A03_-_REDACTED_Limited_Sources_Justification.pdf

Control No: JA-18-Adel-676

Contractor: Transformation Strategies, Inc.

Supply/Service: Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR 8.405-6 LIMITED SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

UNDER THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

FEDERAL SUPPLY PROGRAM

Programs/Equipment: U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services

Authority: Title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41U.S.C. 251, et. Seq) and Title 40 U.S.C 501, Services for Executive Agencies, as implemented by FAR 8.405-6.

Amount: $675,391.00

Prepared by: REDACTED

Contracting Officer: Philip Amador DSN: 258-3523 Contracting Officer Date: 15 Aug 2018

Adelphi Contracting Division Email: philip.j.amador.civ@mail.mil

Technical: REDACTED

Requirements: REDACTED Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support limiting competition.

Program Manager:

X

Program Manager

Supply/Service: Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services

FAR 8.405-6 Limited Sources Justification Under the General Services Administration

Federal Supply Schedule Program

1. Contracting Activity: Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) Adelphi Contracting Division

2. Description of Action: The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requests a firm-fixed-price task order under the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Program with Transformation Strategies, Inc., located at 5200 Baltimore Ave, #200, Hyattsville, MD 20781 (CAGE Code: 3KGC1). The Government will execute this action against FSS contract GS-10F-0580N. Projected award is 30 September 2018 and fiscal year 2018 Research, Development Test and Evaluation (RDTE) funds will be used.

_X_ An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement either does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i), or is an R&D acquisition and does not meet the definition of services in 10 U.S.C. 2330(c)(2).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requires planning, designing, and strategic consulting services which support the organizational alignment and cultural changes necessary to enable ARL to efficiently achieve the Army’s Modernization Priorties.

These consulting services will provide the ARL with recommendations for plans, designs, and strategies to effectively integratethe Army’s Modernization Priorites across various orginzational teams to enhance broader organization with Senior Leadership.

Additionally, ARL requires executive coaching services for recommendations to key leaders that are responsible for team effectiveness for ARL leaders at monthly Director meetings off-site.

Period of Performance: 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2021 Total Value: $675,391.00

4. Authority Cited: Title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41U.S.C. 251, et. Seq) and Title 40 U.S.C 501, Services for Executive Agencies, as implemented by FAR 8.405-6 and substantiated by the following:

_X_ 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.

Supply/Service: Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services

5. Reason for Authority Cited: ARL requires Pillar and Campaign Leadership Development Strategy services in order to comply with the requirements set forth under the “2018 Army Modernization Strategy” to redirect mission focus on future investments required by, Section 1061 of H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91). The Chief of the Staff for the Army has established six

(6) modernization priorities under the “2018 Army Modernization Strategy” that also focus on developing six (6) interdisciplinary teams known as Cross Functional Teams (CFT). Each of the CFTs (Long Range Precision Fires, Next Generation Combat Vehicle, Future Vertical Lift, Network C3, Air Missile Defense, and Soldier Lethality, with two (2) additional CFTs being established for Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) and Synthetic Training Environment (STE)) will be led by an Army General Officer with ARL supporting each from a fundamental and basic research perspective. ARL’s strategy to meet the Army Modernization Enterprise (AME) priorities and direction consists of (4) Strategic Pillars (People First, Business Acumen, Technical Strategy, and Open Campus) which are associated with eight (8) Technical Campaigns (Extramural Basic Research, Computational Sciences, Materials Research, Sciences-for Maneuver, Information Sciences, Sciences-for-Lethality and Protection, Human Sciences, and Assessment and Analysis) which in turn create research plans centered around ARL’s Essential Research Areas (ERA) which follow the AME priorities.

These services were originally performed under orders W911QX-16-F-0012 and W911QX-17-F-0018 by Transformation Strategies Inc. (TSI) which provided ARL with management consulting services for ARL’s Pillar and Campaign Leadership Development which followed the “Army’s Fiscal Year 2017 & 2016 Budget Objectives and Priority Capability Areas” and the Army’s Science and Technology (S/T) program initiatives. However, since those completion of those contracts the Army’s AME has been realigned which resulted in a new Army command being stood up called The Army Futures Command (AFC). Due to the development of this new command ARL is seeking to incorporate a new and improved AME strategy. ARL does not have the management expertise to facilitate transitioning ARL’s corporate mission strategy to the new AME strategy and requires continued management consulting services for ARL’s Pillar and Campaign Leadership Development Strategy. This requires a contractor that has expertise in (1) management/organizational and business improvement services and (2) experience with ARL’s existing AME.

Market Research determined that TSI is the only source has both expertise’s required by ARL that can further develop the AME priorities required by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 as provided above. Results from Section 7 below describes the Government’s Market Research efforts which determined that TSI remains the only vendor that has demonstrated the unique capabilities necessary to satisfy ARL’s requirements for this effort. TSI has the required management and consulting service expertise, they are familiar with the AME and the S/T program. Given their basic knowledge and understanding of the Army S/T program is critical for the development of an effective change model and tha is imperative to their ability to support the future direction of ARL’s mission focus.

Supply/Service: Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services

As a Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL), ARL exemplifies the unique characteristics and as part of the AME,this is an important juncture in its instantiation as the Army’s corporate laboratory and will require support across ARL's collaborative S/T ecosystem, which is also the center of mass for the AFC. Selection of an inexperienced vendor will result in delays in the execution of the AME and failure to redevelop the Army S/T environment would mean a loss of confidence in ARL’s capability to provide essential knowledge products to the Army’s new Command, AFC.

TSI possesses an understanding of the AME and the Army S/T enterprise and has first hand experience and possesses the ability to efficiently and effectively support the Strategic Pillar & Campaign effort.

There are no alternatives to obtaining these requisite services and this effort cannot be performed in house. If not procured there is the potential to irreparably damage ARL’s ability to transform the organization to meet Warfighter priorities in support of the Army Futures Command and the AME. The change in business management skillsets to another vendor necessitates direct support in ARL’s ability to discover, innovate and transition technology to the Warfighter. Without a vendor that has a basic understanding of the Army modernization effort, Army S/T (including STRLs) and the Open Campus ecosystem, ARL is at risk of not effectively and efficiently laying out and executing the reshaping strategy for the pillars that will enable ARL as the Army’s Corporate Laboratory to focus on foundational research that informs concept development for the

AME.

6. Actions to Increase Competition: Based on the information provided in paragraph five (5) above, competition for this action is not feasible as no other soruce is capable of providing the required services; however any future service contract requests will include new market research for the services required. This will include posting a sources sought synopsis as a mechanism to expose the requirement and determine if any new vendors have gained experienced with the Army’s AME and S/T program. A Sources Sought Notice was posted on GSA Advantage! E-Buy for 15 business days from 16 May 2018 – 7 June 2018 under RFQ1288720 reference W911QX-18-R-0035, in an effort to survey the market’s capabilities and identify any other vendors who are reasonably expected to submit offers that are competitive in terms of market price, quality and delivery. Upon close of the notice, a total of 14 responses were received as follows:

Supply/Service: Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services

As the AFC matures and the Army’s AME and S/T program become more established, the Government expects that more vendors will be able to gain the detailed and in-depth knowledge required to permit competition for any future procurements. Although the AME and S/T Program details are currently available for distribution to the public, only TSI has been identified as having any experience with providing the required services to implement the startegies required by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. Furthermore, as ARL continues to develop their Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategies through the services provided under this effort, it will allow ARL to further develop and prepare a more complete technical data package for a competitive procurement. Furthermore, market research will be continually performed for any future requirements to survey the market’s capabilities and identify any other vendors who are reasonably expected to submit offers that are competitive in terms of market price, quality and delivery. Should the market research determine that competition is available, ARL will provide the associated technical data packages in order to solicit competitive proposals. The Technical data packages TDP’s or Reports provide feedback to ARL Senior Leaders that help to frame condition based discussion for the change management process and the cultural health of the organization. This data will be used to collectively chart the direction for the next set of sessions, break outs or individual coaching. These reports also provide TSI’s perspective on the progress of the technical effort from a change management perspective to help Senior leaders more effectively steer the effort to align with the AME priorites. These reports also serve as an organizational and cultural data points that are then integrated with technical data points that will ultimately lead to a connected, cumulative, and converged AME and S/T effort.

TDP will be produced under this effort and are Government owned per the terms of the contract, including eleven (11) team effectiveness agendas per year; eleven (11)

Supply/Service: Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services sessions of surveys per year; eleven (11) session summary reports per year; and one (1) final leadership report and debrief per year.

7. Market Research:Market research was performed by REDACTED with over 30 years’ experience to identify potential sources with the capability to satisfy ARL’s requirements.

A total of 14 interested vendors (including TSI) responded with a description of their capabilities and their relevant past performance efforts (see paragraph 6 ). Each vendor successfully described capabilities relative to providing general consulting services, past performance information, and was then further assessed to determine their level of experience with the Army, the AME and the S/T program which is unique and critical to this requirement. While three (3) of the 14 vendors demonstrated significant, relevant past performance in the federal space REDACTED it was determined that they did not however demonstrate any relevant past performance relative to the AME or the S/T program. The remaining vendors (excluding TSI) all demonstrated somewhat relevant past performance with a general understanding of providing consulting services.

However, it was determined that their past performance demonstrated experience primarily external to the DoD and did not demonstrate anything relevant to the Army, its modernization priorities/AME or the S/T program.

Based on the aforementioned market research results, TSI remains the only vendor at this time capable of satisfying ARL’s requirement given their unique knowledge and expertise of the Army, the AME, and the S/T Program. Market research will be continually performed to survey the market’s capabilities and identify any other vendors who are reasonably expected to submit offers that are competitive in terms of market price, quality and delivery.

8. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History Contract: W911QX-17-F-0018 Contractor: Transformation Strategies, Inc.

Award Date: 29 September 2017 Period of Performance: 29 September 2017 – 30 September 2018 Dollar Value: $149,270.32 Competitive Status: Limited Sources Authority: 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

b. Procurement History Contract: W911QX-16-F-0012 Contractor: Transformation Strategies, Inc.

Award Date: 30 June 2016 Period of Performance: 30 June 2016 – 30 September 2017 Dollar Value: $148,653.23 Competitive Status: Limited Sources

Supply/Service: Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services

Authority: 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

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Supply/Service: Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services

9. 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.

Signer’s Title: Deputy Director, ARL Laboratory Operations

Technical Certifier (Tech)

10. 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.

Signer’s Title: Director, ARL Laboratory Operations

Requirements Certifier

11. Best Value Determination/Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the order represents the best value to the Government in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(c)(2)(v). Additionally, I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

The (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule contracts are pre-competed, multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract that agencies can use to buy

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. By utilizing this GSA contracting vehicle, it provides access to a pre-qualified pool of contractors, pre-competed labor rates, reduced acquisition lead time, a streamlined ordering process, and paths to achieve socioeconomic goals. Proposed pricing is based on the terms of an existing GSA contract, pricing for which has been determined fair and reasonable.

This determination will be made using the following:

Supply/Service: Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services

_X_ Price analysis

_X_ IGCE

_X_ Other: Detailed documentation and justification of cost/price reasonableness will be disclosed in the official contract file to include a published price list, and comparison of the proposed price with prices found reasonable on previous purchases. Cost or Pricing data is not required, in accordance with the threshold at FAR 15.403-4(a) (1).

Contracting Officer (KO)

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

Supply/Service: Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services

Approval Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement for ARL’s Pillar and Campaign Leadership Strategy Services, which is for an estimate of $675,391.00 and a period of performance from 1 October 2018 – 30 September 2021, under Title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251, et Seq.)

and Title 40 U.S.C 501, Services for Executive Agencies, as implemented by FAR 8.405- 6(a)(1)(i)(B) subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

(End of LSJ)