ACC-WRN-17-2088_(Bazelon_JnA_for_posting).docx

Department of the Army Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: The United States Army Contracting Command - Warren (ACC-WRN) is the procuring activity for this action.

2. Description of Action: ACC-WRN proposes to award a firm fixed price contract to Mr. Bruce Bazelon (CAGE Code 7LEF9), Harrisburg, PN 17110, for the purchase of a historic publication (reference), insignia, and button collections dating from the 18th to 20th Centuries. This action will be funded with Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Operations and Maintenance, Army (OMA) funds. The historic publication (reference), insignia, and button collections contain exceptionally rare pieces not already in the U.S. Army Museums Collection. Additionally, Section 1, 16 USC 461, declares that “it is national policy to preserve for public use…objects of national significance for the inspiration and benefit of the people of the United States”.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: This procurement is for a historic artifact collection. The resultant contract will be for the purchase of the items that include historical reference publications, insignia, and button collections dating from the 18th to 20th Centuries. The estimated value of these 3,258 total items in this collection is $840,987.00.

4. Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for this action is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) as implemented by FAR 13.501(a). “Sole source (including brand name) acquisitions” pertains to the Justification and Approval.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: The property identified in this requirement is only available from one source, Mr. Bruce Bazelon. Many items contained in the collection, dating back to the 18th to 20th Centuries are rare and one of a kind. The collection as a whole, of this magnitude, is extremely rare and one of kind. because:

a. The availability of individual items in a single collection of this magnitude do not exist elsewhere. Demand for individual items is high among very few people which drives up competition to obtain the individual items.

b. The cost of individual items are exceptionally high.

d. Confirmation of Survey and Examination: in April 2016, Mr. Chris Semancik, Chief of the Museum Support Center at Fort Belvoir, surveyed and examined the militaria collection for authenticity and condition. His actions led to the determination that the items are authentic and satisfy the Government’s requirement.

Overall, this collection contains the rare objects identified with the Government’s Collections Content Plan and Scope of Collections. It was determined, based on the results of market research, that these items are collectively available from a single source, Mr. Bruce Bazelon

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

a. Effective Competition: the Government does not intend to solicit additional sources for this effort for the reasons described in Paragraph 5. The items sought are contained in this collection which is only available from one source.

b. Subcontracting competition: due to the nature of this procurement of historical artifacts there are no subcontracting opportunities.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: No actions to increase competition are contemplated at this time since this collection is currently only available for sale from one source. There are no follow-on opportunities to this requirement, as the specific items acquired will satisfy the Government’s requirement.

8. Market Research: In May 2016, a US Army curator and Subject Matter Expert (SME) performed internet research as well as researching various auction houses throughout the United States and found that this collection of rare historical artifacts was only available from one source, Mr. Bruce Bazelon.

The following vendors were examined to establish that no collections of this magnitude were available anywhere:

Rock Island Auction James Julia Auction Cowan's Auctions Bonhams William Reese Company Live Auctioneers Abe Books Amazon Books David Condon The Horse Soldier Sharpsburg Arsenal Civil War Preservations Heritage Auctions Sothabey's Christies Auction House Snyder's Treasures

9.Interested Sources: This effort will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) FedBizOpps website, in accordance with FAR 5.201, “Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions”, and the synopsis will contain a note stating that: “the Government intends to award on an other than full and open competition acquisition under the authority of FAR 6.302-1(a)(1)(ii)”.

10.Procurement History: N/A

11. Technical Certification:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Christopher J. Semancik CMO Control Number: 2016-141

U.S. Army Center of Military History

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Christopher J. Semancik CMO Control Number: 2016-141

U.S. Army Center of Military History

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on the Independent Government Estimate and past procurement history. The Contractor will not be required to submit certified cost and pricing data because these items are being acquired under commercial contracting procedures.

Typed Name: Richard Harris Title: Contracting Officer

14. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief:

Typed Name: Richard Harris Title: Contracting Officer

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of various historical artifacts on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) as implemented by FAR 13.501(a). “Sole source (including brand name) acquisitions”, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition. The total estimated amount is $840,987.00.

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