SAM #PR16091218

Limited Competition Justification and Award Notice for Outbound Shipping Services – U.S. Embassy Kuwait

This opportunity concerns a limited competition procurement for outbound shipping services at the U.S. Embassy Kuwait, driven by regional instability impacting standard shipping routes. - The Department of State restricted competition to vendors with proven regional transportation capabilities. - Three vendors were solicited and evaluated on technical capability, compliance, urgency, past performance, and price. - The contract was awarded to the lowest-priced, technically acceptable vendor at $25,016.52. - The selected contractor has demonstrated reliable performance supporting embassy operations. - No OEMs or product part numbers are involved, as this is a service contract. - The requirement stresses adaptability to changing security and logistical conditions in the Gulf region.

Award Details - Award value: $25,016.52 - Limited competition due to regional instability - Focus on urgent, adaptable shipping services

Evaluation Criteria - Technical capability - Compliance with scope - Ability to meet urgent requirements - Past performance - Price

Service Scope - Outbound shipping from Kuwait - Adaptability to regional security and logistics

No Product Line Items - This is a service-only procurement; no goods or OEMs specified.

Description

The purpose of this notice is to comply with posting requirement, FAR Part 5 and Subpart 6.301.

Competition was restricted to a limited number of vendors capable of meeting current operational requirements, including the ability to ship via alternative routes. This restriction is necessary due to constraints imposed by ongoing regional instability, which has rendered standard shipping routes unreliable or unavailable. Limiting competition to qualified vendors ensures continuity of outbound shipping services under current conditions.

In accordance with FAR 12.201-1(c)(2)(ii), simplified acquisition procedures, quotations were solicited from three vendors determined capable of meeting the Government’s requirements under current operational conditions. Three quotations were received and evaluated based on technical capability, compliance with the required scope of services, demonstrated ability to meet urgent logistical and delivery requirements, relevant past performance, and price reasonableness.

Although commercial shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz and other regional transportation corridors has continued, the security situation in the region remains fluid and subject to sudden escalation. Changes in regional security conditions may affect carrier availability, shipping routes, transit times, insurance requirements, and overall logistics reliability with little advance notice.

Given these uncertainties, the Embassy has determined that it is necessary to limit consideration to sources that have demonstrated established regional transportation capabilities, proven performance in supporting operations within Kuwait and the Gulf region, and the ability to rapidly adapt to changing security and logistical conditions. These capabilities are essential to ensuring timely delivery, maintaining operational continuity, and reducing the risk of mission disruption.

The selected contractor was determined to represent the lowest-priced technically acceptable quotation $25,016.52 USD and demonstrated the capability to successfully perform the required services within the required timeframe and operational constraints. The contractor also demonstrated a strong record of relevant past performance supporting U.S. Embassy Kuwait requirements, including reliable and quality performance under similar operational conditions. Award to this contractor will support Shipping in maintaining uninterrupted mission operations and accomplishing mission requirements

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