SSJ_KenBlanchard_IDIQ_16Aug2021_Redacted.pdf

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

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I. Contracting Activity.

Department: Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC)

PR Number:

Program/Project: S21-065 Ken Blanchard Training Materials IDIQ

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

The SoftWare Engineering Group (SWEG) at Tinker Air Force Base will be using two (2) in-house certified instructors to teach four (4) Ken Blanchard Company (KBC) courses in FY2021-24. Each of these courses require specific kits of materials that are only available through The Ken Blanchard Companies® (KBC) as well as Return On Investment (ROI) support and consulting on a quarterly basis. KBC who the sole manufacturer and who owns the intellectual property, trademark, and copy rights to the material or a Ken Blanchard authorized distributor can sell these products. The courses are part of the instructional material that is required for all newly hired personnel in SWEG. SWEG has projected its need over the next three years but there is no certainty that funds will be available to hire additional personnel nor a certainty of how many will be able to be hired. This volatility in need of training materials is the basis for needing the creation of a new three (3) year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The requested equipment item descriptions/specifications are outlined below.

a. Item Number 1 - (P/N BC00001) SLII Experience with Master (SLX) Participant Kits, Physical manual with visual aids and access to on-line materials, five hundred ten (510) max kits

b. Item Number 2 - (P/N BC00061) Building Trust (BT) Participant Kits, Physical manual with visual aids and access to on-line materials, five hundred ten (510) max kits

c. Item Number 3 - (P/N BC00152) Leading People Through Change (LPTC) Participant Kits, Physical manual with visual aids and access to on-line materials, three hundred sixty (360) max kits

d. Item Number 4 - (P/N BC00130) Team Leadership (Teams) Participant Kits, Physical manual with visual aids and access to on-line materials, three hundred ten (310) max kits.

e. Item Number 5 - Blanchard Return on Investment (ROI) Study Consulting, services to include assistance with Planning, ROI Survey Items, Communications, ROI Data Collection, & ROI Data Processing/Generation of Reports. This shall be accomplished by providing support in the following forms:

• Develop end-of-course evaluations for each of the four topics (Level 1 & 2) for the three years.

• Develop post-training survey for each of the four topics (Level 3+).

• Review existing organizational assessments and key related items (i.e. engagement, intent to stay, net promoter, etc.).

• Draft recommendations for pre/post training communications for each of the four topics.

• Draft recommendations for reinforcement/sustainability communications for each of the four topics

• Develop post-training survey communications process and emails.

• Process data received and create summary presentations in PowerPoint and .PDF formats to include data summary, trends, and recommendations.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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• Develop base year plan and revise plans for subsequent years.

• Provide an aggregate, end of multi-year report combining all previous results.

IV. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

6.302-1(c)(1), as modified to reflect the procedures at FAR 13.501(a) in accordance with 41 USC 1901

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

The Ken Blanchard Companies® (KBC) is the sole manufacturer and owns the intellectual property, trademark, and copy rights to the course material used to train and certify instructors as well as the course material that is used to train new SWEG personnel by organic instructors. In addition to KBC will only sell the required course materials and ROI Services direct from them. On July 26, 2021KBC stated that only KBC is authorized to sell the individual course material and ROI Services.

The Government has already invested $62,778.00 in the purchase of course materials (FA8126-20-P-0019 & FA8126-20- P-0034). The materials are being used to train new employees and since the KBC offers a trade in when courses are updated they represent an investment of materials that will not go out of date before consumed.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

KBC was contacted to see if they had distributors and it was confirmed. An effort was made to ensure that other sources were reviewed by looking into AF Advantage (GSA) looking for vendors that were authorized to provide KBC products and training. Once it was confirmed that course materials and ROI services could be provided direct from KBC no additional sources were sought.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

Market research was performed reviewing Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) and System for Award Management (SAM) databases using North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code (611430) and Federal Service Code (FSC) 6910. A review of 8(a), HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, and Women Owned Small Business was conducted in search of a company that could provide this Service. Ken Blanchard is the OEM and owns all data rights. Only Ken Blanchard can provide the materials in conjunction with the consulting services. Previous contracts were completed were also sole source to Ken Blanchard, FA8126-20-P-0019 & FA8126-20-P-0034. In review, it has been determined that there is one (1) source that can provide the service for this requirement.

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

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IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

N/A

X. List of any sources that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

N/A

XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

The Government will continue to assess the market on future purchases in an effort to see if competition can be opened up.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.