Limited-Sources Justification of a Ceiling Increase for Gender Integration Technical Assistance II Activity

This J&A package processes a ceiling increase in the amount of $4,999,926; thereby, increasing the total estimated cost of the task order from $7,295,807 to $12,295,733. The ceiling increase is requested in anticipation of a higher level of demand, based on an estimated projected increase from the current number of work orders as follows: Increased demand for gender analyses and other forms of technical assistance associated with the Gender Equity and Equality Action (GEEA) Fund, focused on women's economic empowerment; compliance with the Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act; and direction from the White House Gender Policy Council. Increased demand for gender analyses and other forms of technical assistance for COVID-related programming; and Anticipated increases in travel costs as COVID-restricted travel restrictions are lifted, as gender analyses and other types of tasks involve fielding international consultants and incountry travel. A ceiling increase allows the contractor to provide on-going services, in addition to increased demand for additional services within the Scope of Work, without interruption. The White House Executive Order on Gender Equality, the WEEE Act, ADS 205, and the Agency's gender equality policy, all require gender integration. OUs are required to carry out gender analyses at activity, project, and strategy level and to incorporate those findings in strategic planning and program design. Given the increase in the number and frequency of gender analyses, a delay in a gender analysis would incur a delay in the overall design process. This is especially true for large-scale gender analyses for CDCSs. Given the CDCS timeframe, a delay in carrying out a gender analysis would have an adverse impact on the CDCS process for the mission. A delay in the gender analysis will incur additional delays in the development of a mission's CDCS. The Limited-Sources Justification is in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(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.