140180.RM. Foil, Gold, MVF - EIE, 4.25"

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION This document constitutes justification and approval for other than full and open competition for the acquisition described herein, under the authority of MMAR 6.3. Contracting Organization: The contracting organization responsible for this action is the Acquisition Services of the Government Publishing Office, 732 North Capital Street NW Washington DC 20401. Description of Action: The Security and Intelligent Business Unit (SID) of the Government Publishing Office (GPO) proposes to procure by means of other than full and open competition, Foil, Gold-MVF-EIE from Foilmakers Australia (also known as Milford Astor). This is an ongoing, follow-on contract for critical materials used in a federally issued identity document. Delays to this contract would impact the agency, its customer, and the citizens of Washington, DC. Description of Services: The vendor is responsible for providing Foil, Gold MVF-EIE material for application use on GPO's Passport manufacturing equipment. Authority: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is MMAR 6.302-1, 41 U.S.C. 4403(b)(2), "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." Additionally, it is vital that every electronic passport produced is essentially identical to the forensic level to avoid counterfeiting and forgery. The same raw materials and processes will mean that the same quality books can be issued to U.S. citizens. No changes to raw materials are possible until the U.S. formally announces and develops a future Next Generation Passport that employs a new system of raw materials. Future changes to the U.S. Passport must be coordinated with both U.S. and foreign government agencies charged with inspecting and analyzing passports and determining and discovering fraudulent and counterfeit passports. Applicability of Authority: Milford-Astor is the current vendor for Foil, Gold MVF-EIE. Milford-Astor has established a solid track record for ten years with GPO in terms of quality, reliability, and responsiveness. Efforts to Obtain Competition: No other vendors produce this product. Fair and Reasonable: Milford-Astor has quoted pricing that is consistent with other similar products that are currently being procured from them. Market Survey: It is determined that a market survey is impractical, as it would not generate any additional sources capable of satisfying the raw material requirements. No changes to raw materials are possible until the U.S. formally announces and develops a future Next Generation Passport that employs a new system of raw materials. Other Facts: None Interested Sources: None have been identified. Further Competition: GPO continues to monitor the security industry for technologies that can also be used in future products. Technical Requirements/Personnel Certification: We hereby certify that the technical requirements and certifications are accurate.