DARPA-JA-24-02.pdf

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition for the Follow-On Contract with Radiance (SAFE-SiM) program

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

SUBJECT: Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition for the Phase 4 Follow-On

Contract with Radiance Technologies, Inc. Secure Advanced Framework for Simulation and Modeling (SAFE-SiM) program.

PART 1- JUSTIFICATION

1. Agency and Contracting Activity Identification: This justification and approval for other than full and open competition is executed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), on behalf of DARPA’s Adaptive Capabilities Office (ACO). The resulting action, once approved hereby, will be contracted through DARPA

CMO.

2. Description of Action: DARPA proposes to enter into a sole-source, Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) follow-on procurement contract with Radiance Technologies, Inc. of Huntsville, AL, herein referred to as Radiance, for the continued provision of highly specialized services in support of the Secure Advanced Framework for Simulation and Modeling (SAFE-SiM) program.

3. Description of Supplies or Services: The proposed sole-source project is a 24-month follow-on to the SAFE-SiM Phase 3 effort. The Phase 4 effort is estimated to cost approximately

. SAFE-SiM Phase 3 activities are currently performed by Radiance Technologies, Inc. under DARPA sole source Contract No. HR001123C0058. The Phase 3 contract is a 20-month effort with a total cost of SAFE-SiM Phase 1 and 2 activities under DARPA Contract No. HR001120C0146, was competitively awarded under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) No. HR001120S0007 as a 32-month contract with a total cost of $31,410,991.

In Phase 3, Radiance developed and delivered a kill web simulation environment that supports designing, executing, and analyzing dynamic collections of kill chains from seafloor to space.

SAFE-SiM Version 1.0, developed under HR001120C0146, established the architecture and software foundation to model, simulate, and analyze kill webs with a strong emphasis on medium-size simulations executing faster-than-real-time in the kinetic domain. In addition, SAFE-SiM version 1.0 laid the foundation for multi-resolution modeling, automated model ingestion, scaling, and the systematic use of knowledge management to facilitate cross-organization sharing.

In Phase 4, Radiance Technologies will add key features to close additional research gaps identified during Phase 3. Phase 4 will focus on 1) developing workflows and processes that capture user experience in kill web analysis, security assessment, knowledge management, and system-of-system design, 2) creating, automatically testing, and deploying an organized and curated library of all domain platforms, behaviors and knowledge including non-kinetic and human behavior modules, 3) developing and deploying an automated test harness to automatically test SAFE-SiM for stability and performance at scale. This activity includes the

Task 6: Infrastructure. Radiance Technologies will create advanced data management, multi-tenancy, resource allocation, and cyber-security and monitoring capabilities. They will develop a multi-resolution scaling engine that manages multiple instances of simulation pod efficiently.

Task 7: Documentation. Radiance Technologies will document the SAFE-SiM software and provide efficient error identification and recovery processes. Additional documentation will include architectures, features, functionalities, interfaces and requirements. Radiance Technologies will create and deliver training material in multiple form factors including How-to guides, self-paced online training materials, and Architecture Design and System Design documents.

4. Statutory Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. § 3204(a)(l), “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements,” as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.302-1.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: Radiance Technologies, Inc. is uniquely qualified to conduct/complete the SAFE-SiM program research project due to their expertise in pioneering integration of data, microservices, and faster-than-real time simulation kernel across all security levels in a multi-level client-server security system throughout their efforts in Phases 1 through 3 on SAFE-SiM. Radiance is only the only known responsible source for this effort for the following reasons:

• Radiance Technologies, Inc. developed a SAFE-SiM Shell modeling technology that allows ingesting models from legacy DoD simulation framework. Shell models can be rapidly configured to represent novel concepts and behaviors at scale. The shell approach is unique in its ability to support dynamic tasking because it decouples Command and Control, platforms, and behaviors.

• Radiance Technologies, Inc. developed a SAFE-SiM technology that dynamically label interactions of models at multiple levels of security and uses formal methods to prove that the resulting labels are consistent with rules derived for security classification guides.

• Radiance Technologies, Inc. developed a simulation engine and associated micro-services that support the concurrent execution of very-large scale simulations with a high number of replications. The simulation engine scales vertically and horizontally with the environment. In addition, Radiance Technologies has developed extensive automated tests and testbeds to automate the deployment, management, and error-handling of the environment.

Award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost in the estimated amount of over $47 million to the Government, not expected to be recovered through competition.

Further, it would take well over twenty-four (24) months for the new performer to develop a technology capability that Radiance Technologies, Inc. has already developed, extending the time needed for another source to a total of 72 months or more on this effort. Award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the DARPA SAFE-SiM program’s requirements.

6. Efforts Made to Obtain Competition: A notification of the Government’s Intent to Award a Sole Source contract was posted as required in accordance with DFARS PGI 206.302-1. This intent to sole source was combined with a Research and Development Sources Sought required by FAR 5.205(a). This combined announcement for the SAFE-SiM program effort was posted on SAM.Gov on July 25, 2024 (Special Notice DARPA-SN-24-80). The Special Notice expired on August 09, 2024. No responses, written or verbal, were received in response to this notice.

Considering the above, the acquisition approach discussed herein remains the only reasonable approach for DARPA to accomplish its continued SAFE-SiM program research goals, to include the transition of the resulting technology.

7. Market Research: DARPA has conducted market research through various market research techniques in accordance with FAR 10.002. Specifically, DARPA has maintained awareness of the state of the art available from other sources within the relevant technology communities and through routine technical discussions on new concepts that are being presented through the open ACO office-wide BAA. DARPA is in constant contact with knowledgeable individuals in Government and industry regarding market capabilities to meet DARPA’s requirements. The DARPA Program Manager and ACO Office Director have an in-depth understanding of the related SAFE-SiM (or similar) technologies, the capabilities of the contractor/scientific community, and of related/competing technologies currently available.

In accordance with FAR 5.201 and DFARS PGI 206.302-1 the combined announcement for the SAFE-SiM program effort was posted on SAM.Gov on July 25, 2024 (Special Notice DARPA- SN-24-80). DARPA received no response to the notice. See paragraph 6 above.

Based on the market research, DARPA determined that Radiance Technologies, Inc. is the only known contractor with the requisite highly specialized expertise that can meet DARPA’s requirements for the SAFE-SiM Phase 4 follow-on effort.

8. Other Facts: The proposed effort is a one-time procurement to allow a successful transition of the Radiance Technologies, Inc. SAFE-SiM advanced prototype system. DARPA does not, at this point in time, anticipate additional SAFE-SiM technology development beyond the DARPA SAFE-SiM program prior to the program transition.

9. Interested Sources: None – see paragraph 6 above.

10. Actions to Increase Competition: DARPA ACO maintains an open office-wide BAA (HR001124S0017) that is open to all proposers, which solicits research ideas in several technical areas. These technical areas include, Faster Than Real Time Modeling and Simulation ability for advanced modeling and simulation of kill-webs and warfighting architectures with the ability to create “mission cost” data driven functions to inform future funding decisions and battle management approaches. This includes Modeling and Simulation architectures, Battle Management Command and Control Technologies, Model Development, Advanced Analytics, Modeling and Simulation User Interfaces, and Analytical tools and concepts. In all cases, DARPA reviews and evaluates compliant proposals submitted to the office-wide BAA in accordance with the evaluation criteria outlined therein, which offers the Government alternative and complementary approaches. In this particular effort the Phase 4 scope includes training and documentation (Task 7) intended to transition the effort and provide the acquiring agency the necessary tools to allow for competition.

11. Delivery requirements: The period of performance for this effort is anticipated to be 24 months in duration, as stipulated below. Deliverables for Phase 4 are as follows:

• Documentation for agile process planning artifacts (e.g., agile sprint epics and backlogs), agile software tool configurations, and access

• Continuous Development/Continuous Integration of software pipeline artifacts, configurations, and associated documentation

• Software to include commented source code buildable at MSIE

• End to end functionality and reporting for automated testing of system capabilities

• Program Management plan, software development plan, configuration management plan, which includes change management; and software development plan, which includes release management and problem tracking documentation

• Quarterly technical status reports detailing progress made, tasks accomplished, major risks, planned activities, trip summaries, and any potential issues or problem areas that require attention of the Government team

• Monthly financial status reports

• Final phase report Word document

• Software Transition plan

• Scenario and initialization data required to execute simulation

• Models developed to include source, dependencies, and documentation

• Final report and systems documentation

• User training

• Monthly financial reports

• Briefings, papers, as required

12. Planned Contract Type: Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Procurement Contract

13. Dollar value of the contract is: for 24 months.

SAFE-SiM Phase 4 FY25 FY26 Labor

ODC

Travel Total

PART 2� CERTIFICATIONS

TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that this request for Justification and Approval of Other than Full and Open Competition is made in good faith, that the supporting data and information are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that I would not be making this request if it were feasible to fully compete this requirement. I further certify that this request is not the result of lack of advance planning or a desire to expend funds while those funds are still available.

Signe Date ____________________________

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

Radiance Technologies, Inc. will be required to submit a fully qualified cost proposal for the subject SAFE-SiM Program Phase 4 effort. In accordance with FAR/DFARS Part 15, the Contracting Officer will utilize the appropriate proposal analysis techniques (e.g., cost realism and reasonableness assessments) to ensure that the final agreed-to price is fair and reasonable. Upon conclusion of negotiations, Radiance Technologies, Inc. will be required to submit a Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data. As indicated previously, the Radiance Technologies, the SAFE-SiM follow-on action, will be negotiated by the DARPA CMO.

I certify that I, or the cognizant Procuring Contracting Officer, will make a determination of fair and reasonable price using appropriate price/cost analysis techniques in accordance with FAR

15.404 �Proposal Analysis.� Additionally, I certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signed ______________________________ Date ____________________________ Caroline Allen Contracting Officer Contracting Management Office (CMO)

09/24/2024

09/25/2024

ALLEN.CAROLINE.

ELIZABETH.126453

Digitally signed by

ALLEN.CAROLINE.ELIZABETH.

1264531647 Date: 2024.09.25 08:10:07 -04'00'

PART 3 - LEGAL REVIEW

I have reviewed this justification, and it is legally sufficient.

Signed Date ____________________________

PART 4 - APPROVAL

As DARPA�s Advocate for Competition, designated in accordance with FAR 6.501, I have reviewed this Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition, and it has fully substantiated that the contemplated follow-on action described herein cannot be completed by any source other than the Radiance Technologies, Inc.

Signed Date

Approved in accordance with FAR 6.304.

Signed Date