Sole Source Justification Under SAT FAR 13.1_Flag Hanging Final_Redacted.pdf

Sole Source Justification (SSJ) For Simplified Acquisitions (over the micro-purchase threshold and up to the Simplified

Acquisition Threshold (SAT)) pursuant to FAR 13.106, including Brand Name

SSJ No: FY23-0120 Page 1 of 3

SSJ Number: FY23-0120 PR Number: PR-23-USSS-1624

Sole Source Justification

1. Agency and Contracting Activity The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Procurement Division (PRO), proposes to enter into a contract on behalf of the Administrative Operations Division (AOD).

2. Nature and/or description of the item/service being procured and anticipated cost The purpose of this justification is to award a firm fixed-price award contract to install a rigging system that will suspend the U.S. Secret Service 9/11 flag artifact in the Headquarters Memorial Building.

The proposed vendor is:

IWEISS

815 Fairview Ave.

Fairview, NJ 07022

U.S. Secret Service has completed the restoration phase for a 9/11 American Flag Artifact that was removed from the historic site of the tragic events that occurred on September 11, 2001.

AOD was tasked in a second phase of the project to provide a rigging system to display the artifact (flag) permanently within the USSS HQ atrium area. AOD has identified a vendor who is experienced in handling artifacts of this nature and to design, fabricate, and install a system capable of suspending the historic artifact in the atrium of the U.S. Secret Service Headquarters Memorial Building. The address this service is to be performed at is 950 H Street, NW, 9th floor, Washington, DC 20223.

. The need by date is September 5, 2023. The estimated contract value should be

3. Identification of the authority and rationale

The proposed procurement will utilize simplified acquisition procedures and will be awarded on a sole source basis in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) and as specified below.

Only one source reasonably available:

☐ Compatibility to existing systems or equipment. The required supplies or service must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems or equipment and the source is uniquely qualified to meet the requirement.

extremely sensitive and non-replaceable material artifacts.

Rationale:

The first phase of the 9/11 American flag restoration project is complete. The second phase of the project is to locate an experienced rigging company to assist with the design, fabrication, and eventual rigging in place of the 9/11 historically preserved flag for final display and exhibition in the atrium of the U.S. Secret Service Headquarters Memorial Building ceremony on September 11, 2023. Due to the nature of this one-of-a-kind

Acquisition Threshold (SAT)) pursuant to FAR 13.106, including Brand Name

SSJ No: FY23-0120 Page 2 of 3 artifact, that was retrieved from the 9/11 historic site, it is imperative to identify a company that has the capabilities to perform these tasks for a system that can support.

The process of restoration and subsequent suspension of the 9/11 American flag began with the Secret Service Senior Archivist contacting a Senior Textile Conservator of the Museum Conservation Institute for the Smithsonian Institution. Detailed discussion between parties outlined the specific requirements to ensure the success in our ability to identify potential vendor sources that would be able to provide service to restore and permanently suspend a priceless and extremely historic artifact to the history of the U.S.

Secret Service.

The restoration phase of the project was completed in July 2023 with the 9/11 American flag carefully treated, preserved, and restored by a company suggested by the Smithsonian Institute representative to a condition that would allow for this artifact to hang on display. The next phase is to suspend the 9/11 flag. The Conservator of the Museum Conservation Institute for the Smithsonian Institution provided AOD with a list of three potential vendors. Each vendor was contacted to confirm their interest in this phase of the project. It was determined that the vendors had previous experience in display and exhibition of over-sized artifacts and tapestries of similar size and scope. In addition, each vendor has positive past performance working with the Smithsonian Institute. When requested to conduct a site visit, two of the vendors, Crossline Creations nor Specialized Carriers, LLC, declined. IWEISS was the sole vendor that provided immediate response and confirmed interest.

Based on the preliminary information provided by IWEISS, the AOD Project Manager determined IWEISS’ proposed plan to suspend the flag as technically acceptable. This includes the structure and components necessary to properly deploy and retract the restored artifact. Moreover, the proposed system provides building maintenance personnel the capability performs routine preventive maintenance to both the artifact and rigging suspension system. In short, the inherent design concept being proposed is of good engineering practice and adds value as a multifunctional rigging system that can be utilized for other events if decided by agency.

The anticipated price will be determined fair and reasonable based on one or more of the price analysis techniques described below in accordance with FAR Part 13.106- 3(a)(2).

☒ Market Research; Market research was conducted the Conservator of the Museum Conservation Institute for the Smithsonian Institution. The Conservator provided three potential sources capable of providing a design concept of good engineering practice and adds value as a multifunctional rigging system that can be utilized for other events if decided by agency. All three sources have good past performance record.

☐ Comparison of the proposed price with prices found reasonable on previous purchases;

Acquisition Threshold (SAT)) pursuant to FAR 13.106, including Brand Name

SSJ No: FY23-0120 Page 3 of 3

☐Current price list;

☐Comparison with similar items in a related industry;

☐ Comparison to Independent Government estimate;

☐ Contracting Officer’s personal knowledge; or ☐ Other reasonable basis. The AOD Project Manager has reviewed the vendor quote. The vendor quoted The Project Manager provided me with his professional opinion on the quoted offer. In the commercial marketplace, this project of similar size, scope, and complexity can cost . I determined IWEISS’ quote fair and reasonable based on historical prices for similar projects offered in the commercial sector.

5. Other Information.

• USSS intends to comply with the public display and synopsis requirements in FAR 13.105(a) unless an exception in FAR 5.202 applies.

APPROVAL:

Shauntynee Penix Date USSS, Contracting Officer

August 30, 2023