A05 JOFOC12639526R0005_Redacted.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Justification to Restrict Competition

Identification Number: 12639526R0005

Rev. 11/6/2025

In accordance with the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.102 (b), the following justification documents the decision to restrict competition for this acquisition.

(1) Mission Area and Contracting Activity.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), proposes to enter into a contract on a basis other than full and open competition.

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

This J&A authorizes and approves the award of a sole-source, firm-fixed price contract for the aerial release of sterilized screwworm flies to support the New World Screwworm (NWS) response effort. This procurement is essential for the targeted dispersal of sterile flies to support the Secretary of Agriculture's five-pronged plan of the NWS Readiness and Response Policy Initiative.

These services are commercial in nature and will be procured utilizing the procedures listed in FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 15.

The suggested contractor is:

Dynamic Aviation Group, Inc.

1402 Airport Road Post Office Box 7 Bridgewater, Virginia 22812-0007

UEI: FQ9BRLCMRLN5

USDA has received priority rating authority under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) regulation (15 C.F.R. part 700) for contracts and orders for the construction and operation of the New World Screwworm (NWS) Sterile Fly Production Facility, and is authorized to use the “DX-H8” priority rating on its contracts and orders for all industrial resources needed for the construction and operation of the NWS Sterile Fly Facility, including facility construction and construction materials, production and construction equipment as defined in the DPAS regulation, and items to be used for the manufacturing of production equipment.

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

This contract provides aircraft and crew services for aerial release of sterilized NWS to support the APHIS New World screwworm program. The contract also allows for the ferrying of sterile pupae from production facilities in Panama and Mexico to the United States. The Panama – United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (COPEG), located in Pacora, Panama produces sterile NWS flies. COPEG continues to operate at maximum production capacity in support of eradication efforts, producing approximately 100 M pupae per week. The sterilized pupae are ferried from Panama to a designated base of operations. APHIS continues to evaluate and shift the dispersal polygon and flight grids according to NWS detections. The contractor will work in partnership with APHIS to receive weekly updates regarding the flight grids/patterns flown. At any time during the execution of the contract, the number and/or the size of existing grids, as well as the number of municipalities under treatment, may change, as determined by the COR or his/her designated representative.

(6) Provide a description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as possible, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Part 5 and, if not, which exception under Part 5 applies.

Due to the unusual and compelling urgency of this requirement, no additional sources are planned to be solicited prior to award.

While a sources sought notice was not posted for this requirement, as exempted by RFO 5.101(b)(2), the USDA anticipates competing similar procurements for NWS aerial release in the future, as described in section 11.

(7) A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated cost to the Government of the supplies/services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable based on a thorough comparison of historical pricing data from prior and current aerial dispersal contracts, and the development of an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) using current market rates.

(8) A description of the market research conducted, and the results or a statement of the reason Market Research was not conducted.

Limited market research was conducted for this requirement considering the unusual and compelling urgency of the need. When considering possible companies, USDA technical experts took into consideration the required specifications, historical procurement experience for similar contracts, known companies to be licensed for and capable of providing aerial dispersal, and current contracts utilized for NWS aerial release.

(9) Any other facts supporting use of other than full and open competition, such as:

Delay in the award of this contract will seriously impact the ability of USDA to meet the Secretary of Agriculture’s Readiness and Response Policy Initiative. This contract will increase the USDA’s ability to control and contain further spread of the NWS into the United States and infecting the Texas cattle and overall agricultural industry.

As of January 2025, Texas is estimated to have approximately 12.2 million head of cattle, the leading state in beef production in the U.S. The industry contributes approximately $10 billion in revenues annually. The next potential impact, New Mexico, has an estimated 9,000 beef cattle ranches and contributes over 16,000 jobs, generating $1.68 billion in output.

Economic/Societal Impacts – From the USDA news release, “New World Screwworm (NWS) is a devastating pest. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people. This is a serious concern to the U.S. economy and the U.S. food supply and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to combatting the spread of NWS to protect American agriculture.”

(10) A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed an interest in the acquisition in writing.

No other sources expressed an interest in this acquisition.

(11) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition of the supplies or services required.

This contract action is being awarded under unusual and compelling urgency as a response to the detection of NWS within the United States border. This action will provide immediate response efforts to combat the NWS for the initial 6-12 months. During that time, the USDA will work to advertise and compete one or more aerial dispersal contracts for these services.

(12) Certifications & Approvals

Technical / Requirements Personnel Certification I certify this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

Matthew Walz Emergency Aviation Specialist

Contracting Officer’s Certification I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Craig Harper Contracting Officer

Competition Advocate I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as advocate for competition for the procuring activity, I hereby approve this justification. If required, my approval constitutes clearance for submission to the Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA).

Competition Advocate

CRAIG

HARPER

Digitally signed by

CRAIG HARPER

Date: 2026.06.11 14:53:33 -05'00'

CRAIG

HARPER

Digitally signed by

CRAIG HARPER

Date: 2026.06.11 14:53:00 -05'00'

MATTHEW

WALZ

Digitally signed by

MATTHEW WALZ

Date: 2026.06.08 18:28:12 -06'00'

HCA

I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as Head of the Procuring Activity, I hereby approve this justification. If required, my approval constitutes clearance for submission to the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE).

Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) United States Department of Agriculture

CRAIG

HARPER

Digitally signed by

CRAIG HARPER

Date: 2026.06.11 14:54:09 -05'00'