Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract for Highly Specialized Strategic Budgeting and Congressional Liaison Support Services

Description

1. Description of Proposed Action: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Field Office (HFO) intends to award a time and materials contract to Mercia Advisors, LLC, for support services for budget formulation, financial planning, strategic planning, policy analysis, and Congressional liaison functions. The estimated period of performance is one year from the date of award. This requirement is for comprehensive, expert-level support services to the HFO Office of the Chief of Staff and the Assistant Manager for Business and Financial Operations. These services include strategic areas such as budget formulation, financial planning, strategic planning, policy analysis, and critical Congressional liaison functions. The selected contractor will also be responsible for preparing HFO staff for engagement with Congressional committees and will deliver various financial analyses, budget exhibits, briefing materials, and congressional response documents, with ad hoc analytical support as needed. 2. Statutory Authority for Other Than Full and Open Competition: This proposed contract action is being conducted under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements." 3. Justification for Lack of Competition: HFO intends to award a sole source, time and materials contract to Mercia Advisors, LLC, to provide comprehensive and highly specialized support services. The required services include, but are not limited to, budget formulation, financial planning, strategic planning, policy analysis, and critical Congressional liaison functions. These services are essential for HFO's mission and necessitate a contractor with a proven capability to provide: Established and trusted relationships with key Congressional members and staff, particularly within the appropriations and armed services committees, crucial for effective advocacy and communication regarding DOE oversight and HFO's funding. Deep institutional knowledge and understanding of DOE's specific budget formulation and execution processes, strategic priorities, and acquisition landscape, developed through several years of direct experience with DOE programs and systems, and the distinct roles of HFO. Extensive experience in interagency and intergovernmental coordination with various federal and state stakeholders critical to HFO's operational environment and mission objectives. Based on market research conducted, no other firm has been identified that possesses this integrated and specialized combination of established relationships, specific institutional knowledge, and direct experience necessary to meet these critical requirements without unacceptable delays or disruption to HFO's time-sensitive mission. This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive proposals. However, any firm that believes it can meet all the stated requirements and is capable of providing these services is invited to submit a detailed capabilities statement within 10 calendar days of this publication. The capabilities statement must clearly articulate the firm's experience and ability to meet the aforementioned specific requirements, including details on relevant established relationships, institutional knowledge, and successful past performance directly applicable to the DOE and HFO context. All submissions will be reviewed by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. 4. Intent and Response Instructions: This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive proposals or quotations. However, any responsible source that believes it is capable of meeting the requirement may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. Interested parties must provide clear and convincing evidence of their capability to provide the specific budgetary formulation, business strategy, and congressional liaison services with the required DOE-specific expertise. Responses must include: Company Name, Address, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), CAGE Code, and point of contact. A detailed description of the company's capabilities and experience in providing all three required services (budgetary formulation, business strategy, and congressional liaison), specifically highlighting relevant DOE-specific projects and outcomes. Sufficient data to demonstrate an ability to perform the services, specifically addressing the unique requirements outlined in Section 6 of this notice. All capability statements, proposals, or quotations must be submitted in writing via email to megan.harrison@hanford.gov no later than March 26, 2026. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.