Signed_JOFOC.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC)

ACQUISITION OF RENTAL VEHICLES IN SUPPORT OF SENIOR HIGH

LEVEL USG VIP VISIT

1. I recommend that the Department of State use other than full and open competition for the acquisition of rental vehicles and drivers for this VIP visit. The estimated cost is not to exceed $240,000.

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

Senior High Level USG Principal traveling with a delegation inclusive of support elements in: Security, Communications, Logistics and Operations.

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

Dala International P.O.Box: 83965 Riyadh 11612 Saudi Arabia

The Embassy of the United States of America in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will issue a fixed price indefinite quantity/indefinite delivery contract for passenger transportation services, vehicles with drivers and vehicles without drivers for several high-level delegations visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The contract period will be from April 1, 2016 to April 30, 2016.

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

[ X ] 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (2), FAR 6.302-2; Unusual and Compelling Urgency;

(Based on the available time and urgency of the requirement as detailed below)

Security concerns prohibit sufficient advanced notification of VIP travel to allow for sufficient time to conduct full and open competition. The Department of State can only communicate with the staff at Posts abroad when authorization is given due to security concerns. They have an extremely short turnaround time when authorization has been granted for negotiations to commence and site selections to be finalized with both the local vendors and Posts before the actual Senior High Level USG VIP visit occurs. The Embassy receives templates of multiple supporting agency vehicle requirements. These requirements include a variety of vehicles ranging from economy sedans for advance teams to cargo vehicles and large capacity passenger vehicles including 50 passenger buses with drivers.

Transportation is a very difficult issue in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are restrictions that prevent women from driving here and that means that vehicle rental services with drivers are in high-demand. Additionally, due to a program to reduce the expatriate work-force and create more jobs for Saudi citizens, the Saudi government deported many workers, the greatest number of which were drivers (however Saudis have not taken those jobs). This has left a minimal number or resources available for Post to choose from for our transportation needs.

In our experience, Dala has been a reliable vendor that can provide us with a variety of vehicles and drivers on very short notice. In a large visit such as this one, the requirements are constantly changing and we must make effective changes quickly. Dala has been consistently reliable and able to meet these challenges.

Since the driver pool is limited, we've had experience with other companies bringing in drivers from outside of Riyadh and they don't actually know the city.

Dala has been able to provide drivers from Riyadh and they know the city. This is very critical for our operations since we're supporting visitors who also don't know Riyadh.

Many of the arrangements for hotel and transportation are often not confirmed until just before the actual visit. In addition to supporting a large delegation within a short time frame, last minute and frequent changes of itineraries for supporting personnel often result in significant changes in how Posts work with the vendors.

With the exception of a few trips, contracts are not permitted to be signed until the Department of State (Post) has written confirmation from all supporting agencies, which enables collection of funds from said agencies in the event of cancellation.

This results in an unusual and compelling urgency in accordance with 41 U.S.C.

253 (c) (2), FAR 6.302-2.

These unique Senior High Level USG VIP travel requirements result in only a very limited number of responsible sources with no other supplies or services capable of satisfying agency requirement in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (2), Far 6.302-2. The following rental operators will also provide services for this visit:

-- SMSA Express -- Hanco Holding -- Al Salem Travel & Tourism

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

Security and logistics are the Department of State's primary considerations when procuring vehicle rentals and driver services. The Department of State must be able to provide safe and reliable transportation for VIP visitors and their staffs and advance teams. Frequently VIP visits are not announced or confirmed in sufficient time to conduct a competition, creating an urgent and compelling need. There is a need to go to known reliable sources to get the transportation services that will meet the needs of the visit.

[X] The VIP visit information was not available in sufficient time thereby creating an urgent and compelling need.

[] The host country government requires the use of this/these companies.

[X] The proposed contractor has the following unique qualifications which meet the Department of State's transportation requirements.

[X] A large fleet of vehicles available as needed [X] A proven reputation of delivering services [X] Drivers with local knowledge [X] An ability to meet continually changing requirements on short notice

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

Due to urgency and exception in FAR 25.401(a)(5) this solicitation cannot be posted but the JOFOC will be published in FedBizOpps after the event

The following other vendors were reviewed but were not adequate because of the following:

A. Za'aer Transportation Company: The company is based in Jeddah and informed the Embassy that they will only support 15Pax, 20Pax and 50Pax minimum for a five (5) days requirement and no replacements available for breakdowns.

B. Dalma Tech: The company informed the Embassy that they would not be able to fulfill our requirements due to a staffing shortage of drivers.

C. Eirad Trading and Contracting Limited (UPS). The Embassy reached out to this company and they did not respond with a proposal.

D. Arabian Hala Company (HALA): The company informed us that they did not have sufficient staffing to provide services.

E. Shery Limousine - The Offeror only offers long-term leases and cannot support our requirements. The vendor declined to submit a proposal.

F. Road Echo: The Offeror only offers long-term leases and cannot support our requirements. The vendor declined to submit a proposal.

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

The Contracting Officer has determined that the rates provided by the vendor are fair and reasonable. Dala's prices are competitive with local market rates.

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

None

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

None

10. 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.

None

CERTIFICATIOi~S

I certify that the information in this justification is accurate and contains complete data necessary to support the recommendation for other tl an full and open competition to the best of my knowledge and belief.

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04/0112016

Director, Office of Presidential Travel Support

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Based on my assessment, I conclude that other than full and open competition is justified and the proposed price is fair and reasonable, 04/01/2016 ~hJ~ Kevin M. Phillips Contracting Officer