Notice of Intent to Increase Overall Contract Capacity, FA4528-13-D-0002

This serves as a Notice of Intent to increase the Minot AFB A&E contract (FA4528-13-D-0002) ceiling from $1.9M to $2.545M. Due to the low manning and expertise of CE engineers and high volume of workload, the capacity will soon be reached. The intent of this action is to increase the contract ceiling in order to allow adequate time for a follow-on contract to be competed without interrupting the agency's mission to support these activities. This A&E contract was competitively awarded on 14 August 2013 under 100% Small Business Set Aside to the small business, FourFront Design Inc. The contract included one base year and four option years, with a contract ceiling of $1.9M. This capacity was established prior to the award of the contract based on (1) analysis of the type of work required, (2) anticipated workload, (3) effects on competition, and (4) historical A&E contract data. Based on independent estimates provided to the contracting office, all anticipated FY14 task orders were executable under this contract and would not exceed the contract ceiling. However, actual prices are much higher than was expected. Rapid expansion of the oil industry and support enterprises in the state has dramatically increased prices for all goods and services. Due to these circumstances, the A&E contract ceiling is not sufficient to award the remaining FY14 task orders and will be exceeded prior to the expiration of the current performance period, 13 August 2015. It is in the best interest of the Government to minimize project funding risks by increasing the existing A&E ceiling 33.9% (or $645,000) so that the agency can execute several FY14 planned tasks. If the capacity increase is not approved, mission critical designs will not be awarded and CE will have a lapse in design work occurring, resulting in prolonged delays in providing operational facilities and failure to adequately support the mission at Minot AFB. The main projects to be awarded under the A&E contract, based on approved capacity, are: Magic City Gate, Design FSC Ballistic Protection, and Repair Parking Lot East Side. The 5th Contracting Squadron anticipates awarding follow-on A&E contracts via competition among small businesses. This strategy ensures there is no lapse in the ability to issue A&E task orders in response to future requirements at Minot AFB. This increase is to cover within scope changes and to perform existing and planned tasks until the new contract is awarded, anticipated 1 January 2015. This increased capacity requirement was reviewed by Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, the Contracting Officer, Legal, the Small Business Specialist, Competition Advocate and the user to ensure that all possibilities for competition were considered. This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive proposals. Interested sources may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement within 5 days after the publication date of this notice of contract action. All information received within the 5 days will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.