P06_FAR 13 Single Source Justification Less Than SAT_Final_Redacted.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Limited Source Justification

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Simplified Acquisitions Control No. (if applicable) FY25-FPAC-Justification-046

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Services, Easement Program Division

USDA, Farm Production and Conservation, Business Center, Acquisition Division, Operations Branch, Eastern Section, Headquarters

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

Continuation of work to provide title commitment updates and closing services of ACEP-WRE easement contracts in Arkansas from already provided title commitments.

• Update prior provided preliminary title commitments for ACEP-WRE closing.

• Provide closing services, including closing of the ACEP-WRE as instructed by NRCS following all state standards

(including issuing funds to lien holders, mortgages, or landowners as appropriate).

• Issue a Closing Protection Letter.

• Record all documents and provide to NRCS timely after closing.

• Issue a final title policy meeting NRCS and DOJ standards.

• See also the Statement of work for title updates and closing services for all agency needs.

• Total value of ten (10) easement title updates and closing services is

• Time for multiple projects should be completed in 12 months.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

This company has already provided initial title commitments for specific easement landowner contracts. There are additional needs to complete the real estate transaction. Title updates and closing services follow these initial documents provided by the above-mentioned company.

Procuring these documents and services from a new vendor would create extensive delays and increase cost to the federal government that is not warranted with the preliminary title commitments have already been provided.

Each preliminary commitment would have to be requested from any new vendor, In addition to cost, awarding to a new vendor would cause delays while the preliminary search is conducted, and the preliminary title commitment is provided for roughly 30-60 days post award. These steps have already been completed by the current vendor.

4. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Market research was conducted and determined that the services can be obtained through commercial means. This service is readily available in the commercial market but will incur additional cost to the government due to the rational in 3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

5. Action to Reduce Barriers to Competition

Products provided through a different contracting/purchasing mechanism in the prior years that are not available currently (i.e. Cooperative agreement). Although Purchase Card could be used, the vendor does not accept Purchase cards for these transactions, thus requiring a contract to be issued. This need will be mitigated with other contracting mechanisms in the future (i.e. Cooperative Agreements, Blanket Purchase Agreements, Purchase card transactions from other vendors, etc). Future RFQs will include the initial title commitments as well as any follow-on requirements that may be needed either in a separately priced line or option line depending on the need.

7. Price Reasonableness Based on Market Research and Comparison to previous purchases it was determined that this price is fair and reasonable.

Certifications

Supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel and which form the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Jason Keenan EAB Team Leader Easement Program Division

The information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), I hereby determine the circumstances described above deem only one source, or limited sources, reasonably available and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated in this document.

Shermeka Showers Contracting Officer