Helium_Certification_JA_Redacted 8.4.26.pdf

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Justification and Approval (J&A) for Commercial Products and Services Acquisitions

Using RFO 12.201-1 Simplified Procedures Exceeding the SAT but Not Greater Than $9M – RFO 12.102

July 2026

(b) Year of funding. Fiscal Year 2026.

(c) Solicitation number. Not applicable.

(h) Background information about the requirement.

DHS/CBP, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) has the responsibility to secure the Nation’s borders against the unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs, and other contraband between Ports of Entry (POE). To effectively manage the Nation’s borders, AMO requires persistent surveillance solutions aimed at enhancing situational awareness and security in land, air, and maritime environments by allowing personnel to monitor and counteract dynamic and evolving threats.

The Tethered Aerostats Radar System (TARS), Argos Tactical Maritime Surveillance Systems (TMSS) and the Tactical Aerostat System (TAS) provide for long-range search and track of maritime, air and surface targets, providing multi-domain awareness to CBP Air Marine Operations Center (AMOC), Caribbean AMOC (CAMOC), Office of Border Patrol (OBP), United States Coast Guard (USCG), and the U.S. military. The CBP Aerostat program is comprised of aerostats, aerostat support systems, radars, weather equipment, communications systems, winch systems, facilities, special purpose vehicles, associated equipment, EO/IR cameras and personnel necessary to accomplish the mission.

DLA Aerospace Energy (DLA-E) provides helium product to TARS’ seven operational sites, two TMSS operational sites, and four TAS operational sites. All sites require gaseous helium, which is stored in helium tube trailers onsite. Helium provides direct lift aerial support to Aerostat, radar, and other surveillance tools to overcome line of sight constraints to deter illegal activity along the U.S Southern Border, Florida Keys, and portions of the Caribbean. The trailers used to store and provide helium are required to be recertified every 5-10 years to comply with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Material Safety regulations.

Currently, CBP Aerostats have thirty (30) trailers, six (6) of which are out of certification or near the end of their certification periods. Recertification will avoid disruption of site operations that could result in site Non-Mission Capability (NMC) and create a potential national security risk. CBP requires trailer support to ensure 24/7/365 continuous operations and maintenance of TARS operational sites. Due to the potential national security risk, critical nature of this requirement, timeline, resources, and cost, CBP requires a vendor that can meet the minimum requirements to recertify helium trailers and ensure continuation of TARS operations across the fleet. The vendor must be centrally located to the operational sites to minimize turnaround time, transportation cost, and wear and tear on helium trailers.

3. Description of Supplies/Services.

The DAPS Directorate requires a services-oriented contract that will provide directions and methodology for rehabilitation and requalification of helium tube trailers.

4. Identification of Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open

Competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.

3304(a)(1), and implemented by RFO 6.103-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies and services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Identification of Exception to the Buy American Statute.

Not applicable.

6. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires restricting competition.

(a) The requirements for the mission that require restriction of competition include:

Vendor capability of helium trailer certification. Certification of trailers IAW DOT

Pipeline and Material Safety regulations.

Ability to complete all certifications required on all GFP trailers and maintain annually without disrupting the helium distribution to support CBP Aerostat site operations flying at 24/7/365 continuous operations

Turnaround capability for each trailer certification not to exceed 3 months Central locality of the vendor in the vicinity of CBP Aerostat sites to minimize transportation time and cost and wear and tear on GFP trailers

The end state of this initiative will be for CBP Aerostats to have a total of up to thirty

(30) trailers recertified.

(b) Market research identified potential vendors; however, the PMO did not identify any vendor, other than , whose response demonstrated an ability to satisfy all of the Government's requirements. The program office released a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information from potential service providers to help the program office make informed decisions. The RFI was intended to determine what vendors were interested, available, and able to complete the tasks. The RFI generated two responses: one from the previous incumbent provider, , and one from provided capabilities documentation; however, that documentation did not demonstrate the capability to satisfy the helium trailer certification, turnaround, centralized-location, storage/surge, and continuity-of-operations requirements.

Based on market research and the RFI responses, is the only source identified whose capabilities demonstrated an ability to satisfy the Government's minimum requirements. The market research did not identify any other company's services that can meet, or be modified to meet, the Government's requirements within the required timeframe without unacceptable risk to CBP Aerostat operations.

location in relation to the CBP Aerostat site locations enables the company to respond in a timely fashion to ensure timely service in certifying trailers. Additionally, the close proximity to the sites reduces mileage, trailer wear and tear, and transportation costs.

testing facility in Amarillo, TX is centrally located within a 24-hour drive to five (5) of the seven (7) TARS sites, one (1) of the two (2) TMSS sites, and all four (4) TAS operational locations. In addition, a subsidiary of also provides tube test recertification, trailer refurbishment, and repairs. is in close proximity to the remaining CBP Aerostat operational sites. This additional facility will increase the potential output of trailers that can be recertified and delivered to the CBP Aerostat operational sites and will enable the vendor to surge if requirements dictate.

Furthermore, have the capacity to store up to 30 trailers between both sites. Storage of trailers will circumvent potential transportation delays by allowing the program office to preposition trailers and will enable a consistent flow of inbound trailers to be inspected, repaired (if necessary), and recertified. Finally, 3-month-or-less turnaround time per trailer is in line with the program office's requirements.

(c) The impact to the mission that would result if the J&A is not approved and, consequently, the product or service not provided.

If the J&A is not approved, TARS, Argos, and TAS sites will not be able to receive helium because trailers are not certified IAW DOT regulations. The impact will potentially cause an interruption of surveillance operations across the U.S. Southern Border, Florida Keys, and Caribbean Area of Responsibility (AOR) and could significantly increase illicit activities in areas without coverage. Furthermore, there would be national security implications if CBP Aerostats could not continue surveillance operations, which would increase illegal narcotics and human trafficking into the U.S.

and surrounding territories. Having DOT-qualified helium tubes/trailers as one of the single points of operation for the CBP Aerostat operational sites will allow helium to be stored and used to keep Aerostats inflated, maintained, and aloft at Minimum Operating Altitude (MOA) for continuous aerial, maritime, and surface surveillance. DOT-qualified trailers are also used to transport helium to other sites in cases where additional helium may be needed for new Aerostat inflation, lift loss, and helium purity testing. Based on market research and the RFI responses, no other company's products or services can meet, or be modified to meet, the Government's requirements within the required timeframe without unacceptable risk to mission continuity.

7. Description of efforts made to ensure that quotations are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.