4.03 MSHE Sole Source Justification Redacted_Redacted.pdf

This is a Justification for Sole Source (Simplified Procedures - MPT to ≤ SAT) document submitted by NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center, Norfolk Contracting Department, Fleet Directorate.

The procurement is for annual accreditation membership dues with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), CAGE Code 70AF7, for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The contracting officer has justified sole source procurement under FAR 6.103-1(b), determining that no substitutes are available and competition is precluded. The justification identifies MSCHE as the sole provider of regional accreditation for institutions of higher education in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Maryland. This accreditation is mandatory for the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) to maintain institutional quality assurance and is a prerequisite for specialized programmatic accreditations required for engineering and computing disciplines. The document notes that pursuing an alternate accrediting body would require formal justification to the U.S. Department of Education, would be inherently disruptive and financially significant, and would involve multi-year commitments to achieve candidacy and full accreditation status. The contracting officer, Cody Scott Witz (digitally signed on 179081799), has determined that the circumstances justifying only one source are reasonably available or applicable to the contract action. The estimated price/cost amount is redacted in the document.