Acquisition University Competition Management Office JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION Market Research/ Commerciality Determination Acquisition University Presented by Competition Management Office January 2004

Course Objectives Provide guidance and instruction on how to prepare quality J&As Provide guidance and instruction on how to prepare quality Market Research Report/ Commerciality Determinations (MRR/CD)

Competition Management Our Mission Management of a comprehensive competition program Responsive cost-effective spare parts acquisition program Commercial/Non-developmental Item Program

Competition Advocate Public Law 98-369: Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), 1984 Each MSC shall have an Advocate for Competition responsible for challenging barriers and promoting full and open competition while challenging specifications and restrictive need statements. Public Law 103-355: Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA), 1994 Advocates for Competition …shall promote the acquisition of commercial items …and challenge burdensome contract clauses. Public Law 104-106: Federal Acquisition Reform Act (FARA), 1996 …shall ensure that the requirement to obtain full and open competition is implemented in a manner that is consistent with the need to efficiently fulfill the Government’s requirements.

Who We Are Mr. Wade Griffin- Manager - Competition Advocate Ms. Rebecca Pratcher- Alternate Competition Advocate Ms. LaQuandis Baldwin- Clerk Mr. Victor Kerns- Alternate Competition Advocate/ General Engineer Mr. Shelley Muhammad- Logistics Mgmt Specialist Ms. Sharon Blackwell- Procurement Analyst Mr. Ernie Robinson- Procurement Analyst Mr. Russ Hickam- Procurement Analyst Ms. Cathy Richardson- Procurement Analyst Mr. Harold Jones – Procurement Analyst

Justification and Approvals Who’s job is it to promote competition? When is a J&A required? When is a J&A not required? J&A format-paragraph by paragraph review/ instruction Have each bullet fade in one at a time.

Justification and Approvals (continued) J&A approval levels What documents need to be included in the J&A file? Who is responsible for the J&A? Urgent J&As Have each bullet fade in one at a time When is an amended J&A required? Class J&As J&As for long-term contracts

Who’s Job Is It to Promote Competition? Competition Management Contracting Officers FAR 6.101 10.U.S.C. 2304 and 41 U.S.C. 253 contracting officers shall promote and provide for full and open competition FAR 6.303-1shall not award any other contract without providing for full and open competition unless Justifies in writing Certifies justification Obtains the required approvals

When Is a J&A Required? Any time you contract without providing for full and open competition based on one of seven exceptions/circumstances

7 Exceptions to Full & Open Competition 6.302-1 Only one responsible source 6.302-2 Unusual and compelling urgency. 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services. 6.302-4 International agreement. 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute. 6.302-6 National security. 6.302-7 Public interest.

When Is a J&A Not Required? When you have Full and Open Competition FAR 6.001 Contracts awarded using simplified acquisition procedures Contracts awarded using contracting procedures are expressly authorized by statute; Contract modifications, - exercise of priced options that were evaluated and within the scope of an existing contract; Orders placed under requirements contracts or definite-quantity contracts; Orders placed under indefinite-quantity contracts Orders placed against task order and delivery order contracts Major bullets fade in one at a time.

When is a J&A Not Required? Far 6.200 Establishing or maintaining alternative sources Set-asides for small business concerns Section 8(a) competition Set-asides for HUB Zone small business concerns

J&A Format J&A Format and Content http://www.redstone.army.mil/cgi-bin/casl/index.pl SAMPLE FORMAT—See Student Handout

J&A Approval Levels $500,000 < $500,001 - $10,000,000 $10,000,001 -$50,000,000 CO’s certification Competition or the Alternate Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting (PARC )-Ms. L. Marlene Cruze and AMCOM Deputy Commander- Mr. James L. Flinn III.

J&A Approval Levels (continued) $50,000,000 Justification Review Document (JRD) Approved Acquisition Plan, Transmittal memo signed HCA Forward electronically as Word document attachments to Headquarters, Department of the Army, E-Mail: PSStaff@saalt.army.mil.

What Documents Need to Accompany the J&A ? Technical and Requirements Certification Procurement History Commerciality Determination Legal review Statement of Impact (SOI)/ Statement of Urgency (SOU) Have each bullet fade one at a time Justification Review Document (JRD) Approved Acquisition Plan

Urgent J&As Urgency exception Clearly demonstrate that the United States Government is or will be injured if immediate contract action is not taken. Injury can be monetary or mission impacting Must be directly related to your immediate requirement. Signed Statement of Urgency or Statement of Impact required

Urgent J&As CMO logistics management specialist Logistics review of asset position Determines the quantity justified as urgent. A high priority designation alone will not justify the use of urgency. Post-award approval is not automatic. Have each major bullet fade in one at a time. Criteria apply in both pre- and post-award environments

When Is an Amended J&A Required? AFARS 5106.303-1-90 An increase in the dollar value beyond the authority of the previous approving official; A change in the competitive strategy A change in requirements The contracting officer shall document any other significant change in the dollar value in the contract file. Prepare amended justifications -6.303-2-90(b)(3).

Class J&As AFARS 5106.303-1 Contracts to be awarded in successive fiscal years The requirements and quantities included in the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) Costs have been specifically identified. Must address every contract (action) in detail Must include only those supply or service components that are, and will clearly remain sole source FAR 6.304 Approved in writing IAW agency procedures

J&As - Long-Term Contracts Recent trends J&As for long-term contracts-partnering contracts for 5-10 years Lifecycle J&As for LRIP through Production (14 year) Reasonableness should be exercised

Long-Term J&As – Our Concerns Major changes or program revisions Competition and breakout will not be reviewed. Missed opportunities to expand the vendor base and save money. HQ DA may restrict FYDP 5 years - Nat’l Def Auth Act of 2004

Common Deficiencies Control numbers missing System/program supported not indicated. Type of pricing arrangement not indicated. Information from the MRR/CD not in J&A. Synopsis publication date not in J&A. SOI/SOU is not attached to J&A. Part number, NSN, Noun, Quantity, System and total dollar amount is not on the approval page. Have each bullet fade in a bold way one at a time. CASL publication date not indicated No explanation provided when a past source will not be solicited. J&A has not been reviewed by the legal office prior to being sent to CMO

Market Research & Commerciality Determination Why buy Commercial Items? When is a MRR/CD required? Who does the market research? What is the purpose of Market Research and how much research is enough? MRR/ CD format- paragraph by paragraph guidance/ instruction Have each bullet fade in one at time. MRR/CD for long-term contracts Commerciality Determination And Certification (CDAC) System

Why Buy Commercial Items? It is the law Public Law 103-355, 1994 FEDERAL ACQUISITION SREAMLINING ACT Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Implemented fully the commercial item emphasis of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act.

When Is a MRR/ CD Required? Market research conducted and documented acquisitions > or =$25,000 MR > 12 months old. Commerciality Determination required for acquisitions: Competitive or noncompetitive Materiel or services

Who Does Market Research? AFARS 5110.002(b): Program managers Requiring activity. Requirements personnel and CO(KO) must work together.

What Is the Purpose of Market Research? FAR 10.000 To arrive at the most suitable approach to acquiring, distributing, and supporting supplies and services. To determine if commercial items or nondevelopmental items are available to meet the Government's needs

MR Results Are Used To… Determine if sources capable of satisfying the agency's requirements exist; Determine the practices of firms engaged in producing, distributing, and supporting commercial items Determine whether bundling is necessary and justified

The extent of market research will vary, depends on: How Much MR Is Enough? The extent of market research will vary, depends on: Urgency Estimated dollar value Complexity Past experience

MRR/ CD Format/ Instruction The sample format http://www.redstone.army.mil/cgi-bin/casl/index.pl See the Student Handout

MRR/CD for Long-Term Contracts Can be done for long-term contracts Must be current and no more than 12 months old. Annual updates to your MRR/CD must be conducted and processed in order

Commerciality Determination and Certification (CDAC) System Automated system MRR/CD for spares. Review and approval process is paperless Commercial items procured Requirements not forwarded to the CMO A wavier not required

Common MRR/CD Deficiencies Person who conducted the research is not identified in paragraph 6 Requirement has not been published in CASL The CASL publication date is inaccurate or omitted. Explanation provided in paragraph 8 does not explain the commerciality decision Have each bullet fade in boldly one at a time. Information in the MRR/CD is not summarized in the J&A or does not agree with information in the J&A.

Contact Us Appendix A - a list of CMO POCs by weapon system. If you have a general questions or concerns email the CMO: cmo@redstone.army.mil Walk-ins are still welcomed!