Broadband Services for Federal Occupational Health, 8(a) Directed Task Order - STARS II

Federal Occupational Health (FOH) and the General Services Administration (GSA), Assisted Acquisition Services (AAS) have a need to execute a order under the 8(a) STARS II Government-wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) directed order authority. This task order will provide high-speed digital Internet access for up to 250 geographically dispersed FOH sites including Puerto Rico, Alaska and Hawaii. The current/incumbent contractor is Core Technologies, Inc. There has been a delay in awarding the re-compete task order. In order to avoid a lapse in services, a sole source award to Core Technologies, Inc. will be executed. The requirement is a non-personal services contract, as defined by FAR 37.104. The contractor will maintain an employee/employer relationship with contractor personnel. The objective includes nationwide flat rate/always-on high speed digital Internet access inclusive of project management, billing, maintenance, etc.) using regional Internet Service Providers (ISP). The contractor shall provide high-speed digital Internet access to FOH offices at up to 250 locations during the life of the task order. Currently 216 sites are being supported. The contractor shall furnish all personnel, material and services (i.e. 24/7 help desk support) to provide and maintain the high speed access service and hardware requirements. The services to be provided have been determined to be in-scope with the 8(a) STARS II GWAC, Functional Area 2, NAICS 541512. A sole source 8(a) directed order is being pursued for this requirement consistent with the STARS II Ordering Guide, March 2019 (Part II: GWAC Specific Information, Section 8(a) STARS II GWAC, pg 23): STARS II was authorized under the provisions of Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act 15 U.S.C. 637(a) and retains the 8(a) sole source, or "directed order," authority found in FAR 19.8. STARS II resulted from a competitive 8(a) procurement, which was offered to and accepted into the SBA 8(a) program. This task order justification is being prepared as required by: FAR 16.505(b)(2), Exceptions to the Fair Opportunity Process The rationale justifying this exception to fair opportunity is linked to the 8(a) STARS II GWAC's ordering guidelines that allow for directed orders through the following regulatory and statutory authority: 1. FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(E) For orders exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, a statute expressly authorizes or requires that the purchase be made from a specified source; 2. Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(h)) Core Technologies, Inc. holds an active 8(a) STARS II contract under Functional Area 2 and is capable of receiving a directed order using the above stated regulatory and statutory authority.