SSJ Executive Communications Redaction_Redacted.pdf

Control No. 23-28 Contractor: TBD

Program/Equipment: Executive Level Communications Training

APR 2021

Sole Source Justification for Purchases under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

(SAT)

Program/Equipment: Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) G37 Executive-level communications presentations instructing Brief Methodology.

Authority:

As implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) Soliciting from a Single Source for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).

Amount: $231,817.50 Total cost of the requirement to include options.

Prepared by: Mindy R. Franks

Typed Name: Mindy R. Franks //MRF//

Title: Contract Specialist Date: 03 January 2024

Contracting Officer:

Typed Name: Jeffrey Yeager //jby//

Date: 03 January 2024

Technical Representative:

Typed Name: Ulysses Zeigler //UZ//

Title: Contracting Office Representative

Typed Name: Ulysses Zeigler //UZ//

Title: Contracting Officer Representative Date: _03 January 2024____________

Control No. TBD

Reviews

I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support the PCO’s determination that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.

Legal Counsel

Typed Name: Andrew Mullett

Signature: //AWM//___________________ Date: __04 Jan 2024___________

1. Contracting Activity: Army Contracting Command –Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA), 6501 East 11 Mile Road, Warren, MI. 48397.

2. Description of Action: This justification and approval authorizes and approves a sole source Firm Fixed Price (FFP) purchase order with The Sheffield Company DBA The Brief Lab. 1930 N Poplar St. #19, Southern Pines, NC 28387 to provide multiple iterations of one-day BRIEF 101 executive communications training to include course delivery via Zoom for up to 32 participants or in person for up to 20 participants and materials. The courses will take place during the one year base period of performance or either of the one-year option periods. This requirement provides training in support of INSOM’s executive level required training.

3. Dollar Amount: The estimated value for this requirement is $231,817.50. The type of funds utilized for the entire requirement are FY24 Operations and Maintenance Appropriations (OMA).

Base Period: $75,000.00 PoP 12 Jan 2024 – 11 Jan 2025 OP 1: $77,250.00 PoP 12 Jan 2025 – 11 Jan 2026 OP 2: $79,567.50 PoP 12 Jan 2026 – 11 Jan 2027 Total Estimated Purchase Order Value: $231,817.50

4.Authority Cited: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), Soliciting from a Single Source

5. Reason for Authority Cited: In January 2023, G3, Operations and Training, initiated the Brief Lab Executive Communications training requirement for INSCOM’s military leadership command wide. In February 2023, G3 conducted extensive market research and determined that only Sheffield’s Brief Lab provided the unique executive communication training for INSCOM’s leadership.

The Brief Lab training course offers unique communication training courses by providing specific methodologies training coursework based on a distinctive communication approach and curriculum using copyright

These copyright tools places emphasis on core skills, such as, visual outlining as means to prepare and deliver an executive summary, headlining to capture bottom line upfront, trimming to create levels of relevant detail, and storytelling and active listening to engage students in conversation.

The Brief Lab communications training program was designed and developed for the Joint Forces Special Operations Command. The Sheffield Company is the only supplier to provide The Brief Lab training. Neither the Government nor other companies

Department of the Army Sole Source Justification for Purchases under the SAT

(Using FAR Part 13) possess the license or certifications to instruct any of the copyrighted Brief Methodology courses; thus, this requirement cannot be competitively awarded. The information and materials taught in the course are legally copyrighted and trademark-registered by the Sheffield Company. The Brief Lab training and related materials are wholly owned by the Sheffield Company and are not to be distributed through or provided by anyone other than the Sheffield Company. As such, the Sheffield Company is the only source capable of providing The Brief Lab training.

Only one source, Sheffield Company, can provide the supplies and services required at the level of quality required. The Brief Lab owns the proprietary rights to an effective training that provides practical tools and techniques that were developed for the Joint Special Operations Command ten years ago. Sheffield Company provides unique proprietary (registered) training on clear and concise, professional communication techniques (including to improve verbal and written information delivery. Sheffield has copyrights on several training methods noted below. No other company provides this unique training.

The Brief Lab®, as copyrighted by the Sheffield Company, is the only organization authorized to use as the basis for its courses and outlines. All instructors are BRIEF and BELT® certified. The Brief Lab is the only organization authorized to deliver . The Brief Lab utilizes BELT-certified instructors. The BRIEF Lab’s proprietary training tools include the following:

This training has been provided at multiple INSCOM major subordinate commands (MSCs). For instance, INSCOM utilized Brief Lab training as follows:

• INSCOM (Meade), JULY ’22, BRIEF 101

• INSCOM (Meade), JULY “22, BRIEF 102

• INSCOM (Meade), AUG ’22, BRIEF Meeting Facilitation

• INSCOM, DEC ’22 BRIEF 101

• INSCOM, MAR ’23, ½ day BRIEF

• USA CIC, AUG “23, BRIEF Keynote

Based on INSCOM’s previous success of The Brief Lab training in 2022-2023, G3 determined The Brief Lab training is valuable to develop and effectively lead change in INSCOM’s communication throughout INSCOM locations worldwide. The intent of this requirement is to provide Brief Lab communication training, designed for military leadership, to all INSCOM’s senior leaders using the same foundation skills that some of our senior leaders have already received. Comparable courses developed by another offeror would not ensure the continuity in training required for the Command to maximize the effectiveness of the training already received. The intent of The Brief Lab training is to train all employees using the same foundation skills our senior leaders have already received. According to a G3 initiative, this training will be coordinated through G-37 INSCOM and provided to INSCOM’s executive level leadership.

The Brief Lab training course will benefit INSCOM by continuing to build on the foundation laid from the Joint Special Operations Command training that INSCOM Leaders received two years ago, improving INSCOMs ability to plan, develop, and synchronize enterprise communications ‘up and out’ as well as within the HQs and MSCs, and down to all teammates within the INSCOM’s enterprise. The Brief Lab training course will enable INSCOM leaders and staff to

The Contracting Officer has determined that the specific rationale, as noted above, warrant a brand name justification with the Sheffield Company to provide this unique teaching methodology, with a total purchase order value under the SAT.

6. Market Research: IAW FAR Part 10, Market research was performed under North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code 611430. Market research indicates that these services satisfy the commercial items definition in FAR 2.101 and is available in the commercial marketplace. Request for Information was posted to SAM.gov on 29 August 2023 and closed on 05 September 2023. A total of 3 responses were received, all from small businesses. The RA reviewed and found one vendor capable of performing the work in the PWS. It was confirmed by the requiring activity that the Sheffield Company, LLC. DBA The BRIEF Lab is the only company capable of meeting the leadership’s executive communication training requirements. The capability statements and the COR confirmation are in the Market Research Folder located in paperless contracting file (PCF).

Below is a list of the 3 interested sources that provided capability statements as mentioned in Paragraph 8 Market Research.

SAM Interested Sources: Sheffield Company, d.b.a. The Brief Lab, Oeady LLC, and Chronos Operations LLC were the contractors who showed initial interest in this requirement. According to their Capability Statement, Sheffield Company, LLC. DBA The Brief Lab offers multiple courses teaching the and possesses the certification required to train the and are trained in the

. No contractor, except the Sheffield Company, can provide The Brief Lab communications training program.

7. The POC for this action is Ulysses Zeigler, COR, ulysses.e.zeigler.civ@army.mil, 571-515-7186.

8. Contracting Officer Certification:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature: __//jby//__________Date: _03 January 2024_________

Typed Name: Jeffrey Yeager Title: Contracting Officer

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of G37 executive communications training for $231,817.50 on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), Soliciting from a Single Source for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition under BERB#2023-6220.

Signature: __//jby//__________Date: _03 January 2024_________

Typed Name: Jeffrey Yeager Title: Contracting Officer