Limited-Sources Justification
FORCECOM ilitary to Mariner Program (M2M) and Budget Execution Support (BEX)
Solicitation: 70Z02320QPVE03100
Pursuant to the authority of Section 201 of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program 41 U.S.C. 251, this justification is prepared in accordance with the requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6(c) for the use of sources limited to fewer than those required in FAR 8.405-1, FAR 8.405-2, and FAR 8.405-3. The circumstance justifying restriction is: 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 . Below are the facts and rationale:
(1) Agency and Contracting Activity.
The Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard (USCG), proposes to enter into a Task Order on the basis of a limited-sources justification.
(2) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.
Address the following information:
- Nature of action: USCG intends to limit competition to one vendor and award a sole source contract as a logical follow-on.
- The services under this procurement were previously provided under GSA Contract: GS10F0132V and USCG BPA: HSCG23-14-A-PRZ259, which was awarded on 09/18/2014, with a POP of 09/29/2014 to 09/28/2019 and was modified to extend the POP by six months to 03/31/2020.
- USCG Task Order for the BEX project was issued with a POP of 06/01/2019 to 05/31/2020.
- A bridge Task Order for MIPSA and M2M projects was issued with a POP of 04/01/2020 to 05/31/20.
- It is intended that the current procurement will be for the BEX and M2M projects with a POP of 06/01/2020 to 02/28/2021.
- Name and address of the contractor:
JAVA PRODUCTIONS INCORPORATED
2270 KRAFT DR
SUITE 1850
BLACKSBURG VA 240605130
- Contract type: Firm-Fixed-Price
- Estimated total value (including options):
Base Period June 1, 2020- February 28, 2021 $584,070.40
Note: If the products or services under the justification were previously awarded under another contract, also provide the period of performance end date for that contract(s).
- Type of funding: Operations and support funds
- Year of funding: Fiscal Year 2020
- Purchase Request number: 21-20-230PVE031
- Solicitation number: 70Z02320QPVE03100
(3) Description of Supplies/Services.
The purpose of this effort is to obtain Contractor support for 2 FORCECOM efforts.
Military to Mariner Program (M2M): FORCECOM needs contract support for project management; organizational analysis and assessment; policy creation and analysis; business process reengineering, and communication and documentation coordination for U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Military to Mariner Program and Naval Community College. Contractor services will support the Commandant Early Action Item (EAIs) for Credentialing by providing support to the M2M Program as well as the pilot for USCG participation in the NCC within the Career Investment Division.
Budget Execution Support(BEX): FORCECOM needs contractor support Contractor program management and documentation coordination support services for U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Force Readiness Command (FORCECOM). FORCECOM prepares the USCG workforce through the Human Performance Cycle including the management of all relevant operational and mission support training, aligned to clear adaptive tactics, techniques, and procedures, and continually improved by feedback and lessons learned captured by quality assessments, exercise support and Fiscal Support Services.
(4) Identification of the justification and the rationale.
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 provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures.
The contractor's unique qualifications and/or specialized capabilities or expertise is essential at an unprecedented time of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The original BPA that these workers fell under ended March 31, 2020, and due to unforeseen issue getting the original re-bid package out, as we awaited DHS OSAIS wavier approval and then DHS Small Business approval the bid process was delayed until February 2020. On March 4, 2020, we received the potential new award winner proposal packages. At the same time the COVID-19 pandemic had taken grasp of the world and started to affect every-day work. This lead to the decision to put into place a small bridge contract to extend the contract to May 31, 2020, anticipating returning to normal working conditions by the end of March 2020. The USCG has not yet returned to normal working conditions which has led to delays in both the program and contracting areas.
As it stands to date, we are not expected to return to a normal work schedule and conditions until sometime fall of 2020 with the possibility of winter 2020/2021 before we would be able to fully return to work at 100% capacity. Due to COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders and restrictions on all US Military Facilities, we cannot bring new contractors on board for the 30-day cross over required by new contracts and personnel must still adhere to the 6-foot minimum social distancing requirements nullifying the ability for new contractor personnel to train for the minimum 30-day turnover. New contractors would be unable to get the Common Access Cards (CAC) required to do work for the government and to get onto government facilities, as currently ID offices are closed or have very limited office hours, security offices for figure printing are limited, and background checks are all delayed due to COVID-19 work hours. In addition, multiple government personnel will be transferring/retiring during the period of this proposed 9 month bridge, thus, requiring redistribution of task labor and the additional training of new government personnel. Therefore having contractor personnel with experience is vitally important.
Having our current support within the FORCECOM-BEX Department will become a critical component to our work force as the Coast Guard's new financial information system is slated to go live for FY21. This will require extensive training and system area familiarization by permanent government personnel, taking them away from necessary functions performed which the contractors would provide continuity to during this transition. With FORCECOM being geographically dispersed between Norfolk, Virginia and Washington, D.C., it is essential that current contractor personnel are trained in the standard operating procedures. Getting new contractors assigned to FORCECOM Washington, D.C. detachment, would require FORCECOM Norfolk F/T government employees to travel to Washington, D.C. to train the new personnel and unnecessarily incur increased travel and per diem expenses. It is vital that this work continues for the FORCECOM teams. The most economical and logical way forward would be to continue work with a company and their personnel who have the essential experience supporting USCG these two projects.
Military to Mariner (M2M) program and the Naval Community College (NCC) pilot program, part of the Career Investment Division, are at a critical point which will determine the success or failure of each. These two programs both have impacts on the entire enlisted workforce of the Coast Guard. To have a break in technical support for these vital programs at this point would be extremely detrimental to FORCECOM and more importantly to all enlisted ratings. Success in these programs guarantees all enlisted members have access to free mariner credentials and/or access to a free Associate Degree.
Issuing a 9-month bridge Task Oder to JPI, with personnel who have the requisite experience supporting FORCECOM, will allow for the US Coast Guard to continue progress in the above referenced program and assist the USCG to return to normal working conditions as quickly as possible. This will allow the contracting group to move forward with a re-bid process once the working conditions begin to return to normal including: CAC cards being issued, background checks and work can return at our work locations allowing a complete and total transition to the new award winner.
(5) Determination by the ordering activity Contracting Officer that the anticipated order represents the best value consistent with 8.404(d).
The Contracting Officer has determined that issuing the proposed task order to JPI to continue this effort represents the best value and will result in the lowest overall cost alternative, considering price and administrative costs, to meet the Government's needs. This order will be placed in accordance with FAR 8.404 Use of Federal Supply Schedules. General Services Administration has already negotiated fair and reasonable pricing. The contracting officer has considered the level of effort and the mix of skills available for the tasks needed that the proposed Task Order represents a reasonable total price and will be the best value for the department.
(6) A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.
The market research show there are many contractors who can meet the needs for FORCECOM, but it has been determined that continuing with the incumbent, JPI, would be in the best interest of the government during this COVID-19 Pandemic, where bring on new contractors at this time is simply not possible. We have no way at the present moment to do a 30 day crossover training scenario, in addition to that there is currently very limited access to DOD ID offices, figure printing facilities and Military Background check offices, all of which are needed in order to receive DOD CAC Cards which are needed to do Government work and to enter Government facilities. At best it would be late summer early fall 2020 before we could attempted the 30 day crossover training needed for a new contract and at worst it would be late winter 20/21 to do the required training. The contractor's unique qualification that is they already have access to our Government Systems, have the ability to continue this working from home, and are already trained in the work needed to continue the FORCECOM and USCG missions. Their current GSA public price list still falls well below other vendors in almost every category of worker we need to continue our mission and thus are deemed to be a fair and reasonable price for continued work.
(7) Any other facts supporting the justification.
No further supporting justification to be given.
(8) A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that preclude the agency from meeting the requirements of 8.405-1 and 8.405-2 before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.
Once this current pandemic situation ends, there will be no barriers to competition and the subsequent award will be issued with a competitive solicitation.
