JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A) FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. Choose the funding level for this J&A Document: X < $700K > $700K and < $13.5M > $13.5M and < $93M > $93M Contracting Activity: AFTC/PZIOC Purchase Request / Local ID Number: RFQ FA2823-17-Q-4002 Program / Project (and PE, if applicable): Fire PPE-Structural Pants and Coats (supply items) Program Type (PEO or Other Contracting): Other Contracting Authority (include full title): 41 U.S.C. 1901 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures Estimated Contract Cost (including options): $0.00 J&A Type: Class Individual COORDINATION (AFFARS 5306.304(a)) - I. Contracting Activity. The responsible contracting agency and organization for this proposed Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition is AFTC/PZIOC (Operating Location (O/L) Eglin AFB). Certified Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funds have been received in the amount of for the purchase of 47 each pants and coats through purchase request number . An additional is anticipated to be received within Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 for additional quantities of the exact same items. The total estimated quantity of gear is required for the Fire Department to comply with mandatory ratio of protective gear to firefighter. The additional, needed quantities will be solicited as optional Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) to be exercised once certified funding is received. The total estimated value of the requirement, including option(s) is - II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed. The resulting contract action will be awarded as a new, firm-fixed price contract. The item being acquired is determined a commercial item with a well-defined specification containing essential characteristics. - III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs. The 96 CES/CEF requires additional Fire Department Structural Firefighting protective pants and coats to match the current Government owned uniform inventory, which are Quaker Safety Axis Styles ( . At this time the 96 CES/CEF is The Structural Firefighting protective coats and pants meet specific guidelines that are mandated in NFPA 1971-2013 standards. - IV. Statutory authority permitting Other than Full and Open Competition. 41 U.S.C. 1901(e) (2), as implemented by FAR 13.501(a) (1) (ii). - V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority). The 96 CES/CEF currently uses Quaker Safety Axis Styles Fire Gear. At this time, Witmer Public Safety is the only company authorized to distribute Quaker products to Eglin AFB. There are other Quaker Distributors, but only Witmer is authorized to sell in the State of Florida. Witmer is the only responsible source and no other supply will satisfy the 96 CES/CEF's requirement. It is essential to the Government's requirement to maintain the uniformity of the existing 96 CES/CEF fire gear. - VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Request For Quote (RFQ) 1171711 was posted to the GSA eBuy website for Structural Fire Pants and Coats on 2/17/2017 for Brand Name or Equal Structural Pants and Coats in accordance with the minimum salient characteristics that were outlined in the RFQ. Three (3) companies ( ) responded . Upon reviewing the specifications of the quotes provided, it was discovered that the items quoted would not satisfy the needs of the 96CES/CEF. Therefore, the RFQ was canceled to allow for re- solicitation as Brand Name only. Market research shows that there are multiple distributors of Quaker Fire Gear. However, per the manufacturer (Quaker Fire and Safety), only Witmer is authorized to sell in the State of Florida. A synopsis for the original RFQ action was not required in accordance , per FAR 5.202(a)(11).. Use of FAR Subpart 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, is applicable as this acquisition (including the optional, additional quantities) is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold but not exceed the $7M limitation. Pursuant to FAR 13.501, the special documentation requirements for sole source acquisitions conducted under SAP are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. Accordingly, this justification (if approved) will be made publicly available through the Government wide point of entry, FBO, within 14 days after contract award in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(1)(iii). - VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. The contracting officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Pursuant to FAR 13.106-3(a), the contracting officer will compare prices received for this acquisition to prices received through market research, to current commercial prices lists of similar items, and to research of prices found reasonable by other Government contracts on previous purchases of Structural Fire Pants and Coats. - VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted. Searches were conducted on Government Databases, including GSA Advantage E-Library while performing market research. However, the specific model numbers of the items matching the requiring activity's existing inventory are not located on a current GSA schedule. The results of the search revealed that Quaker Fire Safety Manufacturer authorized distribution to vendors by region. The results of the market research also indicated that the cost of one set (coat and pant) should range from $880-$930 per set. At this time, Witmer Public Safety is the only vendor authorized to sell Quaker gear to Eglin AFB and the only company that can provide the exact fire gear that matches the existing 96 CEG/CEF's inventory. - IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition. The attached letter from Quaker Safety verifies that Witmer Public Safety is the only authorized distributor for Florida. Witmer is the only distributor able to provide fire gear that matches the gear that the 96 CES/CEF is currently using. - X. List of sources, if any, that expressed interest in the acquisition. See Section VI above. - XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required. At this time AFICA is in the source selection phase of putting together an Air Force Wide IDIQ for Fire Structural Pants and Coats. In the future, the Air Force will be required to use sources provided by AFICA for subsequent fire gear acquisitions. - XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer. As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. - XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel. As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.
