Redacted_J_&_A_Mountain_Climbing_Training.docx

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

FAR Part 6 Requisition Number: Insert Requisition Number

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

IN ACCORDANCE WITH 41 USC 3304(a)(1)

Requisition Number: DJF-19-2200-PR-0000672

Date: 11/8/2018 Estimated Contract Dollar Value: $250,000.00

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Critical Incident Response Group, HRT, has prepared this justification for other than full and open competition for San Juan Mountain Guides (SJMG) on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG), Hostage Rescue Team (HRT).

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved, i.e., sole source, limited competition, establishment of a new source, etc.

The proposed action is for a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), base year + 4 Option Periods, firm-fixed price contract, sole-sourced to San Juan Mountain Guides for operational readiness instruction for cold weather travel in a mountainous environment.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs.

The requirement is for San Juan Mountain Guides to provide HRT with mountain guiding and instruction services to include winter mountaineering skills training and necessary logistical support to meet HRT’s winter mountaineering training objectives. Objectives include but are not limited to the following training of up to 25 personnel per class: review of avalanche safety considerations, risk management, and companion rescue; advanced ski mountaineering including use of ski’s, skins, crampons (boot/ski), alpine ax, rope, various anchor systems to move safely through mountainous/exposed terrain to reach designated objectives; route planning to mitigate risk, and use of the Munter Time Formula to estimate travel time in cold weather mountain environments; overview of snow machines and review of basic riding skills and basic maintenance. San Juan Mountain Guides permits allow them to operate in an area of nearly 5 million acres, not just in the San Juan Mountains, but also across the country. San Juan Mountain Guides instructors are certified by the International Federation of Mountains Guide Association (IFMGA), once trainers have reached the highest level in each disciplinary.

The primary location of the training will be at the vendors business location and in the backcountry of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, however additional locations throughout the country and internationally may also be used.

4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.3304(a)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1entitled, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”

5. Demonstrate the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

Research identified the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado as an ideal training location. This range of the Rocky Mountains is among the closest 10,000ft+ terrain to Virginia and offers a highly concentrated group of 13,000ft+ peaks, including active avalanche terrain, providing an ideal high altitude, winter mountaineering and avalanche safety training environment. The San Juan Mountains also receive an abundance of snow, and combined with some unique environmental factors, produces some of the most active avalanche terrain in the continental Unites States. Combined, these factors make the San Juan Mountains an ideal training venue to meet HRT’s training requirements.

San Juan Mountain Guides permits allow them to operate in an area of nearly 5 million acres, not just in the San Juan Mountains, but also across the country. Access to such a vast area of mountainous terrain provides San Juan Mountain Guides the unique flexibility to find ideal training venues regardless of climatic anomalies affecting temperatures and snowfalls amounts that could make specific areas of the mountains unsuitable for HRT training objectives. Also, San Juan Mountain Guides instructors are certified by the International Federation of Mountains Guide Association (IFMGA), once trainers have reached the highest level in each disciplinary.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

This justification will be posted as a notice of intent to issue a sole source award on the Federal Business Opportunity’s website (www.fbo.gov).

7. The anticipated dollar value of the proposed acquisition, including options if applicable, and a determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The anticipated dollar amount is $250,000.00. Fair and reasonable pricing has been determined based on historical data and market research via the internet.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results.

Market research found three mountain guide companies in Durango, Colorado. Further research found that while all three service providers advertise guiding services in the San Juan Mountains, only San Juan Mountain Guides holds required permits to operate in all National Forest, National Park, Bureau of Land Management, and municipal lands that make up the entirety of the San Juan Mountain range. San Juan Mountain Guides permits allow them to operate in an area of nearly 5 million acres. Access to such a vast area of mountainous terrain provides San Juan Mountain Guides the unique flexibility to find ideal training venues regardless of climatic anomalies affecting temperatures and snowfalls amounts that could make specific areas of the mountains unsuitable for HRT training objectives. The other two vendors, are only permitted to operate in a much smaller, specific areas, which only make up a few thousand acres of the mountain range. Much of the terrain they are permitted to operate is only suitable for ice climbing and doesn’t provide opportunity for long distance overland movements. Further research found that the other two vendors are small operations, without the resources to handle the logistics to support a large group (more than 10 persons).

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

Covered under Item 5 (nature of the acquisition requiring the use of authority).

10. A listing of any sources that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

N/A

11. A statement of any actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition, if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

The FBI will continue to conduct market research to identify potential sources or subsequent acquisitions.

Reviews and Approvals (Not exceeding $700,000)

Requestor:

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification and which form a basis for this justification, are complete and accurate.

Signature Date

Contracting Officer:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer Date David L. Marmo

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