Sole_Source_J A_W81K04-16-P-0008.pdf

Control Number: 16-HRCO-326

Sole Source Justification for Acquisitions under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

(Simplified Acquisition Threshold is $150K)

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity (Provisional) (USAHCA(P)), Health Readiness Contracting Office (Provisional)(HRCO)(P)), 2199 Storage Street, Bldg. 4197, Suite 68, Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-5074

2. Description of Action:

Requirement: New Repeat Pricing: Firm-Fixed Price Time & Materials Cost Funds: OMA Other Funds: _________ Total Dollar Value: $

Name of Intended Contractor: National Training Laboratory (NTL) Street Address: 8380 COLESVILLE RD., STE 560 City, State, Zip: SILVER SPRING, MD 20910-6262

Phone: 301-565-3200 EXT.312

3. Description of Supplies/Services:

a. The Army Medical Department (AMEDD) has a requirement through the Team and Organizational Development Directorate (TODD) to develop self-aware leaders and engaged work teams to create high performing organizations. This requires an organizational development certification program (ODCP) that provides tools for the TODD Organizational Development (OD) specialist to learn and incorporate individual and group implementation strategies into his/her work practices. For the AMEDD, incorporating these strategies and tools will develop self-aware personnel to more effectively evaluate and diagnose the causes of organizational dysfunction and assist the command leadership to establish and operate healthy workplace practices to enhance workplace performance and collaboration.

b. The NTL is uniquely qualified to provide the high-specialized ODCP as NTL is the creator of experiential immersion learning and the pioneer in the field of action research (Action Research Model) since 1946. The following subparagraphs describe the NTL’s unique qualifications for providing the highly-specialized organizational development certification services to the TODD:

(1) The National Training Laboratory is uniquely qualified to provide experiential immersion learning and organizational development course work to the TODD. Since 1946, the National Training Laboratory’s cadre of social scientists has strongly contributed to the evolving field of experiential learning theory (ELT) and organizational development. The National Training Laboratory offers a dynamic experiential immersion learning platform based on a learning cycle driven by the resolution of the dual dialectics of action/reflection and experience/abstraction. These two dimensions define a holistic learning space wherein learning transactions take place between individuals and the environment. The learning space is multi-level and can describe learning and development in commensurate ways at the level of the individual, the group, and the organization.

The National Training Laboratory utilizes the experiential immersion learning platform to focus on the human dimension (people) rather than the theory and practice (process).

(2) In addition to NLT’s unique, visionary experiential learning platform, the NTL Institute utilizes the Action Research Model to assist Organizational Development specialists in successfully implementing change using a scientific OD approach. The action research model was conceptualized by Kurt Lewin, the founder of the National Training Laboratory. The Action Research Model is a highly-specialized, unique problem centered, client centered, and action oriented methodology specific to organizational development. It involves the OD specialist in a diagnostic, active-learning, problem-finding, and problem-solving process.

c. Since 2014, the National Training Laboratory (NTL) Institute for Applied Behavior Science has certified seven (7) TODD OD Specialists in the highly-specialized NTL Organizational Development Certification Program (ODCP). Prior to procuring the NTL ODCP services in 2014, the TODD performed a detailed market research. As a result of the market research, the TODD procured the NTL ODCP services through individual purchase agreements funded with the Government Purchase Card (GPC) for training. As such, it is in the government’s best interest to continue to procure the NTL’s high-specialized ODCP certifications for recently hired TODD OD Specialist and for future hires of TODD OD Specialists. A change in the high-specialized ODCP services would cause internal policy and training methodology conflicts within TODD as OD Specialists’ would apply different organizational development experiential learning and scientific OD models and methodologies throughout AMEDD. Also, this effort directly supports Line of Effort 4 of the Army Medicine 2020 Campaign Plan; thus, the operational impact of not continuing services with NTL Institute is the delay of AMEDD personnel trained and developed to meet the future needs of AMEDD to include the transformation to a System for Health, and establishing Army Medicine as a High Reliability Organization.

d. The estimated value of the proposed action is $89,000.00 for a single, 12-month ordering period of 30 September 2016 through 29 September 2017. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, will be included in the resultant contract. The total maximum value of the contract (inclusive of FAR Clause 52.217-8) is $143,468.00. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is established as 611430, Professional and Management Development Training.

4. Authority Cited:

(a) FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i): Only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreement, brand name or industrial mobilization); OR

(b) FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(ii): Only one source can provide a portion of the purchase that is a particular brand-name item; OR

(c) FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A): An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays; OR

(d) FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B): Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized; OR

(e) FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(C): In the interest of economy and efficiency, the new work is a logical follow-on to an original Federal Supply Schedule order not previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the services are unique and highly specialized.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: The requiring activity prepared specifications adequate for full and open competition for this new requirement. However, it is not in the government’s best interest to competitively procure the highly specialized services from other than the NTL as a change in the contractor would cause internal policy and training methodology conflicts within TODD as OD Specialists’ would apply different organizational development experiential learning and scientific OD models and methodologies throughout AMEDD. Additionally, the practice of using a customer’s need to continue current specialized services from the same vendor solely to maintain continuity and/or to avoid re-training costs is being reviewed by MEDCOM OSJA. As such, in the future, legal guidance may provide for additional actions to be taken to remove/overcome barriers to competition.

7. Market Survey: The Customer and the Contracting Officer conducted market research in June 2016. The results of the market research indicate there are multiple vendors under the selected NAICS code available in the marketplace; however, there is no reasonable expectation that two or more eligible and responsible commercial concerns have the capability to fulfill this requirement. The market research concludes that other vendors’ commercial services do not qualify to meet the agency’s requirements for content and course delivery methodology as documented in the Market Research Report.

8. Procurement History: Previous NTL Institute ODCP courses leading to a NTL Institute ODCP certification were procured using the Government-wide commercial Purchase Card (GPC). These courses were purchased at less than the micro-purchase threshold ($3,000.00 before October 2015 and $3,500.00 after October 2015).

Previous Contract or Purchase Order Number: or N/A

The Customer used the following techniques to conduct the market research:

• Internet Search: A search of the Internet using Google and with the search terms of “self-awareness”, “teamwork”, “collaboration”, “training”, “organizational development”.

• GSA Advantage: The NTL Institute (NTL) maintains pricing within the GSA schedule as Other Than Small Business ~ Non-Profit Organization (contract # GS-10F-0096W). However, the GSA contract does not include all of the required OD courses required for certification.

The Contracting Officer used the following techniques to conduct the market research:

• Personal knowledge in procuring supplies/services of this type. The Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer have both worked on similar efforts related to this requirement;

• Contact with knowledgeable persons in Government regarding the commercial nature of this requirement and standard industry practices in this area of supply/services;

• Reviewed the results of recent (customer) market research (including RFI) undertaken to meet identical requirements; and,

• Conducted a Contracting Officer review of FAR Part 8, Required Sources of Supplies and Services.

Previously competed? N/A No Yes

Previous authority for less than Full & Open Competition: N/A

9. Technical / Requirements Certification: I certify that the support data under my cognizance which are included in this mini-J&A are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Submitted By: Sanjuanita L. Martinez Position Title : Management Analyst

Email address: Sanjuanita.l.martinez.civ@mail.mil Date: 1 August 2016

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

Signature:

Typed Name: Kathleen D. Henderson Position Title: Contracting Officer

Email address: Kathleen.d.henderson.civ@mail.mil Date: 1 August 2016

(1 October 2015)