JA_Bridge_Contract_Sole_Source_29_Palms_-_SME_Support.pdf

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

REGIONAL CONTRACTING OFFICE

MARINE AIR GROUND TASK FORCE TRAINING COMMAND

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER

P.O. BOX 788153

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA 92278-6053

J&A No. MCAGCC 18-005

INETEGRATION TRAINING SUPPORT (ITX) - JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

(J&A) FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity.

Marine Corps Regional Contracting Office Northwest, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat

Center (MCAGCC), Twentynine Palms, CA

2. Description of Action Being Approved.

Authority to act under this J&A for the award of a contract on a sole source basis for ITX

Subject Matter Expert (SME) Services under FAR Subpart 13.5, Simplified Procedures for

Certain Commercial Items.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

This J&A authorizes and approves the award of a sole source, firm-fixed price, bridge contract for the purchase of ITX SME Services from the incumbent contractor for the previous contract, which expires on 12 September 2018. The estimated value of this procurement is

$XXX,XXX.XX.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C.

Section 2304(c)(1), as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

13.501(a).

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

There is a requirement for the execution of a bridge contract in order to prevent a loss of SME support currently being provided to Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force Training Command

(MAGTFTC) aboard MCAGCC, Twentynine Palms CA. The subject matter expertise provided to the MAGTFTC is essential for the proper planning, execution of service level training and ancillary support for units deploying as part of MEUs, SPMAGTFs and contingencies worldwide. A break in these services would prove detrimental to the mission and purpose of

MAGTFTC’s role in preparing over an exercise force of twenty-thousand plus Marines and

Sailors for upcoming real world deployments. MAGTFTC, with the support of these SMEs, delivers critical training and realistic training venues for the dangerous, nebulous, and chaotic situations these Marines will encounter. Furthermore; the lapse in SME Services would negativly impact five Infantry Battalion deployments to various overseas locations. As a part of the current contract, the contractor is responsible for updating training plans through after action reports.

With the fast turn from the end of ITX 5-18 to the start of ITX 1-19 it is not feasible that a contractor, other than the incumbent, could accurately incorporate these required updates to training plans. Furthermore, market research has not revealed a company with the ability to meet the SME support requirements in the timeframe required, given an estimated 45 day turnover period. Therefore, it has been determined that an award to a contractor other than the incumbent would negatively affect MAGTFTC mission through ongoing (ITX 5-18) and upcoming (ITX 1-

19, ITX 2-19, Mountain Training Exercise (MTX) 6-18, MTX 1-19, and Talon Exercise 1-19) large scale exercises; as well as other small exercises conducted aboard MCAGCC.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Possible

This requirement is being awarded as a bridge contract to the incumbent contractor to avoid a gap in services while the RCO MCAGCC issues a competitive follow-on solicitation integrating necessary changes in scope. Furthermore, a sources sought notice was posted to the government point of entry (GPE) with one response (Joint Mission Essential Training Solutions (JMETS)) of ability to provide services received. JMETS emailed amplifying capabilites information clarifying “it is not JMETS intent to pursue any short-term bridge contract opportunitis for these ongoing efforts as we view them to be high-risk for any firm other than the incumbent due to the short nature of the commitment from the government”.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the government of the services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable. The fair and reasonableness of the cost/price will be based on comparison to the prices paid on the previously competed contract.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition

MCAGCC RCO is concurrently developing a competitive follow-on contract integrating necessary changes from previous contracts and current market environment. Future support services will be solicited to all contractors capable of meeting those requirements as determined by the on-going market research. The government will develop Acquisition Strategy and will be reviewed by the Western Area Counsel Office.

J&A No. MCAGCC 18-005

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

Technical/Requirements Certification

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this Justification are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Technical and Requirements Cognizance:

Signature Date

Legal Review

I have determined that this Justification is / is not legally sufficient.

Contracting Officer Certification

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

Competition Advocate Certification

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