Intent to Award Sole Source Contract for Catholic Priest Services

This is NOT a request for quotes. There is no solicitation document available. This is a notice of intent of the United States Air Force at McConnell AFB, KS to negotiate a sole source contract with the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, for catholic priest services. Catholic Priest Services include those items described in the attached Performance Work Statement, dated 1 October 2014. All Catholic Priests must be attached to either a Religious Order or a Catholic Diocese. All priests that serve as Chaplains or as Auxiliary Chaplains must do so with the endorsement of the Archdiocese of the Military Services. The shortage of Catholic Chaplains has left numerous bases without the services of a Catholic Chaplain. This shortage of Catholic Chaplains prevents the Archdiocese of Military Services from providing a Catholic Chaplain for McConnell AFB. The Catholic Diocese of Wichita encompasses the southeast quarter of the State of Kansas. All priests that serve in this area, the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, do so with the permission of and under the direction of the Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita. The Catholic Diocese of Wichita has agreed to provide a priest to serve as an Auxiliary Chaplain. This Chaplain will receive the necessary endorsement of the Archdiocese of the Military. There are no Religious Orders serving in this region that are capable of providing a Catholic Priest. Thus, the only source for an Auxiliary Catholic Chaplain is the Catholic Diocese of Wichita. The strategies are in the best interest of the Federal government and the price is fair and reasonable. The statutory authority for this sole source procurement is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). This procurement is being conducted using FAR Part 12 procedures.