Limiting Competition at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold S8 Signed.pdf

Control No: 25-02W

Version – February 2017

Memorandum for Record – Limiting Competition at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

1. Contracting Activity: RCO-AK

2. Description of Action:

Nature: New Requirement

Contract Vehicle: Purchase Order Number: 0012283662

Pricing/Contract Type: Fixed

Funds: Operations & Maintenance, Army (OMA)

Name of Proposed Contractor(s) and Address:

The Journey of Me, LLC 4545 E Shea Blvd Suite # 235 Phoenix, AZ 85028

Brand Name Buy: No

3. Description of Services or Supplies:

The Contractor, Journey of Me LLC, shall provide in-person training to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division (1/11 BCT) at Location – Fort Wainwright Alaska from April 22, 2025, to April 25, 2025. The training will focus on mitigating the impact of the "Dark Triad" of personality traits on mental health, and addressing PTSD, moral injury, and unresolved grief and loss.

The training program will consist of the following elements:

April 22, 2025: Training walkthrough with 1/11 BCT Command. This session will allow for customization of the training content to meet the specific needs of the brigade.

April 23, 2025: Condensed training session for senior leaders (minimum 2 hours). This session will focus on key takeaways and lessons learned relevant to leadership roles.

April 24, 2025: Comprehensive training session for 1/11 BCT soldiers (minimum 7 hours). This session will cover the "Dark Triad," PTSD, moral injury, and unresolved grief and loss.

April 25, 2025: One-on-one training sessions (minimum 8 hours total). These sessions will provide personalized support and address individual needs.

4. Authority:

X FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), only one source reasonably available, urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization.

5. Reasons for Authority Cited:

The 1BCT 11th Infantry Division (1/11) requires specialized mental health training to address the unique challenges faced by soldiers stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. This training is crucial for ensuring the mental well-being and resilience of 1/11 personnel.

1/11 has identified an urgent need for expertise in addressing the Dark Triad.

Journey of Me LLC, comprised of Dr. Hill and CSM (Ret.) Birch, is uniquely qualified to provide this specialized training. Dr. Hill, a licensed professional counselor, nationally certified counselor, and EMDR Certified Therapist, brings both professional expertise and personal experience as a Gold Star Mother, allowing her to connect with soldiers on a deeper level regarding loss and its impact on mental health. CSM (Ret.) Birch's 25+ years of Army experience provides him with invaluable insight into effective leadership at the company level and the specific challenges faced by soldiers within Army formations. This combined expertise makes Journey of Me LLC uniquely suited to address the 1/11 IBCT's specific training requirements. Their understanding of the "Dark Triad" and its implications, coupled with their military experience and therapeutic credentials, makes them exceptionally qualified to deliver impactful training tailored to the unit's needs.

6. Publicizing Contract Actions:

Requirement to post justification in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(3), FAR 13.105(c), or FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A)

X Action is NOT a brand name restriction and is under $250K, no posting required.

7. Market Research:

Market research for this specialized motivational speaker was minimally conducted due to the highly specific combination of required qualifications. The target audience, soldiers at Fort Wainwright, requires a speaker with not only proven expertise in military mental health but also a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by this specific population. This includes feelings of isolation “cabin fever”, deployment experiences, changing organization structure. Finding a speaker possessing this specialized knowledge, combined with [mention other crucial qualifications, e.g., relevant combat experience, specific therapeutic approach, or security clearance], significantly narrows the pool of potential candidates. Therefore, extensive market research would have yielded minimal results, as conventional motivational speakers or those lacking these specific qualifications would be unsuitable for this particular audience and their distinct needs. The following websites were queried and none of them could provide the required services within the required timeframe:

a. Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE): www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of- Excellence/Psychological-Health-and-Traumatic-Brain-Injury - A leading authority on military mental health, likely to have connections to relevant experts.

b. Military OneSource: www.militaryonesource.mil - A comprehensive resource hub for military families, potentially with connections to speakers or relevant programs.

c. Give an Hour: www.giveanhour.org - Provides free mental health services to veterans and families; may have a network of speaking professionals.

d. National Veterans Foundation: www.nvf.org - Focuses on veteran well-being and may have access to speakers specializing in mental health.

e. eSpeakers.com (with very specific search terms): www.espeakers.com - A large speaker directory requiring highly targeted keywords for relevant results (e.g., "military mental health speaker," "veteran PTSD speaker.

8. Technical/Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Mathew Scully, Cpt 1/11 Assistant S8

9. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval:

I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based upon price analysis.

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that completing this purchase as a sole source is in the best interest of the Government. Additionally, I approve this justification to limit competition subject to the availability of funds and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Jeffrey Morgan Contracting Officer