Redacted_Amended_JA_-_Ceiling_Increase_-_Option_year_3_of_AISG_contract_of_services.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Upon the basis of the following justification, I, as Competition Advocate, hereby approve the use of other than full and open competition for the proposed contractual action described below pursuant to the authority cited herein:

1. Contracting Activity: Military Sealift Command (MSC), Logistics Operations Division (N41)

2. Description of the Action Being Approved: Modification to Contract N62387-15-C-8000 to increase the maximum quantity of the current CLIN 3005AA (Travel) by $XXXXXXX. The total contract increase is $XXXXXXX.

3. Description of the Supplies/Services:

Contract N62387-15-C-8000 Supply & Food Service Training Support Contract in support of MSC’s Logistics Operations Division, provides 88 weeks of professional development career centric training for Afloat Supply Department and Food Service Civilian Mariners and support services and records monitoring for afloat food service operations and afloat Supply operations.

Under the contract, MSC obtains the education/training requirements necessary for Supply and Culinary professionals to meet competencies required for permanent promotion to higher paygrades. MSC also obtains technical monitoring services for its Afloat Supply and Culinary communities. The contract was awarded on 1 October 2015 and Option Period Three began on 1 October 2018.

On 1 January 2019, three modifications to the original contract commenced. The modifications added two Supply Training Support Analysts to monitor Afloat Supply operations, one Food Service Training Support Analyst to conduct SMART inspections on Government Owned, Contractor Operated (GOCO) vessels and one Subject Matter Expert to develop a training course to manage the Corrective Maintenance Logistics System Combat Logistics Force (CMLS CLF) Module system. Each of these additions had an impact on the contract’s travel CLIN, CLIN 3005AA. When the modifications were approved, there was not an increase to CLIN 3005AA.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition:

IAW 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(b)(1)(ii), when there is a reasonable basis to conclude that the agency’s minimum needs can only satisfied by – For DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, unique supplies or services available from only one or a limited number of sources or from only one or a limited number of suppliers with unique capabilities.

IAW NMCARS 5206.303-2a (iii) the intended for this Fiscal Year 19 (1 July 19 – 30 Sep 19) and the appropriations will be O&MN funds issued through individual task orders.

N62387-15-C-8000-1

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Authority:

Only AISG can satisfy MSC’s minimum needs. The classrooms used in support of this contract are located in Norfolk, VA and San Diego, CA. AISG is not required to hire instructors in these geographic locations only. Consequently, the instructors hail from a variety of locations including Arkansas, Texas, Florida and Maryland. The additional Food Service TSA hails from Maine. The flexibility to employ individuals outside of the classroom locations enhances the quality level of the instructors but also increases the amount of travel dollars expended on this contract.

AISG was the only company to submit a proposal for the last contract solicitation. In the previous solicitation, the determining factor that set AISG apart from the competition was the resumes of their key personnel. Not many of the other bidders were able to find qualified individuals to fulfill the minimal eligibility requirements for the key personnel positions. The ability to recruit individuals outside of the classroom area is imperative in order to find qualified individuals to fulfill the minimum requirements of the contract.

The two Supply Training Support Analysts do not travel. However, one of the Supply Training Support Analysts was a former AISG Supply instructor. His hire to this position created a void, which was filled by a new employee. The new employee took a couple of training trips not in the original travel budget. The Food Service Training Support Analyst has performed a couple of SMART inspections on GOCO vessels. These trips were not in the original travel budget.

The Subject Matter Expert to develop the Corrective Maintenance Logistics System Combat Logistics Force (CMLS CLF) Module training course made a couple of trips during the development of the course. These trips were not in the original training budget.

Finally, AISG has performed exceptionally in support of MSC Supply Department’s training requirements and support systems and record monitoring. The modifications to the original contract directly influence MSC's compliance with SECNAV Financial Improvement Audit Readiness requirements. The ceiling increase of the Travel CLIN is warranted and must happen in order to continue to teach professional Supply and Culinary training courses and to conduct SMART inspections.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practical:

No additional market research conducted because it is not practicable, for the reasons discussed in Paragraph 5 above, for any company other than AISG to provide the required services.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost: The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government of the services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Future Competition: For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, MSC has no plans at this time to compete future contract increases, if required, for the types of services covered by this document. If another potential source emerges, MSC will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.