JUSTIFICATION_AND_APPROVAL-ROME.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SAQMMA15R0331

1. The Office of Acquisition Management (AQM) is conducting this acquisition for Local Guard Services on behalf of the US Embassy’s Rome, Vatican City, and Consulate in Florence, Italy. The estimated cost is Euro € 5,995,976.23.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

The action to be approved is the award of a sole-source bridge contract to the incumbent contractor, Metronotte/SCIS/IVNCR-RTI-Joint Venture, herein referred to as Metronotte.

The current competitive solicitation for Local Guard Services in support of the US Mission Italy (Florence, Milan, Naples, Rome, and Vatican City) is in process; however, a contract award and standup will not occur before the current contract for local guard services in Rome, Vatican City, and Florence expires.

Because the Embassy requires local guard services, the Office of Overseas Protective Operations under the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), along with AQM, seeks approval to award a sole-source contract for local guard services at the U.S. Embassy’s in Rome, Vatican City and Consulate in Florence, to Metronotte. The contract will be for a base period of 7 months plus three-1-month option periods, while a solicitation and contract award is conducted.

3. A description of the services required to meet the Departments’ needs.

Local guard security services are required at the U.S. Embassy’s Rome, Vatican City, and Consulate in Florence. The U.S. Embassy’s mission of conducting foreign policy must be accomplished in a safe and secure environment. The primary mission of the local guard service is to provide protection for United States personnel, facilities and equipment from damage or loss due to violent attack and theft. The local guards act as an early warning signal to the Embassy and the Diplomatic Security Regional Security Officer. The local guard services shall prevent unauthorized access, protect life, maintain order, deter criminal attacks against employees, dependents, property, terrorist acts against all U.S. assets, and prevent damage to Government property.

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(2). The regulatory authority is FAR 6.302-2, Unusual and compelling urgency.

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

Metronotte is the incumbent contractor currently providing services and possess a valid security license. As such, they are the only firm that will be able to provide a complete fully vetted and equipped guard force with all necessary operating licenses and permits for the host country, Italy.

They have current job knowledge and functioning operations in place to ensure continuous local guard services.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.

The State Department anticipates a follow-on contract award from a full and open competitive solicitation.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Cost analysis is required to establish fair and reasonable pricing before award of the bridge contract. Cost analysis will be conducted in accordance with FAR 15.404-1 (c) to ensure the pricing is fair and reasonable.

8. A description of the market survey conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market survey was not conducted.

A full and open competitive solicitation for the required services for U.S. Mission Italy is on-going. A competitive award from that solicitation is expected in 2015.

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

The U.S. Embassy’s Rome, Vatican City and Consulate in Florence cannot operate with any break in local guard services because matters of security for the U.S. mission are of the utmost importance. A break in local guard services could cripple Mission operations, jeopardizing the mission, and possibly lives.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

Due to the urgency of this requirement, the Department of State limited the number of sources considered to firms with proven track records of providing local guard services in Rome, Vatican City and Florence, the financial resources to rapidly deploy services country wide, and the means to quickly take over management of a local guard force. Metronotte is the only company who currently has a fully vetted and trained security guard force who can immediately provide the required services without a break in service.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required. Include a statement that this J&A for other than full and open competition will be published on FedBizOpps in accordance with FAR Section 6.305 within 14 days of award (or within 30 days if the J&A is for unusual and compelling urgency.)

Under FAR 6.305(b), this notice will be posted to FedBizOpps within thirty (30) days of award.

Furthermore, AQM promotes competition for award of all local guard contracts. Acquisition Management published a full and open solicitation on FedBizOpps for the follow-on to this requirement.