DETERM1.DOC.pdf

CUI//SP-PROCURE//DL ONLY

Determination that Only One Source is Reasonably Available (Including Brand Name) – FAR Part 13 Acquisitions under the SAT

V 1.6 (20 December 2023)

DISTRIBUTION: DoW COMMUNITY ONLY

MEMORANDUM TO THE FILE

Subj: DETERMINATION THAT ONLY ONE SOURCE IS REASONABLY

AVAILABLE FOR A FAR PART 13 ACQUISITION UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED

ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

I. BACKGROUND:

1. FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) states for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).

2. As required by FAR 13.106-3(b)(3)(i), this memorandum explains the absence of competition for this acquisition, as only one source will be solicited for this requirement (or for a portion of the requirement) and the requirement (or portion of the requirement to be sole-sourced) is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

II. DESCRIPTION OF ITEM OR SERVICE:

1. Commercial description: Provid two course in a months’ time. The first course is mini desserts and sweets. The second course is international cuisine.

2. Intended use: Equip MEA’s with the technical, safety, and organizational skills to work effectively in a professional class. This includes mastering core techniques such as knife skills, ingredient preparation, cooking methods, roasting. Sauteing, and baking.

3. Source or Brand Name: CIA

4. The total estimated value of this requirement is $ $49,500

5. The requested period of performance/license coverage period or delivery date.

August 26, - September 22, 2026

III. THE DETERMINATION FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN

COMPETITION IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING (select all that apply):

A. _X__ ONLY ONE RESPONSIBLE SOURCE (select all that apply):

1. ___ RESTRICTIVE RIGHTS. The source has established proprietary rights, limited rights in data, patent rights, copyrights or secret processes in the item or service required.

2. ___ EXCLUSIVE LICENSING AGREEMENTS. The item or service is only available from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), or there is only one authorized distributor or technical representative for the OEM.

3. _X__ OTHER REASONS.

1. The MCEAP requires elite instruction in two highly disparate fields: micro-pastry arts (Mini Desserts) and

Controlled by: DON, USMC, I&L HCA Controlled by: MCINCR RCO CUI Category(ies): PROCURE Limited Dissemination Control: DL ONLY POC: Lesline Abonwoh / (703) 784 3509

Determination that Only One Source is Reasonably Available (Including Brand Name) – FAR Part 13 Acquisitions under the SAT

V 1.6 (20 December 2023)

DISTRIBUTION: DoW COMMUNITY ONLY regional global cuisine (International Cuisine). While boutique training agencies can sometimes provide one module, only the CIA has the scale and depth of faculty to provide world-class, integrated curricula for both courses under a single procurement, eliminating the administrative overhead and logistical complications of coordinating multiple distinct vendors.

2. Unrivaled Concentration of Master Culinary Faculty: The CIA employs the largest concentration of Certified Master Chefs (CMC) and Certified Master Pastry Chefs (CMPC) in the world. These credentials, administered by the American Culinary Federation, require a rigorous, multi-day peer-reviewed assessment and are held by fewer than 100 professionals globally. This standard of instruction is mandatory for the professional-tier career transitioners designated under this agency's operational readiness initiatives.

3. The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) possesses unique and proprietary capabilities that make it the only commercial source capable of satisfying this specialized requirement without incurring unacceptable quality risks, structural duplication of cost, and program delays

4. The CIA holds proprietary rights to accelerated pedagogical models that compress collegiate-level kitchen masterclasses into intensive 5-day, 40-hour blocks. This compressed methodology is uniquely suited to the agency's timeline. Traditional vocational academies do not possess pre-packaged, rapid-turnaround, elite-level curricula for off-site deployment.

5. Under FAR Part 10, the MCEAP conducted comprehensive market research. This research confirmed that although general culinary education is commercially available, alternative schools and boutique groups do not offer the certified master-level faculty (CMC/CMPC) or the pre-existing, accelerated, off-site curriculums necessary to meet the high standard of precision required

6. Procuring these services from a non-specialized vendor would require custom-built syllabus and recipe development from the ground up, adding an estimated 100 development hours.

This would result in over $20,000 in duplicative instructional design costs and a 3-to-6-month delay in schedule, directly jeopardizing the agency's training timelines.

B. ___ BRAND NAME

Item required must be a brand name, product, or feature of a product, particular to one manufacturer.

C. ___URGENT AND COMPELLING. The supplies or services are of such unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured unless the agency is permitted to limit the number of sources from which it solicits bids or proposals. Urgent requirements are supplies or services that will result in a work stoppage, or are mission critical and the routine processing time would result in injury to the Government. The determination that the procurement for the above item/service is an urgent and compelling requirement is based on the following:

1. Date on which the requirement was first identified:

2. Required delivery date/period of performance:

Determination that Only One Source is Reasonably Available (Including Brand Name) – FAR Part 13 Acquisitions under the SAT

CUI//SP-PROCURE//DL ONLY

V 1.6 (20 December 2023)

DISTRIBUTION: DoW COMMUNITY ONLY

3. Explanation of why delivery/commencement of services by the date mentioned above is required:

4. If appropriate, include any additional pertinent information.

V. CERTIFICATIONS:

A. Technical / Requirements Certification: I certify that the facts and representation under my cognizance which are included in this justification are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature Name (Printed) / Phone # Date

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

Signature Name (Printed) / Phone # Date

Distribution List for DL ONLY Limited Dissemination Control

MCFCS Personnel

LB Personnel

Procurement Team Personnel (to include but not limited to: Legal, Customers/Requirements Owners, Source Selection Personnel, Small Business Representatives)

Any other individual designated by the KO accurate to the best of my

Signature

Brian K Brazil 202.433.2523 24 Aug 2026

Digitally signed by CONDE.ALEJANDRO.1506685938 Date: 2026.08.25 12:02:30 -04'00'