Sole Source for Professional Speaker

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL TO PROCURE USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION Upon the basis of the following justification, I, Tamara Lanier, as Contracting Officer, hereby approve the use of other than full and open competition of the proposed procurement action pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements JUSTIFICATION 1. Agency and Contracting Activity: NRCS, Madison, WI. 2. Nature/Description of Action(s): NRCS-WI requires the services of a professional motivational, closing plenary speaker for Wisconsin's NRCS All Employee meeting, 11/16/10-11/18/10 at The Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, WI. 3. Description of Supplies/Services & Estimated Value: The closing presentation will be a 45-55 minute, customized speech tailored to address current agency and staff concerns, requiring preparation interviews, research, and writing and presentation practice. Presentation will be motivational and engaging, utilizing humor or other compelling presentation styles to connect with and affect the audience. 4. Identification of Statutory Authority: FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. Citation: 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), 5. Demonstration of Contractor's Unique Qualifications: Mary Feeley is a professional speaker with AEI Speakers Bureau, a full-service speakers bureau that specializes in organizing professional speaking engagements, podium events, and entertainment for various corporate, state, federal, civic, and academic groups on a local and international level. A professional speaker for eleven years, Mary Feeley has an extensive list of corporate, government, health care, and association clients. Experiences as a corporate spokesperson and trainer, emcee, award winning comedian, and seminar company faculty member have perfected her skills as a keynote speaker and trainer. Mary is uniquely qualified for this event, because it is a return engagement. Mary gave a presentation at an NRCS event in October 2003 which was extremely effective and well-received. She is familiar with NRCS-WI, the types of employees at NRCS-WI, their interests, and challenges NRCS-WI face. Mary has proved an effective motivator and inspirational speaker for NRCS-WI. 6. FedBizOpps (FBO) Announcement/Potential Sources: This sole source justification will be posted at www.fbo.gov to inform industry of NRCS-WI's approach to obtain Mary Feeley. 7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost: Other professional speaker fees would range from $5,000 to $20,000 for a similar program. Mary's fees for other clients this year have been $7,500 plus expenses. 8. Description of Market Research: Speaker fees range widely from $2,000 to $50,000 or more for name speakers. See Speakers Bureaus - http://www.aeispeakers.com/ On-line searches of speaker fees and guidance, http://www.baltimorespeakersbureau.com/FeeRange.html 9. Any Other Supporting Facts: None. 10. Listing of Interested Sources: Will know of interested sources after this sole source justification is posted to www.fbo.gov. 11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition: None.