JA_Ocala Caisson Training for SF_20230321_Redacted.pdf

Control Number: 1035

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FAR 13.501 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

Sole Source Justification and Approval

1. Contracting Activity: United States (U.S.) Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Belvoir (MICC-FB), 9410 Jackson Loop, Building 1425, Fort Belvoir, V.A. 22060

2. Description of Action: The Military District of Washington (MDW), 3d. United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), requires a services contract with Express Clydesdales, LLC. The Government projects award for 25 March 2024 and fiscal year 2024 Operations and Maintenace, Army funding will be used.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: Express Clydesdales LLC will provide training for Military Working Equines (MWEs) and U.S. Army Caisson Soldiers over a 5-week period to be able to conduct State Funeral Caisson Operations projected to resume on 01 May 2024. For the first two weeks of the training, the contractor will train MWEs to conduct state funeral operations in the Postillion style fulfilling the positions of a six-horse hitch wagon with one Caparison horse, one Section horse and replacement horse. For the remaining three weeks, the contractor will integrate, teach, and aid U.S.

Army Caisson Soldiers in familiarization in caisson operations in the Postilion style to enable them to perform State Funeral Services.

This service is required because the Army’s herd is either newly procured, or newly rehabilitated after an extensive break in service and are untrained to conduct State Funeral Operations. The horses were placed in rehabilitation under the direction of Army Equine Veterinary treatment plan to facilitate recovery from injury.

Furthermore, nearly half of the Army’s herd was retired over the past two months and the Army is in the process of replenishment with newly procured untrained horses.

Additionally, more than half of the U.S. Army Caisson Soldiers require horsemanship training due to Permanent Change of Station rotations and unavailability of MWEs to conduct advanced and collective horsemanship training.

State Funerals require strict adherence to traditions and standards that are set forth by the Department of Defense to include mandated riding styles, horse and rider configurations, and ceremonial composure. State Funerals are watched widely throughout the world and are internationally publicized events. Due to these strict requirements and the public nature of this time-honored tradition, the Government has a compelling need to train its herd promptly so they can be prepared to perform State Funeral Operations beginning on 01 May 2024 upon notification. Any delay in awarding this may result in a failure of the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) Commander under the direction of United States Northern Command to conduct a State Funeral as directed by the Department of Defense to honor a former President of the United States.

Period of Performance: 25 March 2024 – 27 April 2024

Total Value: $378,125.00

4. Authority Cited: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, Title 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.501(a)(1)(ii): Unusual and compelling urgency.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: Express Clydesdales and its subcontractors consist of over 20-time horse driving world-champions, who consistently place at the top of the Federation Equestrian International rankings. The contractor and its associated subcontractors serve on the U.S. Equestrian Federation Performance Driving Committee, National Driving Committee, and Safety Committee. These specific qualifications, as well as its other ongoing contracts training and working with the Caisson Detachment, make the contractor uniquely qualified to conduct training that will result in the highest of proficiency that is required to conduct a State Funeral to the expectations set forth by the Department of Defense and in the minds of the American People. The contractor routinely wins national and international competitions and conducts parades where their horses drive members of royalty and other highly distinguished persons in crowded urban environments.

Further, Express Clydesdales plans to use an internationally renowned draft hitch horse professional with over 35 years of experience in the industry. The contractor, in its performance under past and ongoing contracts, is impacting and shaping the Caisson training program that is designed specifically to produce a team that can perform the State Funeral mission in a consistent manner. If the contract were awarded to a different contractor, the training timeline would need to be extended due to the Caisson Detachment Soldiers and Military Working Equines having to learn different methods of instruction that would not meet the 01 May assumption of responsibility of the State Funeral mission.

The Caisson Detachment’s herd is newly rehabilitated and reconditioned after a significant pause in Caisson operations. Equine driving creates an inherent increased risk to the herd compared to other equestrian activities. The contractor is uniquely and solely situated to take the Army’s newly rehabilitated and reconditioned herd and ensure that both the herd and the U.S. Army Soldiers riding them are trained in a manner that will not create further injuries and will put the health and safety of the herd and the Soldiers first.

The Old Guard requires the capability to carry out State Funeral operations in accordance with DOD Directive 1300.30 “DOD Support of State, Official, Special Military, and First Lady Funerals.” State Funerals are reserved for national figures such as current and former Presidents of the United States. Currently, there are several DOD Directive 1300.30 designated individuals with an increased probability of requiring State Funeral services within the short-term. Therefore, it is imperative that the Caisson is ready to support a State Funeral in an expeditated manner. This training increases the likelihood that the Caisson Horses and its Soldiers will be prepared to support a State Funeral upon notification.

b. Alternatives Market research indicates that there are no proven alternatives to Express Clydesdales that can meet the expedited timeline to make training services available, train the U.S. Army’s Caisson State Funeral Team to the high standards required, and to do so in a manner that does not put the health and safety of the U.S.

Army Caisson Detachment herd and Soldiers at risk. The training method is being utilized by the U.S. Army Caisson Detachment for both Soldier and MWE training and awarding the contract to a different vendor would result in significant retraining using other methods of instruction which is not recommended by equine experts. There are no other contractors available to meet the requirements of the Government with minimal notice. These factors all support the lack of alternatives to Express Clydesdales.

c. Additional Supporting Information: In accordance with Army Pamphlet 1-1. A State Funeral is the highest category of military funeral honors and a State Funeral to honor a deceased Commander-in-Chief is an internationally publicized event that is watched around the world. If this justification is denied, there is an extremely high risk that a full traditional State Funeral ceremony cannot be successfully conducted to honor a former President of the United States. If the justification is denied and the Government fails its State Funeral mission, it could bring severe scrutiny upon the Army and significantly degrade the trust between the Army and the American People. The approval of this justification is necessary to meet the wishes of the family members of former Presidents of the United States and to maintain trust with the American People.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: In accordance with FAR 5.202(a)(2), this action will not be synopsized.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The 3d. United States Infantry Regiment and the Military District of Washington routinely conducts Equine Symposiums and invites equine industry experts from across the United States and around the world to attend.

This requirement and other equine services will be discussed at the symposium to increase competition and to expand the vendor base.

8. Market Research: The Old Guard contracted multiple vendors, and none were ready and prepared to perform this service. Searches were conducted using public and government websites and none yielded the equine expertise and available services required from the vendors. The Army will continue to survey the market.

9. Interested Sources: None

10. Other Facts: None