SSJ Technical Training Services_Redacted.pdf

Controlled Unclassified Information

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

Controlled Unclassified Information April 2021 Page 2 of 7

I. Contracting Activity.

AFSC/PZIMC

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

This Justification and Approval (J&A) authorizes the use of other than full and open competition procedures to obtain a new bridge contract for the Technical Training Services requirement at Tinker Air Force Base (TAFB).

The existing contract is FA8132-16-C-0005 which was awarded on 01 July 2016 as a one-year basic with four option periods totaling five years. This commercial acquisition was solicited using full and open competitive procedures and was awarded to Midwest City Public Schools (Cage Code 1KLR8) at an awarded dollar value of . The contract period of performance was from 1 July 2016 through 30 June 2021 (including options). In accordance with contract clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, a 6-month extension was issued with a period of performance of 1 July 2021 through 31 December 2021. This extension was utilized in order to prevent a break in service during the procurement of the Training Services follow-on contract that will consist of a one-month phase in period, one year basic and four 1-year options.

The new contract value for the follow-on effort has been determined to be . The increased dollar value does not allow for Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) to be used and requires FAR Part 15 Source Selection procedures, significantly increasing the time for award. The total contract value has more than doubled in price due to the increased number of courses required to supplement the workforce with additional training in airframe and power plant maintenance. This precipitated the need for additional courseware developers for this effort. In addition to the current classes, a significant increase is expected in the number of classes required to support new weapon systems like the KC46 and the F135 engine line expansion, which will further increase the number of instructors required. Tinker will also require new support in the form of “On the Job Training support”. The move from SAP along with unforeseen issues during the source selection process have resulted in a delay in the award of the follow-on contract.

A review of milestones in September 2021 identified that this acquisition is at substantial risk of not awarding prior to expiration of the current contract. As a result of delays in pre-solicitation activities and acquisition strategy analysis, it is apparent the risk of on time contract award is significant. Further, due to delays in getting a new contractor phased in and operational, the certainty of a gap in coverage has been realized that cannot be overcome. The Source Selection team reviewed risk mitigation strategies for this schedule risk and was unable to reduce risk to an acceptable level. Therefore, it is appropriate to seek a bridge contract action to manage this risk and to ensure continuation of these critical services until the follow-on competitive contract can be awarded.

The base period of performance for the new bridge contract will be a 6-month base with the potential for one 3-month option period. The bridge contract will be awarded as a "C" type contract and the estimated award date is 1 December 2021. This contract will be Firm Fixed Price (FFP). The proposed bridge base and option period are necessary to ensure no lapse in coverage occurs, provide adequate time to resolve any post-award issues and allow a contract phase-in period.

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

Controlled Unclassified Information April 2021 Page 3 of 7

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

The contractor shall provide all labor, materials, and equipment (except those items identified as Government Furnished Equipment/Property/Material), transportation and other incidentals necessary to provide technical and administrative training and training-related support, courseware support (development/review/revision), and training schedule management services for OC-ALC/OBH in accordance with (IAW) the Performance Work Statement (PWS) at Tinker AFB or at the contractor’s facility when facilities are not available at the government location.

Materials shall include but are not limited to all printed instructor material, student handbooks, workbooks, handouts, end of course critiques, and any material required for development efforts. This training support shall include courseware development of new courseware as well as revisions/updates of existent courseware, and on-the-job-training. The contractor shall provide classroom training, and training that may also include practical applications in a shop environment as needed on dates mutually agreed upon between the contractor and the contracting officer’s representative (COR.)

a) Per the Performance Work Statement, the critical performance services requirements that must be met are:

1. Six (6) Month Bridge Contract with an option to extend up to three (3) months.

2. Provide classroom training, and training that may also include practical applications in a shop environment as needed on dates mutually agreed upon between the contractor and the contracting officer’s representative.

3. Use the government Training Scheduling System (TSS) to enter the approved schedule by the 12th calendar day of each month prior to the scheduled month. The contractor shall use TSS to schedule all classes, maintain all class rosters, and record all training completions and final grades.

4. Maintain completed course critiques by course number for a minimum of three years.

5. The TSS Attendance Rosters and the Training Attendance and Rating Records (AF Form 1151 or equivalent) shall be maintained by the Contractor, filed by course number and course completion date, for a period of three years, or at contract completion or contract termination, the filed TSS Attendance Rosters and AF Form 1151s (or equivalent) shall be turned over to the COR.

6. Within two working days from the end of each class, the contractor shall properly close out the class roster in

TSS.

7. The contractor shall develop, review and revise courseware with the direction of the OC-ALC Courseware Program Manager (CPM) identified by the COR.

8. The contractor shall complete periodic review tasks as directed and scheduled by the CPM.

9. Submit all invoices for services no later than the 5th calendar day of the month following the services.

Six Month Base - $1,366,186.53 CLIN QTY Estimated Dollars POP Training Instruction 771 $ 1 Jan 2022 to 30 June 2022 Courseware Support 6 $ 1 Jan 2022 to 30 June 2022 Program Support 6 $ 1 Jan 2022 to 30 June 2022 OJT Support 6 $ 1 Jan 2022 to 30 June 2022

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

Controlled Unclassified Information April 2021 Page 4 of 7

Three Month Option - CLIN QTY Estimated Dollars POP Training Instruction 386 $ 1 July 2022 to 30 Sep 2022 Courseware Support 3 $ 1 July 2022 to 30 Sep 2022 Program Support 3 $ 1 July 2022 to 30 Sep 2022 OJT Support 3 $ 1 July 2022 to 30 Sep 2022

Total for six month bridge with option - $

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

AFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 2302b. This application is pursuant to FAR 13.501(a)(2)(ii)

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 current contractor will not require any phase-in period or need to purchase and/or move equipment to Tinker AFB. The current contractor has been providing the required services for over twenty years and has significant equipment and expertise in course development, instructional training, and courseware development, enabling new courses to be added with minimal ramp up time. This expertise combined with the large investment in contractor provided equipment and training aids gives them the unique ability to continue the work without a break in coverage.

Award to another contractor would result in additional time required to ramp up to full capability. A new contractor would be required to purchase, catalog, ship, and move approximately 26 tons of classroom layouts and specialized training equipment with most delivery times ranging between two to four weeks not including delays to shipping and backorders that the Covid 19 virus has caused. The bulk of the material that the contractor would be required to provide consists of wall mounted monitors, full computer set ups, chairs, desks, podiums, virtual reality suites, large mechanic’s tool boxes, hand tools, precision measuring equipment, welding equipment, sheet metal tools, sheet metal forming machines, and machinist equipment. In addition to the amount of equipment needed to teach the courses a new vendor would have to secure personnel skilled, experienced, and certified to teach forty-two (42) different class topics plus the time required to process a background check. Teaching these courses requires knowledge or complex processes such as jet engine overhaul, precision machining, aircraft corrosion control/painting, and advanced computer circuit board design and repair. Also, a minimum of a 30 day phase-in will be needed for new instructors to become proficient with existing courses to a level required to instruct employees. Inexperience with existing training material and base procedures could result in a delay in implementing new courses that are urgently needed.

A break in coverage due to opening up competition for this bridge would impact the B-52, B-1, E-3, E-6, KC-135, KC-46 aircraft and TF-33, F100, F108, F101, F110, F117, F135, and F119 engine lines. The training provided under this contract is used to train all new employees on the required courses for the weapon systems applicable to their job series. It is used to keep thousands of existing wage grade mechanics up to date with the most current training for their related fields under Tinker’s Production Acceptance Certification (PAC) Program. Employees not certified to perform a designated task would require additional supervision in the form of a certified worker to observe the process and approve that the work was done in accordance with technical data. For example, work performed on aircraft and/or engines requires the use and handling of hazardous materials. Hazardous materials/hazardous waste cannot be handled by an employee without training (per AFI 90-821 para 3.1.6) to include required annual refresher instruction provided under this bridge action. The loss of this training along with the other annual refresher courses that are part of this bridge would progressively diminish the ability of the workforce to perform and certify the work required in the production maintenance program at Tinker AFB. As a result, performance could degrade to the point such that two employees perform the work of one, effectively cutting productivity in half for maintenance workers.

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

Controlled Unclassified Information April 2021 Page 5 of 7

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

A Sources Sought (FA8132-20-Q-VTS2) was posted for the long term contract on 25 Sep 2020 for 30 days in an attempt to find as many sources as possible. This was done with the intent to award competitively as was done previously.

Due to time constraints that have already been listed, this bridge effort is required to proceed without competitive award and be solicited directly to the existing contractor.

The long term contract will be competed full and open through source selection. In addition a site visit will be held to allow for any contractor to view the existing facilities and a listing of recommended equipment that the contractor will need to provide will be made available as part of the solicitation process.

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

The Contracting Officer will ensure that the items described herein are negotiated at a fair and reasonable price to the Government. The contractor will be required to provide a list of pricing for training classes, courseware development, and program support. A historical comparison to the previous contract pricing and a comparison of prices paid for similar services will be used for price analysis.

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 to include internet research, known government sources, local cold calling, and business contacts were used for this market research. Research was conducted into the availability of contractors capable of delivering the scope of training addressed in the Performance Work Statement. Similar services provided at the other Air Logistics Complexes (ALCs) were considered, as were organizations providing similar technical training. A Sources Sought (FA8132-21-Q-VTS2) was posted for the long term contract on 25 Sep 2020 for 30 days in an attempt to find as many sources as possible. In response to the Sources Sought, several firms indicated an interest in the requirement. See below for list of sources suggested based on sources sought synopsis and market research results.

In conclusion, with the limited time available, it was determined that a sole-source bridge contract was in the best interest of the Government. This would allow sufficient time to compete the follow-on source selection.

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.

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

Controlled Unclassified Information April 2021 Page 6 of 7

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.

There are no current barriers to competition.

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.