A04 JA AI OSINT_Final redacted2_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF WAR

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

1155 DEFENSE PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1155

ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE

JUSTIFICATION FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC)

UNDER FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION FAR SUBPART 6.103

1. AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: The Contracting Activity is the Department of War (DoW), Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Acquisition Directorate (AD), Enterprise Security Services Directorate (ESSD). The Requiring Activity is the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), Threat Management Directorate (TMD), Investigations and Information Division (IID).

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: This action is a follow-on to contract #HQ003424C0151 for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Software Support Services, which was competed as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside, and awarded to Agility Consulting LLC on September 30, 2024, for one base year and one option year. The primary objective of the follow-on contract is the early detection of threatening communications directed at High-Risk Personnel (HRP) (per DoDI O-2000.22 and DoDD 5105.68), the Pentagon Reservation and associated leased facilities. A Top-Secret Facility Clearance is required. The contract type will be Firm Fixed Price. Fiscal Year 2026 Pentagon Reservation Maintenance Revolving Funds will be used.

3. DESCRIPTIONS OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: The contractor will provide AI OSINT Software Sustainment Support Services, which includes renewal, maintenance and technical support to the proprietary online threat monitoring software named Echo and using that software to perform open-source analysis. Echo was customized for PFPA/ TMD/IID from the commercial off-the shelf of IronLinkIntel software platform. It drives the integration, evaluation, and analysis of multi-discipline intelligence data, including Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Measurement and Signatures Intelligence (MASINT) and Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) for the Pentagon Reservation and associated DoW facilities within the National Capital Region (NCR). Echo contains a proprietary AI threat-level model that has been calibrated to protect critical assets. Echo automatically processes an average of 183,040 videos (15,300 hours) and 2.5 million images annually. It utilizes proprietary facial recognition specifically tuned for PFPA's High Risk Personnel (HRP) and possesses the capability to detect AI-generated deepfake images, ensuring intelligence authenticity. Echo's algorithm filters an annual intake of over 221 million social media posts down to 6.6 million relevant posts, automatically eliminating 97% of internet "white noise." Echo correlates platform with its unique operational features. A Notice of Intent to Sole Source was published on June 9, 2026, which is described in Section 8.

7. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION: The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated prices will be fair and reasonable by using the techniques identified at FAR 15.404-1(b), Price Analysis, to ensure award will be at a fair and reasonable price. Certified Cost and Pricing Data will not be obtained.

8. MARKET RESEARCH: The Government posted Notice of Intent to Sole Source on June 9, 2026, and five vendors submitted capability statements offering alternative, generic OSINT services. These capability statements were not found capable due to the vendors not being able to provide the Echo OSINT platform or to replicate its operational capabilities, specifically a platform that combines deepfake and AI-generated image detection, automated cross-platform identity resolution (unmasking digital footprints), and the ability to ingest data from restricted platforms.

9. OTHER FACTS: Continued use of the Echo software is essential for fulfilling the directives outlined in National Security Presidential Memorandum-11 (NSPM-11) and the Secretary of War's mandate for the aggressive adoption of Artificial Intelligence in national security operations. This proven, operational AI platform places ensures PFPA complies with these executive-level directives and DoW protective intelligence standards.

10. INTERESTED SOURCES: During market research, 11 vendors responded: Arch Systems, Cyabra, Cyberharpoon, DreamCatchers, Forever 22 LLC, Mainstay, G Force Solutions, Satsyil Corp, Sprinklenet, Varritech, and Xceillgen. Out of these respondents, five submitted capability statements: DreamCatchers, Forever 22, Mainstay, Sprinklenet, and Varritech. The COR deemed them not capable because they cannot provide the proprietary Echo platform nor replicate its operational capabilities.

11. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION: To remove or overcome barriers to competition for future acquisitions, PFPA will continuously monitor the commercial marketplace for emerging AI OSINT technologies capable of meeting the agency's highly specialized protective intelligence requirements.

Is this acquisition for a non-competitive follow-on acquisition previously awarded on a non-competitive basis?

☐ Yes. A copy of the previous justification is attached. The actions to remove any barriers to competition cited on the previous justification ☐ were ☐ were not completed

☒No. The original acquisition was conducted on a competitive basis.

☐ Not Applicable. This is a new requirement.