1333BJ26F00282008 JEFO_Signed-redacted_Redacted.pdf

This is a Justification for Exception to Fair Opportunity (JEFO) document for a sole source procurement by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The USPTO seeks to award a firm-fixed-price delivery order to Countretrade Products Inc. for uninterrupted Entrust/Sectigo Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate services during a transitioning phase. The procurement covers all upgrades, maintenance, and support for SSL certificates and is valued at an estimated amount (redacted). The contracting officer is Stephan Batt, and the acquisition package number is ACQ-26-0640. The existing Entrust/Sectigo certificates expired on December 31, 2025. On January 9, 2026, the USPTO issued a Verbal Authorization to Proceed (VAP) for the Sectigo portion and plans to award a delivery order as a follow-on through a subsequent modification incorporating the Entrust portion. The action is limited in scope and duration to a minimum one-year extension through December 31, 2026, estimated at a redacted value. The justification cites urgency under FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i) due to critical operational and security risks: expired certificates would jeopardize 400 certificates supporting public-facing services, internal systems, and critical infrastructure; service degradation and security non-compliance; and the inability to complete transition and testing cycles within required timeframes. Supporting actions include the prior competitive award to Advanced Computer Concepts (ACC) under the NASA SEWP V contract vehicle and documentation of lessons learned to inform future competitive solicitations. The document includes required certifications from the technical representative, contracting officer, and level above review, with all higher-level approvals marked N/A.