JOFOC RFIMS PMO ext. Redacted (12.8.2025).pdf

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JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

FOR AN ORDER EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(AUTHORITY: FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i))

ST133017CQ0049/1332KP22FNEEG0010

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants

Office (AGO), Satellite and Information Acquisition Division (SIAD) and the Office of Common Services (OCS) within the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

(NESDIS).

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

NOAA intends to award a modification to Earth Resources Technology (ERT), Inc. to extend the period of performance from November 20, 2025 to January 19, 2026, in order to ensure there is no lapse in service for critical operations, maintenance, and sustainment (OMS) activities until the follow-on award can be made.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

NOAA requires program management, systems engineering, and radio-frequency technical support for the Radio Frequency Interference Monitoring System (RFIMS) Program Management Office (PMO). These services sustain the PMO’s mission to detect, classify, and mitigate harmful radio frequency interference in the 1670–1755 MHz band, protecting NOAA satellite downlinks from commercial wireless operations. The estimated value of the extension is

4. Authority and supporting rationale. The contracting officer has determined the circumstances of the acquisition meet the following statutory exception under FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i) as supported below:

Only one awardee is capable - FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B) – Only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized. The follow-on competition for this task order has begun but the federal government shutdown has affected the government’s ability to make award prior to the end of the current period of performance. The current contract is expiring and there is limited time to get a new contractor up to speed, particularly with the limited resources currently operating during the federal government shutdown.

5. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer will conduct price analysis to ensure the proposed prices are fair and reasonable based on a comparison of the current contract and the independent government estimate. Therefore, the Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

6. Any other facts supporting the justification.