JA_CRC_Bridge_FBO.pdf

Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition

1. The Office of Acquisition Management is conducting this acquisition for a six (6) month bridge contract to continue the current Site Coordinator and Advisor services under the purchase order with CRC (SAQMM11M2297) on behalf of the Bureau of African Affairs (AF). The estimated cost is $3,647,000.00.

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

The current purchase order included one twelve (12) month base period and two (2) one year option periods; FAR clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services (NOV 1999) was included and exercised on the purchase order level on September 23, 2012. The current purchase order was extended under FAR 6.302-2 and the period of performance is set to expire on March 22, 2016.

The total purchase order value for the base period and all option periods is $27 million A Request for Proposal (SAQMMA16R0197) was posted on FedBizOpps (FBO) on March 10, 2016.

The bridge contract is required to provide DOS sufficient time to ensure receipt of proposals, conduct a source selection in accordance with FAR 15 procedures and ensure continuity of services for mission critical operations. This justification requests approval to award bridge contract to CRC for one six (six) month base period through September 21, 2016. The estimated cost for the six (6) month base period is $3,647,000.00.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the Agency’s Needs

The current Purchase order provides critical advisory and monitoring services in conflict and post-conflict areas critical to U.S. national security interests on the continent, including Somalia, Guinea, South Sudan, Mali, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Liberia, and Cote D’Ivoire. The advisors under this purchase order provide critical assistance and support to African security forces who are working daily to further our mutual security objectives on the continent. In addition, the Site Coordinators under the order provide real time surveillance and reporting on contractors, grantees, and U.S. security assistance in hard-to-reach conflict areas with little or no permanent DOS presence.

4. Identification of the Authority Permitting an Exception to Fair Opportunity

The authority is FAR 6.302-2 and 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(2)unusual and compelling urgency.

5. Demonstration that the Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the Acquisition Requires Use of the Authority Cited.

The current CRC purchase order provides advisory and monitoring support services to African security forces in conflict and post-conflict areas. A bridge contract beyond the contractual period of performance is necessary to ensure a continuity of services to support African nations. Failure to retain the current incumbent contractors throughout the competitive solicitation process would result in potential harm to government operations due to the following:

• Given the rapidly changing security situation in Africa and the limited American assets or existing capabilities in sub-Saharan Africa, any lapse in service would jeopardize the mission support capability of the DOS and may result in an imminent threat to DOS, contractor personnel, and property;

• Transition to other contractors for this short time frame would be extremely disruptive.

Familiarity with the planning processes and standard operating procedures utilized by African partners is critical to support operations and the learning curve associated with a transition would result in a negative impact to the mission;

• CRC has demonstrated experience working in host African nations with third party contractors and local African subcontractors. A working knowledge of the business practices utilized by host nations and local African companies is critical to support timely completion of mission critical milestones. A transition to other contractors during a brief extension would result in the loss of the working knowledge required to operate in Africa and cause unacceptable delays;

• Currently deployed contractor support personnel have AF experience, meet all qualification requirements and have working knowledge of the diverse operating environment of host African nations. Transition to new personnel during a brief extension would have a negative impact on mission performance.

Failure to retain the current incumbent contractors throughout the competitive solicitation process would also result in a disruption of advisory support to the following:

• African Union’s Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) coordinating regional military responses to the threat posed by Al-Shabaab (through the African Union Mission in Somalia) and the Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria. Due to staffing shortages and recent rotations of experienced PSOD personnel, the U.S. advisory support provided under this Purchase order is mission critical.

• Loss of real-time surveillance and reporting on the many stakeholders implementing and administering U.S. security sector programs in Somalia. DOS does not maintain a permanent U.S. diplomatic presence and movements of TDY personnel are significantly restricted due to security restrictions. Additionally, site coordinators monitor U.S.

equipment supporting African peacekeepers taking part in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Support Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which serves as a critical bulwark against the further advance of violent extremist organizations like al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) into northern Mali.

• DRC Military Justice Institutions, which are critical to ensuring the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), are able to investigate and punish human rights abusers within the armed forces. Stalling these efforts will decrease the ability of the FARDC to respond to accusations and instances of rape and other forms of gender-based violence by the military, as well as other criminal actions. Additionally, support of logistics and training systems, at a time when the security situation in the east of the country remains highly volatile, and when the FARDC is continuing to conduct military operations against negative actors in that region.

• Ongoing security sector reforms of Liberia’s Ministry of Defense, hindering the ability of the U.S. Government to deliver on planned FY 2015 security assistance.

• Presidency of Cote D’Ivoire would be disrupted while the country is in the midst of critical reform of its security sector. The advisor is currently embedded within the office of the President and able to provide critical support to these delicate reforms. These reforms are critical to maintaining peace and security within Cote D’Ivoire, and any gap in SSR support may endanger the delicate peace.

• Efforts in Somalia Unit within U.S. Embassy Nairobi to adapt U.S. policy in Somalia to the rapidly changing security environment in the country caused by recent AMISOM and Somali military operations against al-Shabaab, as well as continued internal political turmoil.

DOS anticipates having an active solicitation to secure the required advisory and monitoring support services respectively, which should be awarded prior to the completion of the Bridge period of performance. Delays are not due to the lack of advance acquisition planning. Based on the foregoing, a bridge contract is required to ensure continuity of services to advisory and monitoring support to African partner nations. The bridge contract period of performance will allow time for award and transition, without disrupting major support to African partners and missions.

6. Description of Efforts Made to Ensure that Offers Were Solicited from Potential Sources as Was Practicable.

The original purchase order was competitively awarded. The RFP for the successor purchase order will be posted on the government point of entry FBO to ensure maximum visibility and participation.

7. Determination of the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government Will be Fair and Reasonable.

A price analysis will be performed prior to award. As CRC has an extensive history performing this work under this purchase order, there is sufficient data in-house to verify if the proposed cost is fair and reasonable. The contract labor rates in the current purchase order have already been determined to be fair and reasonable.

8. A Description of the Market Survey Conducted and the Results or a Statement of the Reasons a Market Survey was not Conducted.

A market survey was not conducted because CRC, as the current provider, is the only company that can provide the required services for the brief period of time without a disruptive transition/on-boarding period.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

The continuity of services is required to support mission critical operations until the successor purchase order can be awarded. Unfamiliarity with the diverse operating environments and political dynamics would cause a negative impact to mission operations.

10. A Listing of Sources If Any, that Expressed, in Writing an Interest in the Acquisition.

N/A

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.

The requested bridge contract will be a one-time contract awarded to ensure continuity of mission operations.