JA.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. The Office of Acquisition Management (AQM) is conducting this acquisition for local guard services on behalf of the U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi and U.S. Consulate Dubai.

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

Approval is being requested for an interim sole-source award to G4S Security Services, Inc. JV (G4S JV) to provide local guard services at U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi and U.S. Consulate Dubai.

The Contracting Officer proposes to procure by means of other than full and open competition for a twelve (12) month contract with G4S JV (base period of six months with three 2-month option periods).

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

Local guard security services are required to ensure safe and secure environment. The primary mission of the local guard service is to provide protection for United States Government personnel, facilities and equipment from damage or loss due to civil unrest, violent attacks and theft. The local guards act as an early warning signal to the American Embassy and the Regional Security Officer. The local guard services prevent unauthorized access, protect life, maintain order, and deter criminal attacks against employees, dependents, property and 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.

G4S JV is the incumbent contractor currently providing services. They are the only firm that will be able to provide cleared, vetted, and fully trained guards as required by Diplomatic Security.

Additionally, G4S JV has current job knowledge and functioning operations in place to ensure continuous local guard services beyond the current contract’s expiration (June 14, 2015). A successor contractor could not reasonably be expected to provide local guard services in the given timeframe while preventing any lapse in services at the Embassy.

In light of the circumstances, AQM intends to award, by way of sole source contracting procedures, a one-year bridge contract to the incumbent, with performance commencing on June 15, 2015. Awarding a one-year bridge contract to the incumbent by way of sole source contracting procedures will prevent a lapse in guard services at the U.S. Embassy and U.S.

Consulate as well as provide AQM with the time needed to solicit a new, five-year contract through full and open competition.

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.

Due to the urgency of this requirement, AQM will apply exception 5.202(a) (2) with regard to publicizing a notice for this requirement to preclude the chance of the Government being seriously injured by complying with the time periods specified in 5.203.

Notwithstanding, AQM intends to conduct an unrestricted competition for the follow-on requirement. To allow for the possibility that the follow-on contract can be awarded prior to the expiration of the proposed one-year bridge contract, the bridge will be awarded as an six month base period with three 2-month option periods, which will also allow time for the 90-day transition period.

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

The Contractor’s anticipated costs are in line with their proposed rates from Option Year 4 of the current contract SAQMMA10C0001. The price of Option Year 4 was found reasonable at the time of contract award and when the option was exercised. In addition, cost analysis is required to establish fair and reasonable pricing before award of the bridge contract.

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

The follow-on acquisition will utilize an unrestricted competition method in concurrence with the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. Currently there are no companies which can stand up a fully trained and vetted guard force for this bridge contract within the time required.

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

The U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi and Consulate Dubai cannot operate with any break in local guard services. Security for the U.S. Mission is of the utmost importance. A break in local guard service could cripple Mission operations, jeopardize 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 the United Arab Emirates.

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.

The urgency of establishing continuous compound security with a vetted entity with a proven track record is the driving force of this acquisition. This circumstance is considered to be non-recurring because it is anticipated that AQM will be the sole entity responsible for contract administration (including solicitation and award of all follow-on requirements) for the U.S.

Embassy Abu Dhabi and U.S. Consulate Dubai.