JA_Caisson Bootcamp Training.pdf

MICC Control # Belvoir-2024-12

FAR 13.501 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

Sole Source Justification and Approval

1. Contracting Activity: United States (U.S.) Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Belvoir (MICC-FB), 9410 Jackson Loop, Building 1425, Fort Belvoir, V.A. 22060

2. Description of Action: The Military District of Washington (MDW), 3d. United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), requires a services contract with Live Oak Combined Driving Inc. The Government projects award for 29 July 2024 and fiscal year 2024 Operations and Maintenance, Army funding will be used.

3. Description of Supplies/Services: Live Oak Combined Driving Inc will provide non-personal services(s) for no less than 12 MWE at a time capable of conducting Caisson services for a State Funeral in the NCR or Memorial Affairs missions in ANC. The contractor is required to provide the necessary trainers, riders, feed, supplements, and supplies to complete the services defined in the PWS. The Government reserves the right to modify conditions with the contractor to support mission accomplishment and will consider expert advice from the contractor as needed. At end state, the contractor will have trained up to 6 separate squads of the U.S. Army Caisson Detachment’s Military Working Equines capable of conducting Memorial Affairs missions in ANC or State Funeral in the NCR.

The current Caisson squad has been previously trained by the same contractor and a continuation of services is needed to sustain the level of readiness needed to perform a State Funeral and memorial affairs services in Arlington National Cemetery. This service is required because the Army’s herd is newly procured and has a need to retain the level of training that the contractor has previously provided to provide Caisson Funeral Operations that the contractor is solely situated to provide. If the Government were to use a different contractor, the MWEs and the Soldiers would be required to learn new methods of instruction that would greatly jeopardize the ability of the Caisson Detachment to safely and effectively conduct Caisson operations.

State Funerals and Memorial Affairs require strict adherence to traditions and standards that are set forth by the Department of Defense to include mandated riding styles, horse and rider configurations, and ceremonial composure. State Funerals are watched widely throughout the world and are internationally publicized events. Due to these strict requirements and the public nature of this time-honored tradition, the Government has a compelling need to conduct initial bootcamp training for its herd promptly so they can be prepared to perform State Funeral Operations and Memorial Affairs missions promptly upon notification. Any delay in awarding this may result in a failure of the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) Commander under the direction of United

MICC Control # Belvoir-2024-12

States Northern Command to conduct a State Funeral or Memorial Affairs missions as directed by the Department of Defense.

Period of Performance: 29 July 2024 – 06 September 2024

Total Value: $416,740.00

4. Authority Cited: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, Title 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.501(a)(1)(ii): only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: Live Oak was the subcontractor responsible for the initial training of the Army’s Caisson Detachment State Funeral team and a continuity of services from the same trainers is necessary to retain the both the level of proficiency and the health and safety of the herd and the Caisson Detachment Soldiers. If the contract were awarded to a different contractor, the training timeline would need to be extended due to the Caisson Platoon Soldiers and Military Working Equines having to learn different methods of instruction that would not meet the requirements to perform the State Funeral or Memorial Affairs missions.

Live Oak Combined Driving Inc. and its CEO Chester Weber have won 17 United States Equestrian Federation Combined Driving National Championships and consistently finishes at the top of the Federation Equestrian International rankings. The contractor serves on the U.S. Equestrian Federation Performance Driving Committee, National Driving Committee, and Safety Committee. These specific qualifications make the contractor uniquely qualified to conduct training that will result in the highest of proficiency that is required to conduct a State Funeral to the expectations set forth by the Department of Defense and in the minds of the American People. The contractor routinely wins national and international competitions and conducts parades where their horses drive members of royalty and other highly distinguished persons in crowded urban environments.

The Old Guard requires the capability to carry out State Funeral operations in accordance with DOD Directive 1300.30 “DOD Support of State, Official, Special Military, and First Lady Funerals.” State Funerals are reserved for national figures such as current and former Presidents of the United States. Currently, POTUS 39 is receiving hospice care which significantly increases the likelihood of a State Funeral in the short-term.

Therefore, it is imperative that the Caisson remains ready to support a State Funeral in an expeditated manner. The use of this authority is necessary because the required training services are only available from Live Oak Combined Driving Inc. within the timeframe required. Award to any other source would result in unacceptable mission critical delays in meeting the agency’s needs to provide quick-reaction support from the Caisson Horses and its Soldiers upon notification of a State Funeral within the NCR.

b. Alternatives Market research indicates that the required training services are only available from Live Oak Combined Driving Inc. within the expedited timeframe required.

The U.S. Army’s Caisson Teams must remain trained to a high standard, and the Live Oak Combined Driving Inc.’s training method is currently being utilized by the U.S. Army Caisson Detachment for both Soldier and MWE training. Awarding the contract to a