(CA) IWMDT follow-on ETFO_SDC_AFR (1).pdf

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

8725 JOHN J. KINGMAN ROAD, STOP 6201 FORT

BELVOIR, VA 22060-6201

EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY JUSTIFICATION

1. Nature and/or Description of the Action

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) contracting activity proposes to procure, without requesting proposals from all six contractors of the Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) Mission Pool 1 (HDTRA124D0002 through HDTRA124D0007), for the effort entitled Integrated Weapons of Mass Destruction Toolset (IWMDT) for Nuclear Planning and Execution System (NPES) Support. Leidos will be the only contractor solicited (HDTRA124D0004) to provide the required technical effort.

This effort will be a follow-on to tasks previously performed under ID/IQ HDTRA118D0011 task order HDTRA119F0109 CLIN 4028 and now continued as IWMDT sustainment under ID/IQ HDTRA114D0008 task order HDTRA121F0005 CLIN 4001 exercised as a within scope change authorized under FAR 52.243-2 Alt V Changes-Cost-Reimbursement, active from 8/11/24 to 8/10/25, and currently performed by the incumbent, Leidos.

2. Description of the Supplies/Services Required

DTRA provides cross-cutting solutions to enable the Department of Defense (DOD), the United States Government, and international partners to deter strategic attacks against the United States and its allies; prevent, reduce, and counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and emerging threats; and prevail against WMD-armed adversaries in crisis and conflict. The DTRA Research and Development Directorate (RD) is the DOD’s central source of research, development, and expertise against the threat of WMD. Potential WMD threats include nuclear, chemical, biological, radiological, and high-yield explosive (NCBRE). The Integrated Weapons of Mass Destruction Toolset (IWMDT) is a single system that currently provides multiple WMD modeling capabilities to its users. The goal of this procurement is to continue developing and maintaining the version of the IWMDT designed for deliveries onto the Nuclear Planning and Execution System (NPES), heretofore referred as IWMDT-NPES, to support operational planning at USSTRATCOM.

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for Public Release: distribution is unlimited.

The scope of this procurement is to continue developing and sustaining IWMDT-NPES to support planning, consequence assessment, and course of action analysis capabilities for USSTRATCOM. For this task the contractor shall continue development and sustainment of the IWMDT framework and components for standalone software deliveries to the USSTRATCOM NPES program and provide on-site support at USSTRATCOM for IWMDT-NPES installation, integration, and test.

This procurement represents a subset of and a follow-on to tasks previously performed under ID/IQ IT Common Services HDTRA118D0011, task order HDTRA119F0109 (Delivery Order 0012) CLINs xx28, and now continued as IWMDT sustainment under CWMD ID/IQ HDTRA1- 14-D-0008, task order HDTRA121F0005, CLIN 4001.

3. Exception to Fair Opportunity

FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), only one awardee is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized.

4. Justification Rationale

Market research (see Section 5) led to the conclusive determination that only one known company (Leidos), as the incumbent, has the legacy knowledge, proven experience, and targeted expertise to perform all program tasks without introducing unnecessary risk and execution delay into the program. IWMDT is a highly specialized and unique technology. An IWMDT Application Programming Interface (API) was created 20 years ago to interface with the DTRA Hazard Prediction and Assessment Capability (HPAC) software incorporated within IWMDT, and a (now outdated technology) set of SOAP web services was created to interface with external applications such as NPES. A different performer would require an intimate knowledge of the HPAC native API as well as the IWMDT Consequence Assessment API, and the SOAP web services. Transferring this responsibility to another performer would generate uncertainty of success in the limited performance period, presenting unacceptable risk to the Government in ensuring timely deliveries of critical national security software onto the NPES Program of Record (POR).

The IWMDT incumbent, with its labor skill mix of engineers and analysts, 10+ years of IWMDT development, sustainment, and experience would be able to continue deliveries immediately after TO award. This is not the case with any other performer, given the highly specialized knowledge required to further develop and sustain the IWMDT system with the limited time available before the current TO HDTRA121F0005 CLIN 4001 end of its period of performance on 8/10/2025.

Under small business considerations, Dagson Consulting, LLC, a veteran-owned small business, supported the IWMDT contract under the IT Common Services ID/IQ: HDTRA118D0011 task order HDTRA119F0109 (Delivery Order 0012) CLINs xx28 and as a subcontractor to Leidos on HDTRA121F0005 CLIN 4001 to include tasks specifically supporting IWMDT installation and testing with NPES at USSTRATCOM. It is anticipated a significant portion of this award will be subcontracted to Dagson for the onsite installation, integration, and test tasks. However, Dagson is not capable of providing overall system engineering and development tasks required for this requirement.

5. Market Research

In accordance with FAR Part 10, market research was conducted and is documented in a written market research report. Key findings include the Contracting Officer soliciting a notice of intent to the CWMD ID/IQ award holders in Mission Pool 1. The notice stated “The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) intends to award a logical follow-on task order under the Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) HDTRA124D0004 to the incumbent, Leidos Inc., as an exception to fair opportunity with a period of performance from award to 12/31/27. This is a follow-on to test bed tasks previously performed under task order HDTRA119F0109 CLIN 4028 and now continued as IWMDT sustainment under CLIN 4001 of HDTRA121F0005. This is for continued support of the Integrated Weapons of Mass Destruction Toolset (IWMDT) for stand-alone delivery to USSTRATCOM’s Nuclear Planning and Execution System (NPES) only.”

This notice was issued by the Contracting Officer to DTRA ID/IQ performers on 1/8/25 with responses due 1/22/25. Current ID/IQ holders were asked to respond with acknowledgement and either negative reply or qualifying source information as to why this effort (described in the statement of work provided) should be open to competition among other ID/IQ holders. All of the ID/IQ holders responded and acknowledged the intent to award with no objections.

6. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost

This requirement’s anticipated cost will be reviewed in accordance with cost and price analysis techniques found in FAR 15.404-1(b)(2) and (c)(2) in order to determine realism and reasonableness.

7. Subsequent Actions

DTRA does not have any plans for continuing work towards IWMDT at the conclusion of this task order.

Technical Certification

I certify that the data and information forming the basis for this justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Project Manager

Contracting Officer Certification and Determination

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Additionally, I determine that the order represents the best value consistent with Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Contracting Officer

General Counsel Coordination

This justification is legally sufficient.

Digitally signed by

RICHARDSON.JUDITH.L.1081829

X ITH.L.1081829302

Date: 2025.02.26 09:15:10 -05'00'

Attorney

X

RICHARDSON.JUD

X

Approval

Based on the above justification, I hereby approve accomplishment of this acquisition by means of limited sources.

Elizabeth R. Braxton Digitally signed by

BRAXTON.ELIZABETH.R.1231040

Date: 2025.02.26 15:02:45 -05'00'

Competition Advocate

X