requirements.

(c)(2)(vii) Any other facts supporting the justification.

There are no other facts supporting the justification.

(c)(2)(viii) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barrier that led to the restricted consideration before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.

The Government will solicit only U.Group., under their MAS Contract Number.: GS-00F-169CA.

No other firm can provide the necessary services at requisite level of expertise within the timeframe required; however, the Government is concurrently seeking a fully competitive award to be in place upon expiration of this temporary bridge task order.

(c)(2)(ix) Signatures: On next page

Required Signatures and Approvals:

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

Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data, which are included in this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.