06.21.2021 - PAN 018372 - FINAL JA 2021_70_Redacted_06162021_Redacted.pdf

CUI

Control No.: MICC 2021-70

Contractor: Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC Program: Cyber Battle Experimentation Support

CUI

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Apr 2021

JUSTIFICATION REVIEW DOCUMENT

FAR SUBPART 13.5 SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN

COMMERCIAL ITEMS – SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND

APPROVAL

Program/Equipment: The Cyber Capabilities Development Integration Directorate (C- CDID) requires an extension on the contract for its Cyber Battle Lab Experimentation Support Services to avoid a break in service and allow continued procurement process of award of Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

Authority: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C 1901 as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5.

Amount:

Prepared by:

COR

Email:

DSN:

Date: 05 MAY 21

Contracting Officer:

Contracting Officer Email:

Date: 05 May 21

Technical:

COR

Email:

Date: 05 MAY 21

Requirements:

Email:

Date: 05 May 21

Reviews: I have reviewed this justification and find it adequate to support other than full and open competition.

Controlled by: U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) Controlled by: MICC–Fort Gordon Office (CCMI—CEU-GO) CUI Category: PROCURE Distribution/Dissemination Controls: NONE POC: Ms. Tara McAdoo, (706) 791-1801

Controlled by: U.S. Army Controlled by: MICC -Fort Gordon Office (CCMI-CEU-GO) CUI Category: General Procurement and Acquisition Distribution/Limited Dissemination Controls: FEDCON POC: Ms. Tara McAdoo, (706) 791-1801

Contractor: Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC Program: Cyber Battle Experimentation Support

CUI

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Program Manager:

6/8/2021

X

Date: See digital signature

Small Business Specialist, Small Business Program:

Date: 2021.06.09 11:25:47 -04'00' Date: See digital signature

Contracting Office Division Chief:

Director, MICC-Fort Gordon:

Assistant Director, Small Business Program:

MICC Office of Couns

Office:

Date: 2021.06.09 12:46:19 -04'00'

Date: 2021.06.09 09:15:12 -04'00'

Date: 2021.06.09 09:32:26 -04'00'

Date: 2021.06.10 09:27:43 -04'00'

Date: 2021.06.10 15:23:21 -04'00'

Contractor: Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC Program: Cyber Battle Experimentation Support

CUI

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

FAR Subpart 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items – One Responsible Source and No Other Services Will

Satisfy Agency Requirements

1. Contracting Activity: U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) – Ft. Gordon, 271 Heritage Park Lane, Fort Gordon, GA 30905-5719.

2. Description of Action: The Cyber Capabilities Development Integration Directorate requires a ten (10) month firm-fixed price modification extending contract No. W91249- 20-C-0020 for Cyber Battle Lab Experimentation Support Services at Fort Gordon, GA.

Fiscal Year 2021 Operation and Maintenance and RDT&E funds will be used for this modification. The proposed sole source contractor is Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC, 203 Market Street, Suite 301, Havre de Grace, MD 21078. An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i)(B).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: The contract will provide firm fixed price non-personal commercial services to support the Army Futures Command Cyber Battle Lab mission to provide cutting-edge systems engineering, satellite support, analysis, prototyping, assessments, systems administration, network engineering, information assurance, model development, and distributed simulation network operations and security center services. Experimentation support includes both analytical and systems engineering support in the planning, setup, design, accreditation, execution, data collection, equipment integration, equipment configuration, technical procedure manual development and formal written analysis of a variety of Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) experiments.

Period of Performance:

Base Period: 17 JUN 2021 to 31 MAR 2022

a. OMA Estimated Value:

b. RDT&E Estimated Value:

4. Authority Cited: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C. § 1901 as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5: Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited:

a. Contract W91249-20-C-0020 was awarded on 17 August 2020 to Ad HOC

Research Associates, LLC as a sole source IAW FAR Subpart 13.5, citing unusual and compelling urgency to bridge single award IDIQ Contract No. W91249-20-D-0006 due to a timely filed protest at the Government Accountability Office (GAO). On 11 NOV 20,

4. Authority Cited: Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, 41 U.S.C. § 1901 as implemented by FAR Subpart 13.5: Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

a. Contract W91249-20-C-0020 was awarded on 17 August 2020 to Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC as a sole source IAW FAR Subpart 13.5, citing unusual and compelling urgency to bridge single award IDIQ Contract No. W91249-20-D-0006 due to a timely filed protest at the Government Accountability Office (GAO). On 11 November

Contractor: Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC Program: Cyber Battle Experimentation Support

CUI

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

GAO dismissed bid protest B-418 mic because the Army stated it “intends to terminate the awarded contract to Ad Hoc pursuant to solicitation W91249-20-R-0002, re-evaluate the requirement, and issue a new solicitation that reflects the re-evaluated requirement.” While performing this corrective action, bridge Contract W91249-20-C-0020 was extended for an additional six (6) months (17 DEC 20

– 16 JUN 20). This six-month extension was supported by a FAR Part 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures for Certain Commercial Items Justification and Approval (J&A) citing only one responsible source. The bridge contract period of performance will expire on 16 JUN 21.

The Cyber Capabilities Development Integration Directorate completed its reevaluation of the requirement and provided a revised performance work statement (PWS) to MICC in March 2021. Adequate timeframe is needed for MICC – Ft Eustis to procure services. The anticipated date for issuing the new solicitation for the IDIQ contract is July 16, 2021. The IDIQ contract will be solicited as a single award IDIQ and set aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). At this time, MICC-Fort Eustis anticipates awarding a new contract in January 2022.

Mission readiness will be negatively affected if the Cyber Battle Lab Experimentation

Support were to incur a “break” or loss of functionality. The time required to solicit and award a new contract and to phase in a new vendor would adversely affect seven ongoing table top exercises scheduled for the next 10 months. The current vendor has the momentum required with outside supporting organizations and stakeholders that would have to be rebuilt, which could cause cancellation of events during phase-in of a new contract. There is no other vendor available that can continue to provide uninterrupted support during this stay. This bridge will also allow critical contract support to continue to support the the Army will invest this year to conduct the annual Cyber Quest prototyping experimentation event in FY22. Annual Cyber Quest events are critical to the Army because it provides the premier venue where key stakeholders, industry and academia have an opportunity to integrate approved Cyber, Electronic Warfare, and Signal technologies in an operational context at the Brigade Combat Team and below levels. The experiment requires a year of planning and testing that culminates in a month long event used to inform/validate concepts, capability requirements documents, Network-Cross Functional Team lines of effort and Army Modernization Priorities. Cyber Quest 22 industry day has already occurred with prospective industry partners invited to support the March 2022. If these support services are not allowed to continue uninterrupted under this bridge, then Cyber Quest 22 will be canceled.

Canceling this event will significantly impact the future of the Army’s modernization priorities enabling a Multi-Domain Operational capable force. Funding already invested, not only on the contract labor workforce, but also on the supporting force and organizations, operational integration, supplies, and travel will be lost due to the cancelation of the event.

2020, GAO dismissed bid protest as academic because the Army stated it “intends to terminate the awarded contract to Ad Hoc pursuant to solicitation W91249-20-R-0002, re-evaluate the requirement, and issue a new solicitation that reflects the re-evaluated requirement.” While performing this corrective action, bridge Contract W91249-20-C-0020 was extended for an additional six (6) months (17 December 2020 - 16 June 2021). This six-month extension was supported by a FAR Part 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures for Certain Commercial Items Justification and Approval (J&A) citing only one responsible source. The bridge contract period of performance will expire on 16 June 2021.

Mission readiness will be negatively affected if the Cyber Battle Lab Experimentation Support were to incur a “break” or loss of functionality. The time required to solicit and award a new contract and to phase in a new vendor would adversely affect seven ongoing table top exercises scheduled for the next 10 months. The current vendor has the momentum required with outside supporting organizations and stakeholders that would have to be rebuilt, which could cause cancellation of events during phase-in of a new contract. There is no other vendor available that can continue to provide uninterrupted support duri ay. This bridge will also allow critical contract support to continue to support the the Army will invest this year to conduct the annual Cyber Quest prototyping experimentation event in FY22. Annual Cyber Quest events are critical to the Army because it provides the premier venue where key stakeholders, industry and academia have an opportunity to integrate approved Cyber, Electronic Warfare, and Signal technologies in an operational context at the Brigade Combat Team and below levels. The experiment requires a year of planning and testing that culminates in a month long event used to inform/validate concepts, capability requirements documents, Network-Cross Functional Team lines of effort and Army Modernization Priorities. Cyber Quest 22 industry day has already occurred with prospective industry partners invited to support the Cyber Quest 22 event in March 2022. If these support services are not allowed to continue uninterrupted under this bridge, then Cyber Quest 22 will be canceled. Canceling this event will significantly impact the future of the Army's modernization priorities enabling a Multi-Domain Operational capable force. Funding already invested, not only on the contract labor workforce, but also on the supporting force and organizations, operational integration, supplies, and travel will be lost due to the cancelation of the event.

Contractor: Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC Program: Cyber Battle Experimentation Support

CUI

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

The Army Persistent Experimentation Network (APEN) Cyber Enterprise Service Center(CESC) (formerly: Battle Lab Collaborative Simulation Environment (BLCSE)) within the Cyber Battle Lab provides network operations support for the environment that connects up to persistent and non-persistent sites across the United States Department of Defense with critical collaboration capabilities that supports Army experimentation, human and hardware in the loop (HITL and HWITL) modeling and simulation, and Project Convergence . The current vendor is in the middle of required upgrades to the persistent sites. The phase-in period for a new vendor would cause loss in network services while the new vendor establishes services. There is insufficient time to solicit and award a new contract and for a new vendor to perform phase-in activities without experiencing a break in service. The loss of service that provides the networking, collaboration, systems administration, and Cybersecurity Service Provider/Information Assurance support to the Army Futures Command’s (AFC) experimentation community consisting of AFC labs/centers and Army Modernization Enterprise organizations, will impact multiple highly critical upcoming events. Events impacted include simulation and table top exercises, virtual Project Convergence events, and Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) events scheduled for the FY21 and beyond by Futures & Concepts Center (FCC), Combat Capability Development Center (DEVCOMM), the Army Testing and Evaluation Center, and Joint Staff (JS7). Critical upcoming events primarily supported by these contracted services include the experimentation into the in support of Integrated Army Modernization Experimentation Plan (IAMEP); and APEN (BLCSE) – Joint Information Operations Range Interconnection architecture to support the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) Demonstration Environment (JDE) Events. Most importantly the loss of services will impact the required Risk Management Framework requirement for the APEN and supported battle labs, which will impact all of the sites due to the lack of required RMF certification.

b. Alternatives:

1) Suspension of Services. Without CBL Experimentation Support, the Army

Experimentation will fail and funds that have been invested will be lost. A loss of services would severely hamper the efforts of the CBL to provide required mission essential services.

2) Use of In-House Resources. There are no in-house resources capable of providing the required services.

3) Re-compete the effort. Since this effort is a stop-gap measure to ensure vital services continue during corrective action taken due to protest, there is no ability

Contractor: Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC Program: Cyber Battle Experimentation Support

CUI

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4) for the Government to re-compete the effort at this time. There is currently no other source that can provide the immediate capabilities necessary to meet the requirements provided by the incumbent contractor.

4) Impact if not approved: Failure to implement this contract extension to Ad

Hoc Research will result in a break in essential services.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Government is currently engaged in soliciting the services on a competitive basis as a set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) using commercial procedures, which will consist of a 5 year ordering period.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The Government will resolicit the requirement for a single award IDIQ contract for the Cyber Battle Lab Experimentation Support Services, under which the Government will be able to award a task orders for Cyber Battle Lab Experimentation Support.

8. Market Research: A Sources Sought notice with a draft copy of the PWS was posted on 28 January 2021 with a reply by date of 19 February 2021. A total of twenty-five (25) responses were received. Of the responses, three (3) were from large businesses. All twenty-five (25) responding businesses identified as Prime. The customer Point of Contact (POC) determined that a large portion (21 responses) of the vendors reviewed were not technically capable of supporting all components of the proposed PWS requirements.

9. Interested Sources: Market research was conducted on 28 January 2021 for the competitively awarded acquisition. Based on the results of Market Research, vendors are expected to offer proposals.

10. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History

Contract Number

Task Order

Contractor Competitive Status

Contract Type

Award Amt.

Period of Perf.

W91249-20-C-0020 Ad HOC Research Associates

Total of two (2) J&As:

FAR Part 13.5 Unusual and Compelling Urgency & FAR Part 13.5 No Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements

FFP 8/17/2020 –

6/16/2021

Contractor: Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC Program: Cyber Battle Experimentation Support

CUI

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Contract Number

Task Order

Contractor Competitive Status

Contract Type

Award Amt.

Period of Perf.

W91249-20-D-0006 Ad HOC Research Associates

100% Small Business Set-Aside

FFP 07/30/2020 –

08/16/2020

W91249-20-F-0248 7/30/2020 – 8/11/2021

W91249-15-D-0006 Metova Federal, LLC

100% Small Business Set-Aside

FFP 09/29/2015 –

09/28/2020

0001 4/30/2015 – 4/29/2016

0002 4/30/2016 – 4/29/2017

0003 8/30/2016 – 8/29/2017

0004 4/30/2017 – 4/29/2018

W91249-18-F-0042 4/30/2018 – 4/29/2019

W91249-19-F-0004 4/30/2019 – 4/29/2020

W91249-20-F-0095 4/30/2020 – 6/30/2020

W91249-12-F-0050 ESP Full and Open FFP 07/01/2012 - 10/09/2015

* Contract amount includes exercised option periods

Contractor: Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC Program: Cyber Battle Experimentation Support

CUI

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

11. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

13. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. This determination will be made using price analysis. As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data is not required because the item and/or services being acquired are considered commercial.

RICE.SHERRILYN.U

LVIA.1065194747

Sherrilyn Rice Contracting Officer

Date: 2021.06.09 08:32:56 -04'00' Date: See digital signature

Contractor: Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC Program: Cyber Battle Experimentation Support

CUI

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

14. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Sherrilyn Rice Contracting Officer

RICE.SHERRILYN.U

LVIA.1065194747 Date: 2021.06.09 08:34:23 -04'00'

Contractor: Ad HOC Research Associates, LLC Program: Cyber Battle Experimentation Support

CUI

(Source Selection information - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104-4)

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of Cyber Battle Lab Experimentation support, Fort Gordon, Georgia, on a sole source basis pursuant to the authority of the Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, Title 41 United States Code Section 1901 as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart

13.5. The estimated value of the $7 million for a ten (10) month period of performance from 17 June 2021 through 31 March 2022.This approval is subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition..

SCOTT D. KUKES

Alternate Advocate for Competition US Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of Cyber Battle Lab Experimentation support, Fort Gordon, Georgia, on a sole source basis pursuant to the authority of the Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, Title 41 United States Code Section 1901 as imp by Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.5. The estimated value of the contract is for a ten (10) month period of performance from 17 June 2021 through 31 March 2022.This approval is subject to the availability of funds, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

KUKES.SCOTT.DE

AN

Digitally signed by

KUKES.SCOTT.DEAN.

Date: 2021.06.15 14:02:33 -05'00'