U.S. Embassy Tashkent - Transportation services in support of senior High Level USG VIP Visit

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SECTION 1: IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

Department of State Contracting Activity

Overseas Post U.S. Embassy Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Requiring Activity

U.S. Embassy Tashkent- TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF SENIOR HIGH LEVEL USG VIP VISIT

SECTION 2: NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING

 APPROVED                                                                                                                                            

Approval is requested to award on a sole-source basis a Purchase Order, Firm-Fixed-Price commercial transportation services contract to Uzviptrans for a U.S. Embassy Tashkent visit planned for October 2026.

SECTION 3: DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY'S NEEDS

[x]     41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (2), FAR 6.302-2; Unusual and Compelling Urgency; (Based on the available time and urgency of the requirement as detailed below)

Security concerns prohibit sufficient advanced notification of VIP travel to allow for sufficient time to conduct full and open competition. The Department of State can only communicate with the staff at Posts abroad when authorization is given due to security concerns. They have an extremely short turnaround time when authorization has been granted for negotiations to commence and site selections to be finalized with both the local vendors and Posts before the actual Senior High Level USG VIP visit occurs.

The estimated value for the entire period of performance is $25,000.00

SECTION 4: IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 3304, as implemented by FAR

6.103. Proposed authority: FAR 6.103-1 - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

SECTION 5: DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR'S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED

UZVIPTRANSSERVICE LLC (UzVipTrans) is uniquely qualified to meet the Government's transportation requirements due to its ability to provide coordinated transportation services for business meetings, official events, and VIP movements in Uzbekistan. The company provides point-to-point, hourly/as-directed, corporate, and airport transfer services and maintains a diverse fleet that includes business and premium sedans, SUVs, minivans, minibuses, and larger group transportation vehicles.

The nature of this requirement requires a transportation provider capable of supporting changing schedules, multiple destinations, individual VIP movements, and group transportation under centralized coordination. UzVipTrans has the combination of vehicle categories and chauffeured transportation services necessary to support these requirements and accommodate different passenger capacities and operational needs.

Using a single transportation provider will also provide consistent dispatching and coordination and reduce the operational risks associated with dividing transportation requirements among multiple companies during the event.

SECTION 6. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS WERE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS PRACTICABLE, INCLUDING WHETHER A NOTICE WAS OR WILL BE PUBLICIZED AS REQUIRED BY FAR SUBPART 5.2 AND, IF NOT, WHICH EXCEPTION UNDER

FAR 5.201 APPLIES

The proposed contract was synopsized on August 18, 2026. The following other service

providers were reviewed but were not adequate because of the following: Asia Adventures - does not have enough vans.

Radius Travel - does not have sufficient number of vans.

SECTION 7. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT IS FAIR AND REASONABLE

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated $25,000.00 cost to the Government

for the supplies/services covered by this J&A is expected to be fair and reasonable. This determination is based on the fact that the rates for transportation services are within the applicable Samarkand rate and offers a flexible cancellation policy.

By signing this justification, the Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated $25,000.00 cost to the Government is fair and reasonable.

SECTION 8. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED (SEE

PART 10) AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED

The market research included RFI sent to transportation companies in Samarkand to check

availability for the required October 2026 period.

SECTION 9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER

THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

The acquisition supports a time-specific U.S. Embassy Tashkent visit in Samarkand during October 2026 and requires coordinated transportation services.

Many of the arrangements for transportation are often not confirmed until just before the actual visit. In addition to supporting a large delegation within a short time frame, last minute and frequent changes of itineraries for supporting personnel often result in significant changes in how Posts work with the vendors. With the exception of a few trips, contracts are not permitted to be signed until the Department of State (Post) has written confirmation from all supporting agencies, which enables collection of funds from said agencies in the event of cancellation.

This results in an unusual and compelling urgency in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (2), FAR 6.302-2.

These unique Senior High Level USG VIP travel requirements result in only a single or a very limited number of responsible sources with no other supplies or services capable of satisfying agency requirement in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (2), Far 6.302-2.

SECTION 10. LISTING OF THE SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN

WRITING, AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION

To date, no other sources have written to express an interest in this acquisition.

SECTION 11. STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED

For future requirements, the U.S. Embassy Tashkent will continue to conduct advance market research and assess whether other transportation providers can meet the Government's transportation requirements. If market conditions change or additional capable sources become available, future acquisitions for similar services will be competed to the maximum extent practicable.