MUOS_SESS_BRIDGE JandA.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Acquisition Number: 47QFPA22K0029

1. Identification of Agency and Contracting Activity:

Agency:

General Services Administration (GSA) Assisted Acquisition Services (AAS) Region 9 Acting in support of: Space Systems Command (SSC) / Portfolio Architecture Corps (ZA)

Contracting Activity:

GSA AAS Region 9, 50 United Nations Plaza, Second Floor, Suite 2430 San Francisco, CA 94102

2. Nature and/or Description of Action Being Approved:

This Justification and Approval (J&A) for other than full and open competition is made for the solicitation and award of a Cost-Plus Fixed-Fee (CPFF) type contract to support Space Systems Command (SSC) Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Systems Engineering Support Service (SESS) requirements. The contract will have a total period of performance of six (6) months, inclusive of a three-month base period and three (3) one-month options. The contract is projected to have a contract maximum value of $6,705,060.14, based on the value of projected order requirements needed for the period of performance.

Services are currently being provided under contract # N0017814D7913, task order # N0003917F3007, which was awarded by the U.S. Navy under a CPFF type contract. The task order was for a 12-month base period with four (4), 12-month option years, totaling $50,130,581.11. The current task order started on July 20, 2017 and expires on July 19, 2022.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code utilized was 541330 – Engineering Services and PSC R425 – Support – Professional: Engineering/Technical. The government competed the prior task order on the Navy’s SeaPort-e Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract (IDIQ) as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside procurement, receiving four (4) offers.

SSC is currently working with GSA Region 9 AAS to procure a competitive long-term recompeted acquisition, which is expected to be a 100% small business set-aside task order under the GSA vehicle of the One Acquisition Source for Integrated Solutions (OASIS). The anticipated period of performance of this bridge contract is:

Base Period 7/20/2022 to 10/19/2022 Option Period 1 10/20/2022 to 11/19/2022

Option Period 2 11/20/2022 to 12/19/2022 Option Period 3 12/20/2022 to 1/19/2023

However, the anticipated award for the long-term effort has been delayed and is expected to be awarded no earlier than September 10, 2022.

The delay is due to the changing nature of the requirements; SSC and GSA added additional requirements to the recompetition to best meet SSC’s evolving needs as the newest Department of Defense (DoD) agency, including the recent reorganization SSC went through in the spring of 2022. This process has continued through SSC’s reorganization and a re-baselining of what labor categories, skill sets, and requirements, were needed on this re-competition. As a result, while the current task order with the Navy has a total value of $50,130,581.11, the recompeted task order with SSC/GSA will be more than double in size (with an estimated total value of $107,196,922.96). Due to the change in requirements during the acquisition planning period, a bridge contract must be implemented to bridge the gap between July 20, 2022 (the end date of the current order) and October 19, 2022 (the expected start date of the re-competed order, inclusive of the desired transition time between the outgoing and incoming contractors). The GSA Contracting Officer issued the recompete solicitation on May 23, 2022 and expects to make the award by September 10, 2022.

This proposed sole-source contract will allow for the continuation of services to fulfill performance of this requirement until the award of the competitive recompete task order. After award of the competitive recompete task order, the bridge contract will no longer be required, though additional options were added to sustain service to also allow for sufficient 30-day transition time between the incumbent contractor and the awardee of the new contract to onboard their staff. The additional option periods were included to allow for continued services in the event of any delays in awarding the re-compte effort, such as extension of the solicitation period, delays in the evaluation process, protests or other such delays. Therefore, a bridge contract is vital to carrying out SSC’s mission pending award of the long-term contract.

3. A Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet Agency’s Needs (Including Estimated Value):

The bridge contract will continue the current services with the incumbent contractor, SBG Technology Solutions Inc., until the recompete is awarded. The contract will continue the services to provide a broad range of Narrowband Satellite Communications (NBSC) support capabilities for the Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) interest program to execute effective and responsive integrated program management of space-related research, development, test, production, launch, and sustainment, activities. The support will span SSC’s Portfolio Architect, Production Corps, and Enterprise Corps, executed in multiple geographical locations.

To satisfy these requirements, the Government anticipates awarding a bridge contract to the incumbent contractor utilizing the same Performance Work Statement (PWS) from the original award (contract # N0017814D7913 / task order # N0003917F3007) created by the U.S. Navy, maintaining the current level of support.

4. Identification of the Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open

Competition:

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1: “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements”. In accordance with FAR 6.302-1, it is determined that award to any other offeror would result in substantial duplication of costs to the Government that are not expected to be recovered through competition.

5. Demonstration that the Proposed Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the Acquisition Requires Use of the Authority Cited:

It is in the best interest of the Government to have continued services performed by the current contractor. Pursuant to FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(B), the services described above are available only from the incumbent contractor. Awarding to any other source would result in unacceptable delays and duplication of costs in fulfilling the agency’s requirements that are not expected to be recovered through competition. These services are available only from the original source that has the experience,technical/operational knowledge and resources immediately available to allow for continuation of these highly specialized technical support services. The contractor’s staff are qualified to immediately provide the required services, as they are well versed in all of the task areas and have specialized knowledge and expertise on the discrete nuances of current existing testing efforts which eliminates any schedule and costs constraints as a result of transition. The contractor’s staff also have extensive prior experience providing support and services on the prior five-year contract effort. This specialized experience and institutional knowledge is necessary to provide immediate and efficient continuity of services. The contractor’s staff already possess the required secret security clearances that cannot be obtained in ample time for a new contractor to onboard their staff to begin performance immediately.

Failure to provide these services will cause degradation of Space Systems Command’s (SSC’s) mission, ultimately failing to support the responsibility of developing, acquiring, equipping, fielding, and sustaining, lethal and resilient space capabilities for U.S. warfighters in the following areas as it relates to the current PWS:

Task 1: Provide System Engineering Support: This includes the management and oversight of all activities performed by contractor personnel, including subcontractors, to satisfy the requirements identified in the PWS. Failure to provide this service will increase risk to the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Service Life Extension (SLE) cost, schedule, and technical performance. Systems engineering support is vital for the procurement, test, and operation of future MUOS satellites.

Task 2: Ensuring the integrity of product information and other data using configuration verification, audits, and other methods as required. Failure to provide this continued service will negatively impact the release of Preliminary Satellite Design contracts or force release with incomplete performance specifications and interface requirements.

Task 3: Regularly checking technical baseline information to ensure all approved changes to classified technical documentation are implemented as intended. Failure to provide this continued service will significantly impact the ability to complete unclassified and classified specifications for future MUOS satellites.

Task 4: Actively engaging with outside agencies in support of SSC program office intelligence needs on a daily basis. Failure to provide this continued service will negatively impact the MUOS user community and the program’s ability to educate and train users on the usage and operability of the system. In addition, failure to provide this continued service will negatively impact our international partners looking to utilize MUOS on their systems.

Task 5: Overseeing, reporting, and evaluating, any modification or deficiencies in the system, and reporting them to the program office. Failure to provide this continued service will negatively impact the operability and overall health of the MUOS Ground stations causing ultimate failure and the inability to provide sufficient communications.

The proposed contract will continue services while the Government conducts a competition for a long-term solution and will allow for a transition period that allows another vendor to become proficient on existing developments. Due to their extensive knowledge and prior experience working this requirement, and its fully qualified staff, it is in the Government’s best interest to continue services from the incumbent.

Accordingly, SBG Technology Solutions Inc. is the only source capable of providing these services without unacceptable delays in satisfying SSC’s requirements.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Ensure that Offers are Solicited From as Many Potential Sources as Practicable, Including Whether a Notice Was Publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2:

As required by FAR Subpart 5.201, “General”, on April 21, 2022, the Contracting Officer published a synopsis on the System for Award Management (SAM).gov, Contract Opportunities, stating the Government’s intent to solicit, negotiate, and award, a sole-source acquisition. The notice included a statement that all interested responsible sources may submit a capabilities statement which shall be considered by the agency. At the present time, no responses have been received. Awarding a to any other company would further delay performance as the incumbent contractor already has the staff available and has experience with the technical requirements outlined in the performance work statement.

Market research was also conducted for the follow-on competitive acquisition by GSA Region 9 and SSC. Market research team members evaluated the market engineering support services, considered all mandatory and recommended sources, and ultimately determined that the follow-on acquisition will be solicited and awarded on the GSA OASIS program using a 100% small business set-aside.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable:

Adequate historic price information exists to ensure that the cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Pricing will be compared to historic price information on the current task order and the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), which has been reviewed and validated by GSA.

8. Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results or a Statement of the Reason Market Research was not Conducted:

The Government conducted market research in accordance with FAR Part 10, “Market Research”, by posting a notice of the Government’s intent to award this proposed sole-source contract action on SAM.gov on April 21, 2022. In accordance with FAR Part 5.201, “Synopsis of Proposed Contract Actions,” the notice also allowed all responsible sources to identify their interest and submit a capabilities statement. At the present time, no responses have been received.

9. Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition:

The U.S. Navy currently has the existing contract, which will expire on July 19, 2022. GSA has been provided the requirements to award a long-term contract. However, a bridge contract must be created to fulfill the services until the new long-term contract is awarded against a GSA OASIS contract vehicle.

The estimated duplication of costs is $1,400,000.00. This cost is estimated by calculating the number of FTE required for performance and the cost for facility and security clearances during a 30-day transition period.

10. Listing of the Sources, if any, That Expressed, In Writing, An Interest in the Acquisition:

To date, the Contracting Officer has not received any response to the sole source synopsis issued on April 21, 2022. Furthermore, awarding a contract to any other company would further delay performance, as the incumbent contractor already has the staff available and has experience with the technical requirements outlined in the performance work statement.

11. Statement of the Actions, if Any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome Any Barriers to Competition Before Any Subsequent Acquisition for the Supplies or Services Required:

The follow-on acquisition is presently being competed under Pool 5b of the GSA OASIS Small Business contract vehicle. This competition will eliminate the need for continued limitation of sources.

12. Contracting Officer Certification that the Justification is Accurate and Complete to the Best of the Contracting Officer’s Knowledge and Belief:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and determine on the basis of the findings above that other than full and open competition approach is in accordance with the requirements and is in the best interest of the Government.

NATHAN DOLEZAL Date Contracting Officer Assisted Acquisitions Services Federal Acquisition Service – Region 9 U.S. General Services Administration

TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION:

As the lead technical developer of these requirements, I verify that this J&A and its resulting bridge contract will meet the Government’s minimum needs and schedule requirements. I also certify that the technical requirements noted herein that form a basis for the J&A are complete and accurate.

DateALEX CHAN

Contracting Officer’s Representative Space Systems Command U.S. Space Forc

13. PREPARED BY:

NONYA MONTANO Date Contracting Officer Assisted Acquisitions Services Federal Acquisition Service – Region 9 U.S. General Services Administration

06/21/2022

6/21/22

NATHAN

DOLEZAL

Digitally signed by

NATHAN DOLEZAL

Date: 2022.06.21 14:28:33 -07'00'

CHAN.ALEXAND

ER.B.1379606608

Digitally signed by

CHAN.ALEXANDER.B.13796066

Date: 2022.06.21 13:55:14 -07'00'

14. REVIEWED BY:

JOEL FADA Date Director Assisted Acquisitions Services Federal Acquisition Service – Region 9 U.S. General Services Administration

TORRIE HARRIS Date Assistant Regional Counsel Office of Regional Counsel Pacific Rim – Region 9 U.S. General Services Administration

15. APPROVED BY:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and determine on the basis of the findings above that other than full and open competition approach is in accordance with the requirements and is in the best interest of the Government.

JACQUELINE G. SULLO Date Competition Advocate Federal Acquisition Service – Region 9 U.S. General Services Administration