What this opportunity is
The Department of Defense is seeking case management support services for the Ohio Army National Guard, specifically to manage medical readiness records for approximately 9,500 soldiers. This opportunity is a total small business set-aside, suitable for small businesses that can provide non-personal case management services. As this is an award notice for a sole-source interim bridge contract, interested small businesses should note that tracking this opportunity is essential, as bidding is not applicable in this case due to the incumbent contractor's unique position.
Analysis by Mindy, grounded in the SAM.gov notice.
Description
1. Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved:
The Ohio Army National Guard (OHARNG) requires a sole-source, interim bridge contract for non-personal case management support services. This
short-term action is required to ensure the uninterrupted continuity of medical readiness services while the long-term, competed follow-on contract is
finalized and awarded. The proposed source is the incumbent contractor, who is currently fully mobilized and performing these services.
2. Description of the Supplies or Services Required to Meet the Agency’s Needs:
This requirement is for continuous, daily case management support to manage and process medical readiness records for approximately 9,500
OHARNG Soldiers. The estimated period of performance for this bridge contract is 75 days to allow sufficient time for the solicitation, evaluation, and
transition of the competed long-term contract.
3. Identification of the Justification Rationale (FAR 6.302-1):
Only one responsible source, and no other supplies or services, will satisfy agency requirements.
The existing contract is set to expire on June 23, 2026. A long-term, competed contract vehicle is currently in the procurement pipeline but will not be
awarded prior to the expiration of the current contract.
Unacceptable Delay & Time Constraints: Onboarding and transitioning this requirement to a new contractor cannot be accomplished within the
remaining 22-day time frame. A standard transition-in period for a case management support contract of this complexity typically requires a minimum
of 30 to 45 days to recruit, vet, clear, and train new personnel. Attempting to transition to a new vendor at this stage would result in an immediate and
unacceptable gap in services, directly degrading the medical readiness and deployability status of OHARNG Soldiers.
Duplication of Costs & Inefficiency: The incumbent contractor is already fully staffed, cleared, and operational. Bringing in a new contractor for a
short-term interim period would force the Government to incur substantial and unnecessary mobilization, onboarding, and background clearance costs.
Furthermore, the Government would be forced to pay these transition costs twice: once for the short-term interim vendor, and again once the long-term
contract is awarded.
Conclusion: Therefore, the incumbent contractor is the only source capable of providing the required case management support without a lapse in
service or the duplication of mobilization and transition costs.
Source: SAM.gov, as posted. Verify the current solicitation before responding.