Justification for Other than Full and Opoen Competition for FMLP Training.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION Over $100,000 (FAR 6.303-2) For Facility Management Program Training and Course Support 1. Identification of the Agency and the Contracting Activity: DOI-NPS-WASO/PFMD (2420) 2. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved: A sole source award to Indiana University, the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands is appropriate because The Eppley Institute has had a long term collaborative relationship with the NPS since 1999 under various Cooperative Agreements. During this time the Eppley Institute has performed extensive research on the competencies involved in a successful facility management program. The majority of the research results have been copyrighted as intellectual property by Indiana University, and under the mutual benefit of the previous Cooperative Agreements, the products/processes developed collabratively are owned jointly by Indiana University and NPS. The NPS uses the research results and the curriculum developed to support and maintain the NPS Facility Management Program courses. 3. A Description of the Supplies or Services Required to Meet the Agency's Needs, Including the Estimated Value: Support the NPS PFMD training effort and the courses currently being offered and updated: Analysis of course and instructor evaluations, conducting "focus" groups after a pilot class, working with Subject Matter Experts (SME's) from both the NPS and other agencies to develop new curriculum, creating on-line assignment portfolios based on content provided jointly by the Eppley Institute and the NPS, hosting on-line ecourses, developing and hosting webinars, providing professional training materials for classes, providing technical assistance related to training and education, including revisions, reuse of learning materials, grading, assistance with projects, facilitation and instruction as needed to continue the PFMD training efforts. The ecourses developed collaboratively reside on the Eppley Institute servers, and are available to the NPS through DOI Learn. 4. An Identification of the Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition: There is only one responsible source to satisfy NPS requirements as provided for in the FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. 5. A Demonstration That the Proposed Contractor's Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the Acquisition Requires Use of the Authority Cited: The Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands has been working with the NPS under Cooperative Agreements in the development of the PFMD training program for over 10 years. This new contract is a logical follow on to the work previously completed and owned by Indiana University and NPS. Substantial funds have already been expended through previous task agreements in developing a comprehensive e-portofolio site, collaborative development of curriculum content and 10 years of experiential services supporting classroom and ecourse delivery that will be lost if this relationship is not continued. Selection of a new vendor would result in substantial duplication of costs to the government. The curriculum used is the intellectual property and is therefore under copyright by Indiana University, with joint ownership with the NPS. The ecourses developed jointly reside on the Eppley server and are maintained by them for the NPS in accordance with the requirements of DOI Learn. Non- award of this contract in a timely manner will adversely impact the entire year-long course of study for the Facility Manager Leaders Program (FMLP) and result in the loss of an estimated $200,000 already spent during the period of the Cooperative Agreement for the application process and course materials to date. The FMLP program is a critical component of the 5-year strategic plan for the Park Facility Management Division and will impact our ability to prepare the work force for the anticipated 60% retirement of current Facility Managers over the next 5 years. In addition, failure to award this contract will also cause unacceptable delays in providing essential FMSS/FBMS Interface training with the upcoming deployment to FBMS. The timing of the award is critical to meeting this need in the NPS. This contract is a logical follow on in continuing a jointly developed process since the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands is recognized educational design Subject Matter Expert, and they provided support services to the NPS with the implementation of DOI Learn, the official learning management system for the NPS. They are the only outside organization to hold administrative rights to post e-courses, assessments and support additional educational needs within the DOI Learn environment. 6. A Description of Efforts Made to Ensure That Offers Are 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 5.202 Applies: No efforts were made to ensure offers were solicited from other potential sources due to the use of copyrighted research results and materials as well as the substantial investment in place with the Eppley Institute. This JOFOC will be posted on FedBizOpps to solicit other interested parties. A determination will be made after the closing period of the posting as whether a sole source award is appropriate. 7. A Determination By the Contracting Officer That the Anticipated Cost to the Government Will Be Fair and Reasonable: Determination of fair and reasonable costs is based on a 10 year track record with the Eppley Institute and a comparison with costs from private businesses. An IGCE has been created and any subsequent proposals will be reviewed for best value to the Government. 8. A Description of the Market Research Conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the Results or a Statement of the Reason Market Research Was Not Conducted: A market research analysis was performed by PFMD in 2010 and no other entities were found to meet the necessary requirements. No other market research was done due to the long term collaborative relationship under the Cooperative Agreement. Eppley Institute is a nationally recognized leader in the area of facility management best practices, educational design and adult learning. 9. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition (see FAR 6.302-2) Not Applicable 10. A Listing of the Sources, If Any, That Expressed in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition: None 11. A 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: None-- due to the use of copyrighted research and materials.