Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition

This is a Justification and Approval document for a non-competitive commercial services acquisition by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), Office of Contracting Services.

EXIM seeks to award a new Firm Fixed Price (FFP) purchase order to IA Group B.V. to provide legal recovery services for collecting outstanding amounts owed to EXIM by obligors, buyers, and guarantors in Italy. The contract value is redacted, with due diligence costs (Line Item 1) estimated at a specific amount and recovery fees estimated at a percentage of recovery. The period of performance is five years. Services include asset searches, site visits, negotiations, litigation, documentation of agreements, and asset embargoes and executions. The contractor must attempt recovery on behalf of EXIM Bank and may institute legal proceedings and provide credit restructuring services to EXIM's Recovery Group and Asset Management Division related to claims involving referenced debtors and guarantors in Italy.

The justification for single-source award is based on IA Group B.V.'s unique qualifications as a Netherlands-based firm with local offices in Italy. The contractor possesses extensive experience handling complex U.S. Government administrative requirements, is certified under Italian law, registered in SAM, and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of EXIM's policies and procedures. The document emphasizes that minimal competition exists for firms with EXIM-specific expertise, Italian legal experience, and the ability to begin work immediately without familiarization delays. The Contracting Officer has determined anticipated costs are fair and reasonable based on prior experience, comparable market rates, and published industry data. No other sources expressed written interest in this acquisition.