JA GSA NEA-MELO -SAM announcement

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION UNDER FEDERAL SUPPLY SCHEDULE

SECTION 1: IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING

ACTIVITY

☒ Acquisition Management
Department of
State Contracting
Activity
Requiring
Near Eastern Affairs Monitoring, Evaluation, Leaning, and Analytic Activity
Services (NEA MELA)

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

APPROVED

Approval is requested to limit the number of sources for soliciting and awarding an order under a Federal Supply Schedule contract for the supplies and/or services described in Section 3 on behalf of the Requiring Activity. This action is necessary to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of highly specialized technical and advisory services in support of the Department of State’s critical foreign assistance programs.
The proposed acquisition will utilize a Time and Materials contract for an 18-month bridge period (12-month base period plus 6-month option period). By restricting competition to a sole source, the Department will maintain continuity of critical monitoring, evaluation, learning, and analytics (MELA) services for foreign assistance programs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region while the Department of State develops a department-wide Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to issue task orders for regional MELA services. This approach is consistent with the principles of economy and efficiency and is essential to meeting the urgent and evolving needs of the Requiring Activity as described in Section 3.

SECTION 3: DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET

THE AGENCY’S NEEDS

The Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) requires professional services to provide staffing of technical experts and the provision of services that strengthen the planning, design, management, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and evidence-based decision-making of U.S. foreign assistance programs in the

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This acquisition builds upon the successful implementation of the MENA MELS Contract.
The primary objective of this order is to ensure seamless, uninterrupted services and support to NEA and other Washington-based bureaus, as well as U.S. embassies, consulates, and field offices that manage or oversee foreign assistance programs in Washington, DC and throughout the MENA region. These services provide critical program support rather than the direct implementation of foreign assistance activities.