Justification and Approval Redacted.pdf

J&A (Part 6) Control No. FY26-003

Procurement Sensitive - See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

For Official Use Only

JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

UNDER FAR PART 6 AS AUTHORIZED BY 41 U.S.C. § 3304

Pursuant to the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), as implemented by FAR Subpart 6.1, this Justification and Approval (J&A) supports the use of the statutory authority to limit competition under FAR

6.103. This J&A is based on the facts and rationale contained herein, as required by FAR 6.104-1. In accordance with FAR 6.104-1(a), each J&A shall, at a minimum, include the following information:

1. Identification of the Agency, Contracting Activity, and Requiring Activity.

(a) Agency: Drug Enforcement Administration

(b) Contracting Activity: Office of Acquisition (FA)

(c) Requiring Activity: Office of Domestic Operations

2. Nature and Description of the Action Being Approved:

(a) Estimated Amount: $

(b) Recurring Requirement: Yes No

(c) Period of Performance: From: 09/18/2026 To: 06/17/2027

3. Description of Supplies or Services: The services required are for the full management of the virtual environment that will provide masked/ backstopped Internet provider addresses and browser attributes to obscure identity and prevent activity tracing. The Government requires a fully integrated managed attribution and evidence collection tool allowing DEA investigators to move online investigation operations onto a SOE, insulated from the DEA’s day-to-day networks providing advanced security and enhanced evidence collection and data management capabilities. These capabilities will interface with advanced online research capabilities of non/misattribution through Internet provider camouflage and provide the DEA with a master view of all events occurring in the Secure Operations Environment.

4. Identification of Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition:

FAR 6.103-1, Only One Responsible Source authorized by 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1)

FAR 6.103-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency authorized by 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2)

FAR 6.103-3, Industrial Mobilization authorized by 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3)

FAR 6.103-4, International Agreement authorized by 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(4)

FAR 6.103-5, Authorized or Required by Statute authorized by 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(5)

FAR 6.103-6, National Security authorized by 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(6)

FAR 6.103-7, Public Interest authorized by 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(7).

5. A Demonstration that the Proposed Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the Acquisition Requires using the Authority Cited:

a. Name and address of the proposed contractor(s).

NTREPID LLC

NTREPID FL

12801 Worldgate Dr Ste 800 Herndon, VA 20170

b. Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s). NTREPID LLC’s unique capabilities in the cyber operations landscape include secure platforms with deploy on-demand networks, that manage devices and collect mission-critical intelligence in high-risk environments. NTREPID provides network infrastructure that routes physical or virtual devices with full observability empowering OSINT and online operations, enabling enterprise-level access controls and custom deployment configuration, including ingress and egress, and integrate third-party providers, devices, and apps. NTREPID’s platforms are currently deployed across the DEA cyber environment, allowing DEA to leverage Internet-based applications to disrupt and dismantle their criminal operations. Without this technology, DEA would lack the capability to intercept intelligence communications and cyber information ultimately resulting in a reduced operational capability directly impacting the DEA’s ability to meet the Title 21 Law Enforcement activities.

In order to ensure critical cyber operational capability and provide ongoing services without significant interruption and maintain continuity of active investigations the ongoing use of NTREPID’s capabilities is vital and a break in service would severely impact the agency’s ability to fulfill its mission leading to investigation interruptions, delays in law enforcement activities, reduced intelligence throughput, and potential risks to public safety. The time required to transition to a new capability, establish information technology ATO, and orchestrate protocol appropriate security controls limit the Government’s ability to establish a new source of support without harming thousands of active law enforcement investigations and criminal prosecutions. The nature of this requirement demands continuity that only NTREPID LLC can provide in the timeframe required to ensure enduring operations. Due to the inability to rapidly shift to a new or different platform, the Government intends to execute a sole-source contract in accordance with FAR 6.103-1. Continued performance in accordance with this justification ensures that the agency can continue operations seamlessly and effectively without compromising DEA’s mission-critical objectives or crippling DEA capabilities in operational execution.

6. 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: In accordance with FAR Part 5, this justification will be publicized via the Government Point of Entry, SAM.gov in combination with the solicitation.

a. Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions. This action will be synopsized in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.1.

b. Other Actions. The Government intends to execute a sole source contract to serve as a bridge contract allowing the Government to execute a competition acquisition to fulfill ongoing support requirements in accordance with recent and relevant market research.

c. Qualifying Country Sources. N/A

7. Contracting Officer’s Determination that the that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable: Prior to award, the Contracting Officer will assess proposed prices to ensure fair and reasonableness. The Contracting Officer will utilize Price Analysis techniques in accordance with FAR 15.404-1 to determine prices fair and reasonable.

8. Market Research Conducted (See Part 10) and the Results or a Statement of the Reason Market Research was not Conducted: The Government assessed the market for vendors that can provide same or similar services that will meet the Government’s requirement. The market research identified adequate competition. Therefore, the Government intends to execute a competitive contract following the conclusion of this bridge action.

9. Any Other Facts Supporting Using Other than Full a Open Competition. N/A

a. When 6.103-1 is cited for follow-on acquisitions as described in 6.103-1(c)(2), an estimate of the cost to the Government that would be duplicated and how the estimate was derived. The execution of a competitive contract at this juncture would result in significant harm to DEA’s ability to collect cyber intelligence, act on information obtained, and execute law enforcement and interdiction operations. DEA personnel would lose all sight into internet based and cyber activities that directly lead to the seizure of illicit drugs and the capture of perpetrators. Additionally, the cost associated with losing this capability would be significant in the form of manpower costs. DEA personnel would lose a vital capability resulting in an increase in manual intelligence impacting operational resources and DEA’s ability to provide sufficient manpower to successfully meet DEA’s Title 21 responsibilities and limiting support to joint operations and fellow federal law enforcement agencies.

b. When 6.103-2 is cited, data, estimated cost, or other rationale as to whether and how much the

Government would be harmed. N/A

10. A Listing of the Sources, if any, that Expressed an Interest in the Acquisition in Writing. Based on the Government’s market research, there is adequate competition. The Government intends to execute a competitive contract to fulfill ongoing support operations.

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

12. Technical / Requiring Office’s Certification: I certify that the technical data and operational requirements supporting this justification are complete, accurate, and reflect the minimum needs of the Government.

13. Contracting Officer’s Certification that the Justification is Accurate and Complete to the Best of the Contracting Officer's Knowledge and Belief. I certify that the information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

14. Approvals: The required levels of approval of this Justification depend on the estimated total value of the procurement. Approval must be obtained for that level and each previous level.

Contracting Officer (for actions ≤ $900,000)

Bureau Procurement Chief (for actions greater than $900,000)

Bureau Competition Advocate (for actions greater than $900,000 up to $20 million)

Head of the Contracting Agency of Designee (for actions of $20 million to $90 million)

Signature Date

Senior Procurement Executive (for actions over $90 million)

Signature Date