Bowhead Extension Mod JA 70B04C24C00000058 - SIGNED.pdf

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition for contracts above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT)

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Agency and Contracting Activity.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Information and Technology (OIT) Field Support Directorate (FSD(, and the CBP Office of Acquisition Procurement Directorate (PD), have prepared this justification for other than full and open competition.

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

CBP intends to modify contract 70B04C24C00000058 in order to extend the current ending period of performance by a period of 6 months. This modification will be awarded to the current - incumbent vendor listed below. This contract modification for a 6-month extension is to continue on-going support for mission critical IT systems and technology support services.

Bowhead Program Management and Operations LLC 6564 Loisdale Court, Suite 900 Springfield, Virginia 22150

Services are currently being provided via contract 70B04C24C00000058. This contract was awarded as a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract via a direct 8(a) between DHS and the SBA on July 20, 2024 using the authority provided in the agreement between DHS and the SBA. This current contract does not include FAR 52.217-8 the Option to Extend Services clause, as incumbent was not required to provide the appropriate information for evaluation for possible options to extend and therefore did not include the appropriate information in its proposal..

CBP’s intent is to increase the total price and the extend the PoP of the current contract to provide continued services while CBP conducts a competitive acquisition under a DHS mandatory strategic sourcing vehicle (SSV). This action is required to avoid disruption of mission critical services which include supporting all IT systems, law enforcement technology, and network communications relied on by CBP in sharing enforcement-related information with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

In FY25 Q1, CBP anticipates releasing a competitive solicitation for the requested services.

The Government anticipates awarding one (1) five-year task order (TO) utilizing the 8(a) STARS III Government Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC).

for contracts above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT)

3. Description of Supplies/Services. Describe the supplies or services to be acquired.

Provide the estimated total value (including options, if any).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)/ Office of Information and Technology (OIT) has a requirement to procure technical support services for IT systems and technology. These services include, but not limited to, technical and analytical work pertaining to diagnostics, configuring, testing, integration, installation, and maintenance of the IT systems, network infrastructure, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, switches, routers, circuits and connectivity services and procedures. This requirement will allow CBP to maintain connectivity services for the entire agency.

Period Period of Performance Total Base Period July 20, 2024 to November

29, 2024 $1,295,663.84

Proposed 6-Month Extension

November 30, 2024 to May 29, 2025

$1,925,190.24*

Total $3,220,854.08

* Year of Funding: Fiscal Year 2025 Operations and Support funds.

4. Identification of Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition. Cite the applicable authority under one of the “seven exceptions” listed under FAR 6.302.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C.3304(a)(1) implemented by the FAR 6.302-1 entitled “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”

5. Demonstration That the Nature of the Acquisition Requires Use of the Authority Cited.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Information Technology (OIT), Field Support Directorate (FSD) is responsible for global support of the information technology (IT) architecture, design, engineering, and maintenance of the CBP network infrastructure.

FSD serves as the primary customer interface for CBP personnel worldwide. FSD is the operations and maintenance organization responsible for information technology, land mobile and wireless radio communications, and surveillance enforcement technology. FSD employees provide technology services, implement projects, and deploy equipment and systems to reduce downtime and maintain operational availability.

FSD provides support for availability of mission critical IT Systems and Law Enforcement Technology, network communications and security environment, and the sharing of enforcement-related information with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

CBP contracted with Bowhead Program Management and Operations LLC for Bowhead to provide the required services that allow CBP to meet its mission. These services include, but for contracts above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) are not limited to, technical and analytical work pertaining to diagnostics, configuring, testing, integrating, installing, and maintenance of the IT systems, network infrastructure, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, switches, routers, circuits and connectivity services and procedures.

This request consists of a modification, to the existing direct 8(a) award contract #70B04C24C00000058 under which the period of performance shall be extended from November 30, 2024 to May 29, 2025. The issuance of a modification to the existing contract for sustained performance of mission critical support services allows the continuation of the required services while CBP continues through the procurement process for a new competitive award.

6. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The incumbent’s services will allow CBP to maintain connectivity services for the entire agency to offset short staff, during the brief interim period of the subject extension, while the agency conducts its competitive acquisition under STARS III. Bowhead has been successfully performing the required services since 2022. CBP is satisfied with the timely high-quality services which the incumbent has consistently provided. As the requirement entails supporting 28 sites across 7 regions across the country, having a contractor with experience and resources in geographically diverse recruitment is a major criterion for consideration. Given its availability and geographic footprint, Bowhead has met the full breadth of CBP’s CONUS requirements and has managed the required staffing in remote and hard to recruit places utilizing strategically located hiring resources.

To facilitate and ensure successful transition of services to STARS III, it is critical that CBP maintain continuity of IT support services without disruption for the brief period of 6 months.

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

Following the requested extension of services under the incumbent contract with Bowhead, CBP plans to solicit the competitive requirement under the 8(a) STARS III GWAC.

8. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable.

The Contracting Officer determines the anticipated increase in the firm fixed price (FFP) of the existing contract is fair and reasonable based on actual cost data under the current contract and appropriate escalation for the period of performance occurring in 2025.

for contracts above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT)

9. Description of Market Research.

Market research was not conducted for this request since it is related to an existing contract.

10. Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

This action is for a 6-month period, due to a mission critical sustainability. Failure to continue services will adversely impact on-going critical services within 7 regions and at 28 CONUS locations and CBP’s ability to perform its mission. The contractor will ensure that all IT systems and technology issues affecting FSD’s stakeholders (OFO, AMO, OTD, USBP, and OTD) which arise at these locations are resolved quickly and satisfactorily to maintain continuity of operations. These services maintain availability of mission critical IT Systems and Law Enforcement Technology and network communications which CBP relies on to share enforcement-related information with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The contractor will ensure that all IT-related issues get resolved quickly and both primary lanes and cargo facilities do not go down affecting CBP’s ability to process people entering and leaving the country and facilitate international commerce.

11. A Listing of the Sources, if Any That Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition.

CBP did not solicit any responses on this proposed action.

12. A Statement of the Actions, if Any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome Any Barriers to Competition Before Any Subsequent Acquisition for Supplies or Services Required.

To maximize competition for the follow-on competitive award and the utilization of the mandated DHS Strategic Sources vehicles, a scope review was conducted in November 2024.

Based on this review, 8(A) STARS III is within scope of the competitive requirement.

for contracts above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT)

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

Contracting Officer Date

14. 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.

Date

Technical Representative FOR Byron Perry

APPROVAL:

Procuring Activity Advocate for Competition Date

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