A04 - Justification and Approval - Redacted - Final.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF WAR

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

1155 DEFENSE PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1155

ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE

JA Control Number: 1961 JA

AMENDMENT

JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.3

Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract No.: HQ003421D0010 Support Contract for the Department of War JASON Program

1. AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:

On February 28, 2021, Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate, awarded Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract No.: HQ003421D0010 for the support of the Department of War JASON Program to the MITRE Corporation on behalf of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (USW(R&E)), the lead sponsor. The primary agencies that order studies and research under this effort include: the Department of War (DoW) (the Department), the intelligence community, the Department of Energy (DOE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of the Census, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Other Federal Government agencies may also participate, as this IDIQ is open to all federal agencies.

Contract Information:

IDIQ CONTRACT NO.: HQ003421D0010

Contractor: MITRE CORPORATION Base and All Options Value (Total Contract Value): $46,980,752.99 Total Ordered Value: $45,298,200.77 Last Date to Order: 8/27/2026

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION:

Since this contract award date, WHS/AD issued multiple task orders with a total of value of $45,298,200.77. Due to the continued need for ordering under this contract vehicle, the Government anticipates the estimated value of continued tasking will exceed the current dollar threshold of this contract. Therefore, the purpose of this action is to change and increase the ceiling of anticipated projects. This justification (and action) will allow the Government to issue hybrid cost plus fixed fee/firm-fixed price task orders for Program Management and Logistics Support and firm-fixed price orders for the JASON Studies.

4. AUTHORITY CITED:

FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

The JASON program runs on a strict timeline, which is dependent on when the JASON members (nearly all are college professors) are not teaching. Planning for this program needs to start in February or March. Due to the Government shutdown, which was from 1 October 2025 until 12 November 2025 it was not possible to start the follow-on acquisition for this requirement with sufficient time for a February 2026 award date.

MITRE is the only organization that has a currently ongoing relationship with the JASON members. Given the time constraints, it is not possible for any other organization, even if one was willing to take on this contract, to enter into a relationship with the JASON Group and successfully perform studies in summer 2026.

More specifically: the JASON group are a self-governing body of university professors who have existed since the 1960s. For over thirty years, the Government utilized the JASON group (and requisitioned studies) by using the MITRE Corporation as its intermediary. In order to start a new relationship, any new entity would have to negotiate a new agreement with the JASON group. It is highly unlikely that any entity would be able to do so in such a short period of time.

Further, Section 216 of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act requires the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a Federally Funded Research and Development Center to allow the JASON group to provide support. It further provides that he Secretary of Defense may not terminate the contract until a period of 180 days has elapsed following the date on which the Secretary notifies the congressional defense committees of the intent of the Secretary to terminate the contract and receives approval for such termination from the committees.

Thus, if the Department does not continue this contract, it will not be in compliance with the statute.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

During the initial recompete for this requirement in fiscal year 2021, the Government solicited responses from not-for-profit entities and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers.

Only MITRE responded. The Government is likely to pursue this same acquisition policy for the next follow-on acquisition.

7. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION:

Under this contract, for administrative purposes, JASON's activities are run through the MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit corporation in McLean, Virginia, which operates Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) for the federal government.

Prior to awarding this contract, WHS/AD solicited this contract via Request for Proposal HQ003421R0037 released on December 23, 2020. WHS/AD received one proposal from the MITRE Corporation that lead to award HQ003421D0010.

For the follow-on contract, WHS/AD will publicize a sources-sought synopsis on the Government Point of Entry to invite interested (and qualified) sources capable of managing the anticipated follow-on contract requirement.

8. MARKET RESEARCH:

The Government considered the marketplace, and, for reasons discussed elsewhere in this Justification and Approval, determined that no source other than MITRE will be able to fulfill the requirements.

9. INTERESTED SOURCES:

No sources, other than MITRE, have expressed interest in this requirement.

10. OTHER FACTS:

During the award process for this action, WHS-AD will determine the pricing to be fair and reasonable.