Contracting Officer's Determination – Limiting Competition at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

This document is a Contracting Officer's Determination justifying a sole-source award for solid waste collection and disposal services to be procured by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Louisville District, on behalf of Olmsted Locks and Dam in Olmsted, Illinois. The requirement is for a new firm-fixed-price commercial service contract covering monthly rental and routine weekly servicing of two 6-yard dumpsters and rental plus "as-needed" hauling and disposal of one 30-yard roll-off container.

The contract will be awarded as a Purchase Order with a base period from the date of award through March 31, 2027, followed by four one-year option periods extending through March 31, 2031. Funding is provided through Army Operations & Maintenance (OMA). The contracting officer justifies limiting competition based on RFO 6.103-1 (Only One Responsible Source), citing that the named contractor is the only physically capable solid waste management entity operating within the geographic territory necessary to service the facility. Prior competitive solicitations attracted only out-of-state "broker" contractors located in California and Nevada without local operational capacity. The determination documents that these firms proposed to subcontract 100% of work to the local provider at prices triple the actual local market rate, creating compliance risks under FAR 52.219-14 (Limitation on Subcontracting). The contracting officer certifies the anticipated cost is fair and reasonable based on comparison to Independent Government Estimates and historical prices, and approves the sole-source justification as in the Government's best interest. Legal certification confirms the rationale adequately supports limiting competition beyond full and open competition.