JA FLSS Redacted.pdf

ANNEX 1 -JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

J&A No. N102-24-2040

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Activity.

Department of the Navy, Military Sealift Command (MSC) General Services Division (N102B)

2. Description of the Action Being Approved.

This is a justification for a fourth bridge action to continue the services performed under the existing Logistics Services, Food Services (FS) and Logistics Training, and Continuous Monitoring Program (CMP) service contract, N3220522P2040. The extension will be for three (3) months and will also include one (1) three-month option period to continue performance. The contractor is Advanced Information Systems Group, Inc. (AISG). This is considered a non-competitive action; a Justification and Approval (J&A) pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 (Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements) will be processed subsequently upon approval of the NMCARS Annex 5 for this bridge action.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

MSC is owner and operator of more than fifty, (50) civilian-mariner (CIVMAR) maned ships and is responsible for ensuring the operational readiness of its ships throughout their active service period. Each shipboard supply department plays an important role in overall MSC ship operations and provides key services, including supply and configuration management, combat logistics, food services, and hotel/laundry operations. The anticipated bridge extension is for a base period of three months (29 February 2024 – 31 May 2024) and one three-month option period (01 June 2024 – 31 August 2024) with an estimated total value of

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

10 U.S.C 2304 (c)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements, as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(B).

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority.

The incumbent vendor is currently providing an effective, accessible, responsive, and high-quality training program to increase and maintain the professional knowledge and skills of CIVMARs in food and logistics support services. The reason for this bridge is multi-faceted. The follow-on contract’s February 2024 award was delayed by changes in acquisition strategy (most notably, the effort to separate this requirement from one contract into two), unforeseen personnel changes in both the program management and contracting offices, and significant rework to the performance work statement. The current bridge contract’s, N3220522P2040, period of performance completion date is 28 February 2024. In order to mitigate the risk of a lapse in mission-critical support services, a bridge contract action is required to allow the Government adequate time to execute the follow-on contract actions. The incumbent vendor has the corporate knowledge, and adequate personnel strategically placed to ensure continuity of the required food and logistics support services. Additionally, it has access to the Government infrastructure required to perform the required training. There is insufficient time to execute the follow-on contract actions and conduct the required phase-in operations prior to the completion of the current period of performance. Failure to have these educational and logistics support services in place will result in CIVMARs not receiving proper training to accomplish the key services that are required to effectively sail MSC’s vessels and thus meet MSC’s mission. Therefore, without this bridge contract action, the risk of mission failure will increase significantly.

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

In accordance with DFARS PGI 206.302-1, a Request for Information (RFI) notice was posted to SAM.gov on 24 January 2024 in effort to identify sources that might be capable of providing these services in a timely and seamless manner in such a tight timeframe. The RFI closed on 30 January 2024 with one submission from Rouxbe Global Food Group, Inc. Their response included company information and a general capability statement. The response did not include any information that demonstrated their ability to perform the logistic requirements of the contract. Therefore, Rouxbe Global Food Group, Inc was determined to be incapable to fulfill the government's needs by the COR, Ms. Elizabeth Travis. The Government intends to post this Justification and Approval (J&A) at the Government Point of Entry (SAM.gov website) to notify industry that AISG will continue performance as a Sole-Source effort. The Government will continue its procurement effort to actively compete this requirement while the bridge is in place.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost.

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government of the supplies/services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition.

MSC does not anticipate any further bridges being necessary. Both program and acquisition personnel are in place and working on the development of the follow-on procurement packages. The follow-on contracts have an anticipated award date of no later than 1 August 2024, with the expectation that the incoming contractors participate in a one-month phase in period. Pursuant to the requirements of FAR 19.502-2(b), the new requirements will be total small business set-asides. The PWS’s, market research memorandums, MOPAS-S’s, and Source Selection Plans are completed and have been approved for both new requirements and milestones are being met to ensure on-time awards.